Turton and Entwistle Reservoir.

Start. Entwistle Reservoir car park.

Route. Entwistle Reservoir car park - Turton and Entwistle Reservoir - Bradshaw Beck - Fox Hill Plantation - Hall Shores Croft - Dam Wall - Entwistle Reservoir car park.

Notes. Third time lucky, yes we’ve been here three times, the first in driving rain and howling winds, the second time the path was under water such was the level of the reservoir, today it all fell into place, we even found a parking space. We were in Lancashire visiting our grandson Jack who is slowly discovering the great outdoors.

The Turton and Entwistle Reservoir lies in the Bradshaw Valley within the boundary of Blackburn with Darwin but is closer to Bolton than Blackburn, supplying over half Bolton's drinking water needs. Formed when the Entwistle Dam was constructed in 1832, to supply water for the textile industry, at the time the highest dam in the UK.

This walk is short and simple, I was a bit taken aback by how popular it was, people like us just out for some fresh air, dog walkers, families, mothers and fathers pushing pushchair's, yes if you park on the lower of two car parks it’s wheelchair friendly. The hardest part of this short excursion was finding a parking space, once parked we descended a flight of steps to access the reservoir shore path, decided which way to walk, clockwise then off we went, one hour and twenty five minutes later we were back at the car, a most enjoyable circuit over until next time.

view route map.

home.

Looking to the dam wall, built 1832 the first in the UK to exceed 100ft.

Turton Moor seen over Turton and Entwistle Reservoir.

The path crosses a couple of pools.

Soaking up views to the east.

The head of the reservoir with Fox Hill Plantation to the left.

The Bradshaw Beck and a game of Pooh Sticks.

Just off the north shore a sculpture of a Heron, The Wader by UK-based Dutch artist MarjanWouda.

Near The Wader looking to the north shore.

Across a water filled valley, of a man made lake Turton Heights rises to the skyline.

The foot of the Reservoir near Hall Shores Croft.

Sunlight on Fox Hill.

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