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Routes

Bike touring routes & trails

United Kingdom

England

North West England

Blackburn with Darwen

Darwen

Entwistle Reservoir – View of Entwistle Reservoir loop from Darwen

Routes

Bike touring routes & trails

United Kingdom

England

North West England

Blackburn with Darwen

Darwen

Entwistle Reservoir – View of Entwistle Reservoir loop from Darwen

Hard

5.0

(1)

riders

Entwistle Reservoir – View of Entwistle Reservoir loop from Darwen

02:03

29.8km

480m

Cycling

Hard bike ride. Very good fitness required. Mostly paved surfaces. Suitable for all skill levels. The starting point of the route is accessible with public transport.

Last updated: May 8, 2026

Waypoints

Start point

Train Station

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7.04 km

View from Broadhead Road

Highlight (Segment) • Cycleway

Not far from Ramsbottom, this road goes through farm land that has wonderful views over both sides of the road. The road is a good surface.
You can get a good sprint on this road

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16.8 km

Chapeltown FW3/24 Pillbox

Highlight • Historical Site

This casemate is of type FW3/24. During World War II, these bunkers were used for the defense of the United Kingdom against a possible enemy invasion. They were built in 1940 and into 1941.

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19.4 km

Entwistle Dam was designed by Thomas Ashworth, a local land surveyor, overseen by Jesse Hartley, the Liverpool Docks engineer. Other works were by Joseph Jackson, an engineer and surveyor from Bolton. It was built for the Commissioners of the Turton and Entwistle Reservoir, a group of local mill owners who obtained an enabling Act of Parliament in 1832 to regulate the supply of water in Bradshaw Brook for water power for the finishing textiles.[2]

Records suggest it was built entirely of puddle clay with no distinct core. Earth dams usually have a waterproof cutoff under their earthworks designed to stop seepage under the dam but it is doubtful whether there was any such a cutoff at Entwistle. The reservoir has a rock-cut outlet tunnel driven through the valley side rather than a culvert or pipeline and a siphon draw-off pipe. The dam is 108 ft high and 110 metres long at the crest. The present overflow channel and valve tower were added by the Bolton Corporation Water Works who took over the reservoir in 1864.

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