Parks and open spaces

Parks

There is a wide variety of parks, open spaces and countryside in Blackburn with Darwen.    

Corporation, Bold Venture, Whitehall, and Queens parks and Sunnyhurst Wood are fine examples of Victorian parks and are registered with English Heritage for their historic merit. 

The prestigious Green Flag Award has been achieved for six parks. These are Witton Country Park, Queens Park, Roe Lee Park, Sunnyhurst Wood,  Corporation Park and Bold Venture.

Blackburn with Darwen's main parks and open spaces are:

• Bold Venture Park 
• Corporation Park
• Whitehall Park 
• Queens Park 
• Sunnyhurst Wood
• Witton Country Park
• Roe Lee Park
• Ashton Park
• River Darwen Parkway and Higher Croft Woods
• The West Pennine Moors

Countryside

Explore the Borough's 280 miles of public rights of way that lead through beautiful parks, farmland, woodlands, hidden valleys, around reservoirs, along riversides and over the 90 square miles of the unspoilt  West Pennine Moors. West Pennine Moors Map 

You can read the West Pennine Moors Area Management committee annual report here.  Countryside at sunset by Simon Booth  

Wander along the long distance Witton Weavers Way - 32 miles. Leaflets are available for the full trail as well as the four shorter circular routes around the Way.
These are as follows:

• The Beamers Trail - 6 miles
• The Reelers Trail - 7.5 miles
• The Tacklers Trail - 9.5 miles
• The Warpers Trail - 8.5 miles
• Walk number 5

There are two walks leading up to Darwen Tower, one leading up from Sunnyhurst Wood and one from Bold Venture Park.

There are two heritage walks around the historic village of Tockholes, situated on the edge of Roddlesworth Woods (Roddlesworth nature trail) - North Tockholes heritage trail and South Tockholes heritage trail and also the villages of Edgworth  (pdf format or word version) and also Belthorn (pdf format  or word version).

There is also a trail around Jumbles reservoir (Landscape Trail around Jumbles Reservoir)

There are leaflets available for discovery and wildlife trails within Sunnyhurst Wood and Witton Country Park.  

There are walking trails around Hoddlesden, Waterside, Yate and Pickup Bank, Blacksnape and Eccleshill.

There are details of self guided walks from the local Bolton to Clitheroe rail line.

If you want to take part in a guided walk these take place throughout the beautiful parks and countryside around the borough.

The annual West Pennine Moors Walking Festival takes place during the summer.

The Borough also has visitor centres offering environmental education, guided walks, events, children's activities and lots more.

• Witton Country Park visitor centre
• Sunnyhurst Wood visitor centre