2. Your start for this walk is the entrance gate to the top part of Bold Venture Park. If arriving by car there is ample parking on the road with no restrictions.
3. As you enter the Park keep on the path to the right. Watch out for the sculptures of the Huntington Trail in the trees.
4. At the top of the path through Bold Venture Park you will reach this gate. Passing through the gate, take care as vehicles do travel along the lane, turn to your left .
5. Having turned left there is a path going up onto the top which Lewis is just about to go up.
6. Getting up to the top of the slope there is a gate which carries a plaque on the post. Go through the gate and the view will start to open up.
7. The plaque on the gatepost tells us that this has been here for some time as the Soroptimists of Darwen no longer exists.
8. Having passed through the gate the path curves around to your left. Follow this path until you reach the footpath markers.
9. At the footpath markers we are going to carry straight on. Do not turn left as it will take you back to Bold Venture Park. There is a stile which can just about be seen at this side of the distant trees.
10. Having crossed the stile, this is the view looking back. A bit of uneven ground to cross, but easily passable.
11. Turning round and we see that the view has opened up and there you can just about make out the television mast up at Sett End.
12. As you cross the field towards the back of Thorny Height Quarry, look back to see Darwen Tower rise in the distance above the trees of Bold Venture Park.
13. At the end of the field you arrive at an ancient gatepost and stile. Pass through the stile and continue along the path.
14. Looking back after crossing over the stile there are signs about this being farmland and a warning about the electrified fence on your right. Make sure that dogs are kept under control.
15. Looking across the field to your right you will see Height Side Farm.
16. Continue along the path which runs between two fences. The one on your right is the electrified fence.
17. Just in case you were in doubt about this being farmland, the cows of Height Side leave you in no doubt. Fickle Hall Farm comes into view in the distant left of the photo.
18. At the end of this path is a gate on a latch. Make sure it is closed behind you.
19. Looking back after passing through the gate there is a notice on the gate marking the Footpath to the Tower.
20. Now you enter the access lane for Height Side and you should be aware that vehicles use this lane. Continue straight ahead at this point and do not turn right or you will find yourself in the farm.
21. As you approach the bottom of the lane, Rock Villa appears on your right.
22. Look up at the roof line for the date stone which carries symbols of the Masons, and a date of 1864.
23. Next door to Rock Villa is Bold Venture bungalow. Reputedly built in the Savannah style by the owner who had returned from South Africa.
24. As you pass the bungalow you arrive at the top of Bury Fold Lane where you turn right to enter Duckshaw Road and pass Higher Bold Venture on your right.
25. As you walk up the Duckshaw Road, look out for this gatepost on your left.
26. Easy to miss, this gatepost has a motto carved into the stone. Veni Vidi Vici – no Julius Ceasar did not go up Duckshaw Road. It is rumoured to have been carved by a young stonemason who had left the country in disgrace and carved it on his return when he found that his mother was dying. Who knows?
27. On your right across the field is a clear view of Green Lowe Farm. Now very much extended.
28. You will pass the entrance to Green Lowe Farm on your right as you walk up Duckshaw Road.
29. The next landmark will be on your left – this is Fickle Hall Farm. Continue along Duckshaw Road, climbing up the hill as it bends round to the right.
30. Keep your eyes open for this stile on your left. The footpath is not very clear after crossing the stile, but as the sign shows it veers to the left.
31. The path goes down the centre of this photo and takes you into the trees.
32. As you reach the edge of the grass the path changes to grey shingle and drops down steeply.
33. At the bottom of the path are the remains of a stile. Pass through this and you will end up on a farm track with a stone wall opposite.
34. If you look over the wall you will see Old Briggs Brook flowing through dramatic rock formations.
35. At the farm track you should turn right and ahead of you will be Higher House Farm.
36. Beware! At this point you can be forgiven for making a mistake. The footpath passes through what was the farmyard, but is now the owner’s front lawn. Whilst the arrow on the post seems to point straight ahead, there is a concessionary path which goes to the left of the wall at this point.
37. The way ahead still has the old stile in place, but the concessionary path is on the opposite side of the wall.
38. Across his front lawn there is still the official footpath marker and the steps down through his front wall
39. Looking back up the hill, this is the concessionary path which goes around the outer wall of Higher House Farm.
40. Looking back up at Higher House Farm, there are still the original markers of the footpath which leads to the gap in the front wall. The concessionary path is over to the right of this picture.
41. Leaving Higher House Farm behind, the path descends into the trees.
42. The path here becomes narrow and uneven, but clearly defined.
43. This leads to a footbridge which crosses the stream.
44. The sign on the bridge makes it clear that this is a Public Right of Way.
45. Once over the footbridge, turn left and go up the hill.
46. Part way up the hill you come across this set of steps.
47. Beyond the steps the path makes its way through the trees, levelling out now.
48. Emerging from the trees you will see the buildings at the top of Whitehall Road appear and you turn left at the roadway.
49. On your right, just before the gate for Whitehall Park you will see the gate leading to Meadow Head Farm. Plenty of restrictions here!