| Great escapes: Lancashire 7 |
| Round in circles |
| These three short circular walks give a flavour of the Ribble Valley, showcasing the diverse delights of town, village and countryside |
Weather permitting, each of these
three walks can
be easily managed by both young and old. And since they are so close together, you can comfortably cover all three in one day.
1. Clitheroe
Zero your car's trip meter as you leave Three Rivers Park caravan site. Turn left onto Eaves Hall Lane then right at the T-junction at 0.5 miles, onto Waddington Road, and left at
the T-junction at 1.3 miles onto the
B 6478, signposted Clitheroe. At
the T-junction (2.9 miles) turn
right onto Railway View. At the
mini-roundabout (3.1 miles) take the second exit, onto Parson Lane, then at the second (3.2 miles) turn right onto Station Road. At 4.2 miles turn left into the car park. (Pay & Display: 60p for up to four hours).
It's one of the most distinctively named places around, yet its uniquely Lancastrian tag only hints at the depth of character in this busy old market town.
• Hill and dale
Now on foot, cross the road from the car park and turn right. When you have passed the sign for Ribblesdale Pool turn left into Ribble Way, which follows the river Ribble. After a couple of
hundred yards you spot some houses: head away from the river towards them and follow the footpath through the estate. Continue down to a large weir, then take the footpath that leads to the river, following it over a bridge distinctive for its three arches.
Having crossed the bridge, follow the footpath signposted West Bradford then take the
left-hand fork and walk up to the top of the hill. Now head down the left-hand side of the field ahead, cross over the boundary and make your way over the concrete footbridge.
• Down to the Ribble
Climb over the stile to the right then walk across three fields, keeping to the right-hand boundaries. At the top right corner of the third field, there are two stiles. Climb over the one on the right, continue through some trees, over another stile and to the riverside.
Follow the river round to the left, and you'll see a bridge. Cross it, and on the right-hand wall you'll find a foothole, or wall-stile. Climb over it and follow the path next to the riverside. You will pass signs for Cross Hill Nature Reserve, which is well worth a visit.
• Art on the path
Continue along the riverside and you will come across a sculpture of a compass - part of Clitheroe's Sculpture Trail. It's a wonderfully
naturalistic collection of art and you should have time to take in all the sculptures it offers.
• Back to the beginning
Once you have passed the toadstool sculptures, take the path up to the next level and continue in the same as direction before, climbing the steps which bring you out onto the road.
Now turn left and take the footpath on the right after the cemetery. Cross the stile, follow the footpath across the field and go through the kissing gate into the next field. Cross the next stile, on the left, then head towards the weir you passed earlier, following the path back through the houses past the Ribblesdale Pool and
back to the car park. If there's time,
head into Clitheroe and check out the Castle Museum and the Platform Gallery.
2. Slaidburn
Zero your trip meter as you exit the Clitheroe car park, then turn right onto the B2643 (Edisford Road).
Turn left at the mini-roundabout at 0.9 miles, onto Station Road, then straight over the next one (1.1 miles). At 1.2 miles turn left onto the B6478 (Waddington Road), continuing through the villages of Waddington
and Newton-in-Bowland (both have pubs serving lunch). At 8 miles turn right at the T-junction onto the B6478, signposted Slaidburn, and at 9.9 miles turn left into the car park (60p for up to four hours).
This beautiful village dates from Anglo Saxon times and has some fine attractions, not least the very pleasant pub and restaurant.
• Myttons Farm Craft Centre
From the car park, cross over
the road and follow the footpath to the right, alongside the river. Take the next path to the right, walking across the field towards the church, then turn right to Slaidburn Heritage Centre. Continue along Church Street
to the Hark to Bounty Inn, then turn left past Slaidburn Pottery and up the hill. Just after the medical centre turn right onto the footpath into Shay Wood
and head through the wood, across two stiles, over a small bridge and up to the top of the field. Now walk left, alongside the wall, turning right at its
end towards Myttons Farm
Craft Centre.
• Over field and stile
Cross the yard at the Craft Centre, climb over the stile on the left and walk across the field towards the north-east corner of Bridge End Farm. Cross the bridge over Lanshaw Brook then head left along the bank, crossing the field ahead and keeping left alongside the wall. Continue along this path, crossing another style and another field, before turning right along the bridleway until you reach the wall ahead.
Walk past Shay House Farm on your right, cross the Croasdale Brook then head right, walking alongside the riverbank. Continue towards a large stile, which appears as the brook meanders to the right. Climb over it and walk over the hill, crossing a further five stiles, until you enter a stand of trees.
Follow the wall to the left, passing Townhead House on your right, then turn left, over a stile and onto the road. Follow this road back to the village, turn left at
the War Memorial and return to the car park.
3. Dunsop Bridge
Back in the car, zero your trip meter as you leave the Slaidburn car park and turn right onto the B6478.
At 4.4 miles turn right into the car park (no charge).
Dunsop Bridge is recognised by
the Ordnance Survey as the village
closest to the centre of the British Isles, and this walk covers countryside that will leave you in
no doubt as to why the Forest of Bowland is designated an area of outstanding natural beauty.
• On track - and off
Leave the car park, go across the road, through the black-and-gold gates and up the drive towards Thorneyholme Hall (‘No Trespassing' refers to the grounds, not the path). Just before the footbridge, walk left through the kissing gate then across the field towards the trees. Cross a footbridge and a stile ahead on the left, then turn right, walking parallel with the river.
Continue along the footpath, past an aqueduct and over a small footbridge. Follow the footpath to the right, over a suspension bridge, then turn right with the footpath and through two gates as it heads away from the river and a hillock.
At the corner of the field, cross a wooden stile then, in the next field, a wall stile. Now turn right and follow the track, leaving it at the farm and heading past the buildings towards the river before taking a right turn back along the river bank (just before the green footbridge). Take the footpath to the left of Thorneyholme Hall and return to the car park the way you came.
• Return to Three Rivers
Zero your trip as you leave the car park, turn left and at 2.6 miles turn right onto the B6478. At 7.9 miles turn right again into West Bradford Road then left at 8.7 miles up Eaves Hall Lane, turning right into Three Rivers Park at 9.2 miles.
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Distance Driving: 27.7 miles. Walking: 2.5-10 miles, depending on whether you do one walk or all three
Time All day (for all three walks and some time in Clitheroe)
Start and finish Three Rivers Park, West Bradford
Suitable for All the family
Refreshments
Moorcock Inn, Waddington
Tel 01200 422333
Parkers Arms, Newton-in-Bowland
Tel 01200 446236
Hark to Bounty Inn, Slaidburn
Tel 01200 446246
Attractions
Clitheroe Castle and Museum
Tel 01200 424635
Platform Gallery (also for Ribble Valley Sculpture Trail)
Tel 01200 443071
Slaidburn Heritage Centre
Tel 01200 446161
Slaidburn Pottery
01200 446062
Myttons Farm Crafts
01200 446200
Tourist information
Clitheroe Tourist Information Centre Tel 01200 425566
Email CLICK HERE
Website CLICK HERE
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Tip
Tolkien fans should try the Three Rivers Walk, which follows routes
thought to have inspired the author while he was writing Lord of the Rings. He came to the area to visit his son who was studying at nearby by Stonyhurst College. Details from Clitheroe Tourist Information Centre.
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