Bottom's Up!

Both Routes

Cross main road. R then L up Hoghton Tower drive. L at gatehouse, along track keeping wall on R Over 2 stiles and L to road. L for l00yds. R over stile behind telegraph pole and cross railway bridge. Over stile and, keeping pond on L cross field diagonally L (3 I 80) to stile in hedge. Over field with pond on R to go thro' gap in trees. Continue with fence on R to road. R for 600yds then R along Goosefoot Lane, SP Samlesbury Mill. Continue round L/hand bend to FP on R signed Samlesbury Bottoms.

Follow waymarks down track & steps to FB on R Cross and up opposite bank Ahead to waymarked stile. Ahead, hedge on R to stile, left of metal gate. Thro' field to stile by barn. Over next stile, turning R. L at FP sign on -corrugated iron shed, turning R thro' old metal-type gate alongside shed. Cross stile opposite and keeping a few yards to Left of gully descend to track and bucket drop. {GR 619288} You are now in SAMLESBURY BOTTOMS.

Continue R with river on L to waymarked stile by metal gate. Follow path R, uphill, to stile and broken gate at top L/Hand corner. Cross-field with wall on L to next stile. Continue on grass track to stile on L of metal gate at Bolton Hall farm. Ahead to lane. R for 200yds. Just after small wood on L, GR 624274, L over stile and descend, following power lines, on path between trees. Cross-stream to stile on R Continue past house and L to lane GR 626271. Welcome to HOGHTON BOTTOMS.

L and L after last house over FB. At signpost turn R along track keeping river Darwen on R. Continue, slightly uphill, to metal stile at R of metal gate. Descend, still with river on R and ahead to stile by stone bridge. L along track to cross stile on R. Continue with wall on L to next stile. Cross and continue uphill, keeping fence then hedge on R, crossing two more stiles to stile on L of red gate. Ahead to road.

L for l00yds. R At Fp Sign Just After Pleasington Priory. Continue To End Of Road. L On Grass Track, Over Stile, And R At Stone Gatepost. Uphill On 3550 Passing Between Trees To Stile Leading Into Wood At Top Of Field. Ascend Thro' Wood To Track. L For 20yds. R On Path Uphill To Stile. R, With Fence On R, To Next Stile. Ahead, Leaving Fence, On Path Over Butlers Delf To Stile in fence L Of Tree. Continue In Same Direction Over Large Field to small Carpark and Checkpoint 1, GR 653281. (6 miles — closes 12.15pm)

Ahead thro' woods for 250yds. At jct Turn R uphill to jct where L on good path to Billinge Hill viewpoint and plaque to 'Blackburn 100'. TALLIES WILL BE CLIPPED HERE Rejoin main path, R downhill for 300yds. Look for small stone with red mark on your R Turn R here on minor path. Ahead at path jct. (ringed marker post) At next marker post follow blue arrow on path which descends to eventually join metalled road at GR 657279. L and cross stile on R. Follow waymarkers thro' field to kissing gate. Diagonally L to kissing gate in wood. Continue, descending, with stream on R. At jct cross-stream and R. Straight on at next jet then R on main drive SP Visitor Centre. At far end of sports pavilion turn L. keeping playground on L, to cross field and FB. R, with river on R, to next bridge. L on metalled track to road. R 200yds to stone drinking fountain. L behind goalposts to path going uphill. Continue ahead to cross railway bridge. L on road then 1st L to main road. Cross (CARE!) and R for l00yds. L at Public Library sign. Ahead on path to canal. (Do not cross bridge) R with canal on L for ½ mile. Leave at next bridge. L over canal and R at roundabout SP Tockholes. As road bends L keep ahead to Checkpoint 2, GR 649252. (9½ miles — closes 2.00pm)

Short Route only

Retrace Steps To Canal And Continue On Towpath With Canal On Your L For 1¾ miles. 80yds After 2nd Road Bridge Cross Stile On R. Through 2 Small Fields, Bearing R Uphill In 3rd Field To Farm Track. Through Farmyard. Cross Road And L To T-junction. Cross Main Road With Care And Turn Down Side Of Royal Oak. Over 2 Ladder Stiles And Upfield To Further Stile. Ahead Over Next Field To Stile By Gate. Ahead L00yds Through Trees To Further Stile. Downhill To Kissing Gate On R. L Down Drive And R On Road To Finish. (13 Miles, 1460' Of Ascent. Well Done)

Long Route Only

Continue on this road forking L at quarry building. Follow track for 800 yds, under Motorway, turn L, (ignore FP sign on L) then R to Higher Whitehalgh farm. Follow FP signs through farmyard then follow FP signs across field to stile in stone wall to R of large hut. GR 653238.

Descend to cross FB And Ahead Through Trees. Keep Along Top Edge Of Wood (ignore FB On L) To Cross Stile In Fence. L Over 2 More Stiles. Ahead On Track to road. Ahead On Chapels Lane Passing Tockholes Urc Church On L. Turn R Up Long Lane For 500yds to Checkpoint 3, at Village Ball On L. GR 662231 (12 Miles — Closes 2.00pm.)

TOCKHOLES TO BRINSCALL

L From Checkpoint, Passing The Rock Inn On L And Houses On R to bridleway On R Ahead Through Gate To Where B/way Turns Sharp L. Ahead Over Waymarked Stile. Up Centre Of Field To Stile In Wall Gr 670234. Downhill To Stile In Wall To L Of House. Please Note That permission to go directly down given for the day only) Bear R to ladder stile. Down track, L through metal gate. Follow track down, passing golf club on R Turn R immediately before bungalows, panel fencing on L. Continue to Earnsdale farm on L then immediately L down path to kissing gate into Sunnyhurst Woods. R at crossing of paths. Stay on this path, ignoring turnings to L or R, to emerge at kissing gate GR 668223.

Ahead through gate, uphill to where track comes in from R L through small wooden gate in wall. Follow path keeping fence then wall on L Follow waymarks to metal gate. Through and follow lane through Ryal Fold to Royal Arms PH (Toilets on L at Information centre). Cross road and Lon path. Ahead on sandy path and along avenue of trees following track downhill on path and then keeping stream on R to track. L for 100yds then Rover bridge.

Continue on good track for just over ½ mile passing large barn and then two farms on right. 40yds after 2nd farm cross waymarked stile on Left Over field to stile opposite white gate. Cross main road (CARE!) to stile and ahead to next stile by metal gate. Continue with fence on Left for 250yds, cross footbridge and up field, still with fence on Left for 300yds, to track. Cross and continue in same direction to next footbridge.

Over stile, uphill, fence on R. Follow round top of quarry with fence on R, small reservoir on R, to stile.

Cross Track, Over Stile And Ahead, Fence On L, Wall On R, To Road. L Then In 50yds L On Minor Road For (½) Mile Turn R At Trough before Give Way Sign To St Lukes Church Hall On L. Checkpoint 4, GR 629214. (18 Miles — closes 4.30pm)

BRINSCALL TO FINISH

L from CP then R to Give way sign. Ahead up road then R at P0 sign along Withnell Fold Old Road. As this turns into Heather Lea Drive, continue ahead on rough road uphill, passing end of Chapel Street, crossing next road and ahead on path to further road where L for 60yds and R at FP sign.

Ahead through Pike Lowe farm to stile by gate. Ahead, fence on L, continuing over further stile, passing ruined building on L. Ahead over double stile in wall, trees on L. Through next stile in wall, diagonally Rover field to gate and stile at edge of trees GR 624227.

Down track to tarmac drive. Cross to stile on L of metal gate. Through new plantation and across next field to stile on L of tree. Through next field to stile by gate. L down track to road. R 200yds to phone box. L along lane keeping L at Ollerton Fold Farm Cottage to stone stile by metal gate. Down grass track to stone stile in new wall. Cross track to stile and down field to canal. Over bridge, turning L over stile. L on towpath Continue under Motor Way to 2nd Stile on L, 80yds before next Road Bridge.

Through 2 Small Fields, Bearing R Uphill In 3rd Field To Farm Track. Through Farmyard. Cross Road And L To T-junction. Cross Main Road With Care And Turn Down Side Of Royal Oak. Over 2 Ladder Stiles And Up Field to further Stile. Ahead Over Next Field To Stile By Gate. Ahead 100yds Through Trees To Further Stile. Downhill to kissing Gate On R. L Down Drive And R On Road To The Finish. (22 Miles, 2650' of Ascent).

WELL DONE!