Heart of Bowland Walk

Start: Slaidburn Village Car Park by the River Hodder GR 714523.

Turn right out of car park passing row of houses, war memorial and Hark to Bounty Inn. Keep to this road for approximately 1¼ miles. Just past Woodhouse Lane (on right) road bends left, follow road to a metal gate on right. Through gate and proceed along tarmac path which leads to Burnside Farm GR 690537. The route through farm is waymarked (yellow topped posts). Keep stone wall on right and follow round towards Burn End (GR 688543). After passing through gate, turn right passing clump of six trees on right. Approximately 150 yards past trees turn left up indistinct path which soon becomes a well defined track, with deep cleft of Dunsop Brook on right. (Dunsop Brook is not mentioned on 1-50,000 map).

On nearing the Summit follow stone wall to gate on Dunsop Head GR 675544. Through gate and descend winding path following posts to Whitendale with good views of the Bowland Fells.

On entering Whitendale GR 660550 pass through farm, turn right at Keepers cottage and follow Whitendale River to Brim Clough (route waymarked) on reaching the cairn at Brim Clough bear N.N.E. heading up grassy hill (no visible footpath) to reach Roman Road at GR 662578. Turn right on Roman Road, through gate and descend through the hills keeping to rough track, until stone bridge is reached at GR 686560.

About ¼ mile past bridge leave main track and descend to Croasdale Brook, following wooden posts to footbridge, cross and ascend hill which leads to Croasdale House GR 70551. Go through gate, turn left in farmyard, pass through second gate and head uphill over stile. Continue to barn and stile at GR 704554 and follow in same direction crossing stile into open field and follow stone wall to Hyde Field Clough Farm track and main road GR 707560.

Turn left on road for approximately 1¼ miles until Kenibus farm track on right at GR 708578. Turn right on farm track, past farm and over Lock Bridge (River Hodder). Go through gateway, proceed uphill to gravel path, keeping woodland area on right. Turn right and follow path through two gates round to New House (ruined barn) GR 720580.

With Stocks Reservoir in view follow path to Hasgill Beck. Cross stone bridge and continue uphill to enter Gisburn Forest GR 726574. Follow main track through forest to reach Cocklet Hill car park GR 736565. ahead on main road, crossing Causeway to St. Jame's Church at GR 736554 (a brief history of the Church can be found inside). Turn right past Church and follow track over Rushton Hill to Black House Farm GR 729549. Go over cattle grid and follow farm path to metal gate on right. Pass through gate with wall on right to gate at top of field. Through gate, following wall on right to stile. Cross stile, wall is then on left and fence and conifers on right. Follow path to open field, through gate and follow stone wall to Hammerton Hall GR 719537.

Through gate, turn left keeping Hall on right, cross Barn Gill and follow River Hodder to Holmehead Bridge. Cross bridge, track bends left then right. Just after right bend turn left and follow wall on S.S.W. bearing to reach Croasdale Brook. Follow Brook upstream to kissing gate at main road. Turn left, left again to Car Park and Finish.