Sunnyhurst Wood
🏟 Playground & park · Sunnyhurst, Darwen, Blackburn
Sunnyhurst Wood
An 85-acre Green Flag wooded valley in Darwen with a refurbished children's playground, trails and a paddling pool.
🕑 Opening & entry
🌱 Open daily; visitor centre has seasonal hours · Free · No booking needed
📍 Location & directions
Address: Earnsdale Road, Sunnyhurst, Darwen, Lancashire, BB3 0LA
Plus Code: 9C5VPG3C+RC
About Sunnyhurst Wood
Sunnyhurst Wood is an 85-acre wooded valley in Darwen, a prime spot for family walks, picnics and nature. In 2024 the children's playground was redesigned with a £200,000 investment from Blackburn with Darwen Borough Council, adding a rope bridge, a new climbing frame and a toddler-friendly wood mulch area; the refurbished play area is well suited to primary school-age children, and the surrounding ground is flat and easy to navigate with a pushchair. The wood has around seven miles of paths, flowing streams and family-friendly routes leading towards Earnsdale Reservoir and Darwen Tower. Just up from the Huntington bridge, Sunnyhurst Brook is dammed to form a large paddling pool with ornate bridges at either end, a popular feature in warmer weather. The Herbert Parkinson wildlife trail is an easy-to-follow family route around the wood, roughly 1.5 miles long, with clues to solve and animal artwork to find along the way. The site won Green Flag Award status in 2005 and was declared a Local Nature Reserve the same year. Managed by Blackburn with Darwen Council, Sunnyhurst Wood is free to enter and remains one of Darwen's most treasured green spaces.
⭐ What makes this place special
- Visitor centre
- Paddling pool
- Woodland trails
- Herbert Parkinson wildlife trail
- Stream and ornate bridges
🏞 Facilities
- Free entry
- Play surface: Wood mulch (toddler area)
- Accessibility: Flat and pushchair-friendly
- Dogs: Allowed
🧒 Ages & play
- Ages: Primary school age
- Rope bridge
- Climbing frame
- Toddler play equipment
📍 Nearby places to play
- Bold Venture Park · approx 0.9 miles · Belgrave, Darwen
- Whitehall Park · approx 1.3 miles · Whitehall, Darwen
- Queen's Park · approx 2.7 miles · Audley, Blackburn
Explore more:
❓ Frequently asked questions
Is Sunnyhurst Wood free to visit?
Yes, it is a free public woodland and Local Nature Reserve managed by Blackburn with Darwen Council.
Does Sunnyhurst Wood have a playground?
Yes, the children's playground was refurbished in 2024 with a rope bridge, climbing frame and toddler area.
Is Sunnyhurst Wood suitable for pushchairs?
The play area and immediate surroundings are flat and pushchair-friendly, though wider woodland paths vary.
Is there a paddling pool at Sunnyhurst Wood?
Yes, Sunnyhurst Brook is dammed to form a large paddling pool with ornate bridges.
What age is the playground for?
The refurbished play area is well suited to primary school-age children, with a separate toddler area.