During this sunny Easter weekend, a walk to take in the beauty of East Lancashire may be on your to-do list.

Here in East Lancashire, there are dozens of beautiful country walks on our doorstep.

Here are five of East Lancashire's best walks under seven miles to do over the Easter bank holiday weekend

1) Darwen Tower

Lancashire Telegraph: Darwen Tower: One of Lancashire's most popular landmarksDarwen Tower: One of Lancashire's most popular landmarks (Image: NQ)

For Darreners, Darwen Tower is on the doorstep, with stunning views from the top where, on a clear day, the Isle of Man and the hills of North Wales can be seen.

The tower is currently being restored but people can still enjoy a walk up to the tower.

The Tower is famous for celebrating Queen Victoria’s Diamond Jubilee in 1897 and to many local people it also celebrated the freeing of Darwen Moor in 1896.

The two-mile walk begins at Darwen Town Hall. From here, walkers will pass the war memorial and around the lake before getting to the top of the hill to see the tower.

On the way back, the route goes past Sniddle Hill Farm and Holly Tree Farm before returning back to Darwen Town Hall.

2) Tolkien Trail

Lancashire Telegraph: Stoneyhurst College on the Tolkien trail. Photo credit: Stewart WadeStoneyhurst College on the Tolkien trail. Photo credit: Stewart Wade

Named in honour of Lord of the Rings author J.R.R. Tolkien, the Tolkien trail explores the Ribble Valley landscape which inspired the creation of middle earth.

Although Tolkien is also believed to have taken inspiration from other areas of the country, during the second world war, the author spent much of his time writing in a guest house and a classroom at Stoneyhurst College.

The 5.5-mile trail, which takes about three hours to complete, starts and finishes at the Shireburn Arms in Hurst Green. Explorers will see St Mary's Hall, Clitheroe castle, the River Ribble and Cromwell's Bridge during their walk.

3) The Rossendale Halo

Lancashire Telegraph: Halo at Top O'SlateHalo at Top O'Slate

This four-mile circular route explores various areas of the valley, with a visit to the monumental Halo structure.

The route begins and ends in Rawtenstall and explores Bribden Clough, Top o'Slate, The Halo, and Whittaker Park.

The moderately challenging route takes around two hours to complete.

4) Pendle Hill

Lancashire Telegraph: Pendle Hill is shrouded in mystery with tales of the Pendle witchesPendle Hill is shrouded in mystery with tales of the Pendle witches

 

Infamous in its name, this two-and-a-half-hour walk takes you to the heart of the Pendle witch trials of 1612, where 10 people were executed on the moors above Lancaster, having been found guilty of witchcraft.

Starting near Barley, the five-mile walk passes the Ogden reservoirs before beginning to climb the infamous hill where, from the summit, Blackpool Tower and the Lakeland fells can be seen on a clear day.

The walk then proceeds down back towards the village of Barley.

5) Towneley Park

 

Lancashire Telegraph: Towneley Hall from Towneley Park, for Camera Club by Stephen Whitehead.Towneley Hall from Towneley Park, for Camera Club by Stephen Whitehead.

 

Managed by the council, Townley Park is the largest and most popular park in Burnley, with several short walks mapped around the grounds surrounding Towneley Hall.

Located about 1.5 miles southeast of Burnley town centre, the Grade-II listed park and garden contains about 12 information boards that will tell you about the history of Towneley.

There are plenty of short walks that can be taken through the grounds, with a full tour of the grounds mapped at 3.7 miles.