Walking in Lancashire. Mary Welsh
and in the central part there is splendid walking country, and even between the large towns vast stretches of lonely moorland tempt walkers onto their heights.
Lancashire does not have mountains such as those known as Munros or Corbetts, but it does have some high hills. They include Weets Hill, the heights above Darwen, the Bleasdale Fells, Pendle Hill, Thieveley Pike, Longridge Fell, Clougha Pike and Ward’s Stone, all of which tempt the walker to climb onto their long grassy ridges, from which there are panoramic views. Many of these are topped with sweet-smelling heather and some consist of peaty moorland where, generally, there is a path to help you along.
The county has a wealth of pretty villages, such as Arkholme, Nether Burrow, Chipping, Slaidburn, Ribchester, Bolton-by-Bowland, Downham and Croston, where you will want to linger. Try the walks in this book that either start in one of these villages, or pass through them.
Stile onto Grit Fell (Walk 14)
Red roses on the waterboard bridge over the River Lune (Walk 5)
Some of the walks take you beside Lancashire’s wonderful rivers, in cluding the stately Lune, where salmon jump and sand martins tunnel into the banks to nest. Or you can seek out the delights of the Marshaw Wyre and the Tarnbrook Wyre, which unite to form the River Wyre below Abbeystead Reservoir. Another trio of fine rivers, the Ribble, the Hodder and the Calder, can be enjoyed on one of the walks.
Deciduous woodlands, beautiful in bluebell time, abound. Try walking in late April and early May to see carpets of these lovely flowers in Grize Dale, and in the woods near Aughton where they border the River Lune.
Those who prefer breezy coastal rambles will enjoy a bracing walk from Cockerham along the Cocker Channel, or a stroll on the embankment that edges part of Morecambe Bay on your return to Knott End, or a blustery walk round Sunderland Point – if the tide is right.
Lancashire offers a wealth of historic sites. The extensive ruins of Whalley Abbey can be visited at the beginning or end of a walk from Whalley itself. The bridges at Wycoller have to be seen to appreciate the workmanship of the builders – and from this lovely corner of the county there is a fine walk up onto the heights as well. Other bridges to be visited are Fairy Bridge near Downham, Cromwell’s Bridge not far from Stonyhurst College and the Devil’s Bridge at Kirkby Lonsdale.
If level ground is your choice for walking Lancashire can fulfil this desire too. The Lancaster Canal provides great towpath walks, where you are often rewarded with a flash of petrol blue as a kingfisher flies low over the cut, perhaps at Glasson or Garstang. Or walk over the flat pastures between Martin Mere Wildfowl Centre and Mere Sands Wood Nature Reserve.
Portal to what was once the harbour master’s house – Sunderland (Walk 9)
But a word of caution: on walks over remote fells, through lonely valleys or along quiet shores the effects of weather changes should not be underestimated. Go prepared with waterproofs, wear walking boots, take the maps you need and a compass – and be able to use it.
The relevant Ordnance Survey Explorer map is listed for each walk, and the maps shown in the book are from the Landranger series, 1:50,000 scale.
THE COUNTRY CODE
Remember that the countryside needs your care and respect – follow the Country Code.
1 Enjoy the countryside and respect its life and work.
2 Guard against all risk of fire.
3 Fasten all gates.
4 Keep dogs under close control.
5 Keep to public paths across farmland.
6 Use gates and stiles to cross hedges and walls.
7 Leave livestock, crops and machinery alone.
8 Take litter home.
9 Help to keep all water clean.
10 Protect wildlife, plants and trees.
11 Take special care on country roads.
12 Make no unnecessary noise.
All the walks start from car parks or recognised parking areas and the relevant grid references are given. Many starting points are approached along narrow, quiet lanes where care should be taken in case you meet a farm vehicle or a flock of sheep. These lanes can be accessed from the M6, a tiresome motorway but one that is very useful for taking walkers close to the area to be walked.
The walks (all circular except one) range in length from 8 to 19km (5 to 12 miles) and all are suitable for most walkers. Some are gentle strolls that make a good introduction to the wonderful recreation of walking and help the less fit to prepare for more challenging walks.
Good walking!
Mary Welsh
WALK 1
Silverdale
| Start/Finish | Silverdale |
| Distance | 10.5km (6½ miles) |
| Time | 3–4 hours |
| Terrain | Generally easy walking; walking boots advisable |
| Maps | OS Explorer OL7 |
The villages of Silverdale, Arnside and Storth border the estuary where the River Kent empties its waters into Morecambe Bay. Silvery limestone hills, where the pavement has been eroded into clints and grykes, erupt from the gentle pastures beyond the villages and give Silverdale its name. Many of the hills are skirted with deciduous woodlands, such as quaintly named Eaves, Gait Barrows, Cringlebarrow, Middlebarrow, Bottoms and Underlaid. Parts of Eaves Wood, where this walk starts, have been a broad-leaved woodland continuously since the 1600s.
Park in the easy-to-miss car park on the edge of Eaves Wood, Silverdale, grid ref 472759 (northwest of Leighton Moss visitor centre). Leave from the back of the parking area by a wide track beyond a gate to walk through ash, hazel, small-leaved lime and oak woodland. At the waymarked T-junction turn left to continue a short way along the edge of the wood to a Y-junction, where you begin to climb the right branch. Ascend steadily and at the next Y-junction take the right fork again. Follow the track as it begins to wind left, then at the first waymark you spot bear right to climb a wide track which is soon edged with limestone clints, and then becomes stepped. Emerge into an open area with limestone scarp to the right and go on past some crag-fast yew. Continue on until you reach a waymark directing you left for a short ascent onto a fine hillock. Ahead stands the Pepperpot, a memorial to Queen Victoria’s golden jubilee in 1887, and in summer rockrose spangles the turf here. Pause to enjoy the magnificent view.
Return from the top to the track, turn right and continue to the waymark directing you right. Then descend the grand wide, winding path that takes you down through the trees to join the main track. A waymark directs you left, but you need to turn right and continue along the right of way. Ignore the narrow path that descends left and go on to come beside a high stone wall on your left and two huge old water-storage troughs on your right. Carry on along the track to arrive at the narrow lane at Elmslack.
Cross the road and walk down signposted Cove Road. Watch out for arrows directing you down a continuing narrow walled-and-hedged way (Walling Lane) to pass below a house. Go through a gate to join a road, go ahead for a few steps, and where the road turns left take the walled track ahead to arrive at the road to Arnside.
Turn