Inspired by Becky’s WalkingSquares, I’m inviting you to take in the view along Witton Weaver’s Way, a 32 mile circular walk that crosses Darwen moor.
Witton Weaver’s Way has four sections: Beamer’s, Reeler’s, Tackler’s and Warper’s Trails, all named for jobs in the cotton industry. My first two pictures are taken from Tackler’s Trail, not far from Lord’s Hall.
Those who plan to take on the full walk should prepare for a few surprises crossing this innocent-looking section, courtesy of tufty, uneven ground and near year-round bogginess.
On the plus side, walkers can take in the views, watch birds, spot lichens on the traditional dry stone walls, rest on a bench or stain their fingers by picking wimberries in season.
While we’re up here, I want to show you a favourite brief section of footpath. Some stones here are beautifully coloured to begin with and randomly shaped. Gently carved, split here and there, scattered with smaller pebbles and laced with lichens, they strike me as wild art. I don’t believe as a child I was ever plonked here and left for half an hour, but had I been, it would have been time well spent.
For more information and maps of Witton Weaver’s Way, check out the council’s website. My last two pictures show one of many short detours along the route, but all roads around here lead to the Jubilee Tower.
Susan Rushton 
A beautiful place… I love those heather-covered hills!
The heather gives a nice dusting of colour.
What beautiful views with the sunshine and clouds and the heather.
Blue sky make such a difference and are far from guaranteed here.
I just spent quite a while sitting on that bench in the third photo down. What an antidote to the headlines! I clicked on the link to the jobs. It’s so very interesting to read about them but the jobs themselves must have been dreadfully tedious. Those children had no childhood, did they? But jobs put food on tables. I think it is fitting that this work history is preserved in these names. Thanks for taking us here!
I’m glad you took a moment to rest a while. I am often glad of that bench too! Mama’s first job was learning to be a weaver on her sister’s machine. Her school had suggested she stay on and train to be a teacher, but her parents said it wouldn’t have been fair on her sisters and brothers as they had had to start working. She didn’t like the job, but once told me: ‘In the end I had six machines to look after, with different patterns. Some days they ran well and I once knitted a cardigan in a day at work.’
What a story. I bet your Mama would have much preferred teaching, but it sounds as though she became very skilled at the weaving. Six machines with different patterns? That’s amazing.
A good place to tour with your excellent photography
Thanks, Derrick.
I always love to go on a tour.
I’m glad to have taken you somewhere new. 🙂
Interesting blog. lovely views
I’ve never been keen hill-climbing, unlike my sister, but the views are good once you’re up there.
I love the second photo, it’s a great view and the heather gives it some lovely colour.
Quite coincidentally only last weekend I discovered a small part of the Warper’s Trail fairly local to me – a lovely little packhorse bridge with its history connected to a water wheel I was writing about.
That sounds very scenic too.