Taking time out
Darwen and Blackburn offer the perfect combination of busy town life and beautiful green spaces. There are lots of opportunities to enjoy family days out and a lively nightlife on offer here.
Polyphemus Woods is a Woodland Trust site located north of Collingwood Park. It offers a prime view of Darwen Tower, which was built in 1897 to commemorate Queen Victoria's Diamond Jubilee. You can find out more about the tower and Darwen's past at Darwen Heritage Centre, which hosts exhibitions and guided walks around the town centre.
If you enjoy walking, there's the circular trail known as the Darwen Tower Walk. There are a few routes available, such as the two-hour option which offers spectacular views when you reach the tower.
Witton Country Park is a 15-minute drive away and home to Go Ape Blackburn, where you and your family can have a fun-filled adventure in the trees. The park itself offers 480 acres of countryside, natural trails and picnic spots; it's a beautiful green space for you to explore.
There's more family fun in Blackburn town centre. Planet Ice Blackburn offers year-round ice skating, while Funtazia is Lancashire's largest play centre, boasting 24,000 square feet of climbing frames, ball pools, go-karts and slides.
If you're interested in the nightlife, you'll find traditional pubs, modern bars and clubs in Darwen and Blackburn. Darwen's Loom & Shuttle is a highly rated micropub that offers a wide range of craft beers and ales from its single room, while Blackburn's Electric Church hosts live music performances from a range of artists.
Going shopping
In Darwen, there are major supermarkets including Sainsbury's, Lidl and Asda, so you have everything you need for your weekly shop. There's also a selection of smaller convenience stores close to Collingwood Park where you can pick up everyday essentials. For retail therapy, you'll find high-street brands and independent retailers at The Mall in Blackburn.
Education
Our new build houses at Collingwood Park enjoy an impressive selection of schools nearby, making them an attractive choice for families with young children or teenagers. Within just 3 miles, there's an array of schools rated 'Good' and 'Outstanding' by Ofsted to choose from, including Sudell Primary School, Lower Darwen Primary School and Darwen Vale High School.
The University of Central Lancashire in Preston is also within easy reach, 15 miles from Collingwood Park.
Travelling around
Collingwood Park is just a five-minute drive from junction 6 of the M65, offering access east to Burnley and west to Preston and the M6, which can also be reached conveniently via junction 4, which is similarly close to this new housing development. The M65 provides a good connection to Bolton (13 miles away), Manchester, which is 25 miles from Darwen via the M61, and Wigan and Warrington via the M6.
Blackburn train station is two miles from Collingwood Park, providing services to Bolton, Manchester, Preston and Rochdale in the northwest and to Leeds and York. Additionally, London Euston is accessible within three hours via a transfer at Preston.
