oswaldtwistle

So I set off from Accrington to discover the best open spaces oswaldtwistle had to offer.

Starting from abbey street accrington, I headed through accrington town centre passing the town hall and market hall (2 fine buildings to admire, along with the historical information benches to read in this area). From here we head left up out of town passing a skate board park before taking the right road in front of an old large yet well maintained mill building (globe centre, scaitcliffe st) at the train track we join the path to the left following the path alongside the train track for a mile, keeping straight ahead with the train track on our right hand side at any junctions. This eventually go down a small road to bring us onto a major road, near church & oswaldtwistle train station. Cross the road and turn left and walk along a short way taking are second road to the right (tinker brook). This path leads to tinker brook nature reservoir, one of the jewels on oswaldtwistle's crown. A stream, 2 large reservoirs and nice woodland. Following my route initially take the higher path (outside a fence) but cut down and a small way back on yourself to see the viewing platform to enjoy the birds of the larger reservoir. Leave the local nature reservoir and turn left along a lane which runs alongside then over a brook. At the main road cross over turn left and then soon turn right past the war memorial. Go straight up this road (rhyddings st) to enter rhyddings park. Enjoy an clockwise wander around this park exiting at the top right (there is a good play area for children in this park). You are now on Fielding lane, turn left for a few hundred metres and then take the minor road path (signposted Town bent) (just before plough pub).

After a few hundred metres take the path into the open field to your left, this path comes to a t-junction, turn left keeping the stream on your left, the minor road will bend right at little. When the minor road comes to a across roads, turn left and follow the path up to a corner entrance into the woods this is jackhouse reservoir (another jewel), if you turn right and then take the next path on the left. You can get close to shore edge. After this complete a lap of the reservoir enjoying another woodland walk. From here I exited just after a bench and good viewing spot of the reservoir. Following the minor country roads and paths back to Accrington town centre. An excellent view can be had along Rough Hey Lane (on the day I went you could see the bowland fells and even Ingleborough.

The whole walk is approx. 12 km long and took me 3 hours. It involved around 200 metres climbing.

Even if you cannot do the full walk sites I recommend a visit along the way include Accrington town and market halls, foxbank and jackhouse nature reservoirs, and rhyddings park. Enjoy!