| Great trails: Ribble Valley |
| Round in circles |
| Three short circular walks in the Ribble Valley wind through 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 of them in one day.
1. Clitheroe
Zero your trip meter as you leave Three Rivers Park caravan site (see overleaf). Turn left onto Eaves Hall Lane, then right at the T-junction at 0.5 mile, onto Waddington Road, and left at the T-junction at 1.3 miles onto the B6478, 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.
2. 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’ll 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 that is 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.
3. 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.
4. 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.
5. Back to the beginning
Once you have passed the toadstool sculptures, take the path up to the next level and continue in the same direction as before, climbing the steps that 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.
6. 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 eight 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.
7. 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.
8. 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 nort-heast 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.
9. Dunsop Bridge
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 as an area
of outstanding natural beauty.
10. In 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.
11. 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.
|
|
|
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.
Refreshment
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
Information
Clitheroe Tourist Information Centre
Tel 01200 425566
Email Click here
Website Click here
|
|
