Darwen Parkway from Lower Darwen

Walking Distance 3.3 Km pr 2.0 miles. The time required for a reasonably fit walker is 1.5 hours.

The route starts at the Car Park entrance to Darwen Parkway Stopes Brow Lower Darwen.

Leave the car park by the rear footpath, after the bridge; take the footpath off to the right, climbing slightly.

Follow track to its junction and turn left but not towards the houses. The track now descends and crosses the stream, after take the left hand track and climb more steps to reach a car park. Turn left to emerge at the top of Higher Croft Road.

Take the first track opposite the cottages, going down hill by the side of a football pitch, towards the trees. Follow the track around to the right, passing a large boulder

At the next junction take the left hand fork down towards the railway bridge.  After crossing the bridge and within 10m, take the footpath off to the right. This path goes down the hillside.

At the meeting of tracks, turn right and follow the route to run close by the railway railings. At the next junction, turn to the left, down some steps, to meet up with the bottom path running along by the river. At the T junction, by the pond, turn left.

The track now crosses an open area and eventual climbs back up through the trees to reach a T junction, turn right and follow the route heading towards Lower Darwen.

The track leaves Darwen Parkway and onto Millbrook Street at Lower Darwen. Turn left along Fore Street. The way continues passing under Rake Bridge railway arches to reach the start point carpark.