This undulating walk is at its best on a clear day for the splendid views up to and from the tower to be appreciated.

Bearing this in mind the stroll is ideal whatever the season of the year.

It eases its way gently through an attractive park area and then up and over moors rich in wildlife before descending through old farms to the starting point.

Enter Bold Venture Park through a set of ornate gates.

The park is one of many town parks built in Victorian times to provide the hard working cotton operatives a chance to get some air in to their lungs, often full of fibres.

The park was opened in 1887 and designed to be one of the routes up to the tower.

At one time the ornamental lake was known as Bold Venture reservoir and it is a popular place to watch waterfowl.

There are many places on this stroll to enjoy a balance between history and natural history.

Look out for the splendid war memorial completed in 1921 to honour the 1200 who gave their lives for their country.

Cross over Manor Road and through another set of gates leading into the upper section of Bold Venture park.

The park was actually landscaped from a number of quarries.

Follow the markers through a belt of trees including ash, lime and holly.

Pass through a gate leading on to the moor and to the right are a number of old quarries being landscaped by nature rather than by human hands.

The path now starts to ascend steeply towards the tower.

Approach Higher and Lower Coney. Coney is the old Norman word for a rabbit.

After being extinct in Britain for thousands of years the Normans introduced the rabbit for both its flesh and its fur.

At one time one rabbit was worth as much as a cow and coneys were reared for profit.

The man in charge of this enterprise was called a warrener and we still have the surname in use to the present day.

Continue this steep ascent which bears sharp left.

This leads to Darwen Tower.

The town itself is 86 feet high but it stands on a hill the height of 1225 feet and is certainly the most prominent landmark in the area.

It is open to the public free of charge and has a circular viewing platform and also a parapet at the top.

The views from both these areas are spectacular and the history of the tower is fascinating from two points of view.

Known as Jubilee Tower it celebrates Queen Victoria’s 60th year on the throne in 1897 but the local people had another reason to celebrate its construction.

They had just celebrated a victory in the courts which prevented the local landowner from closing the moor to the public so that he could develop a financially lucrative grouse moor!

From the tower descend to the ordnance survey trig point and continue downhill following the line of the wall.

Approach a gate and turn right descending to Sniddle Hill Farm which is on the right.

Continue downhill and cross Turn Lane. Do not turn but carry on right ahead, over a stile and along Punstock Road.

Pass Holly Tree Farm on the right and return to Bold Venture Park.