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On a dry but cool clear morning 17 walkers started at Little Cragg car park with views of Clougha in the background.  Two of the group were new members Clare and Stephen their second walk with West Lancashire and a visitor Helen also joined the group.

An easy start to the walk was down the quiet single track road to Carr Wood heading past the large but empty camping ground. Then onto Crossgill Farm where some bantams looking as though they were having a ‘bad hair day’ were seeking food at the roadside. 

A track took us into Littledale passing an old unmarked church which it is assumed belonged to Littledale Hall, now being used for farm storage. The route went through Gill Plantation up to Deep Clough passing the first muddy patch and 2 sows, one a Gloucester old spot.   As a field was crossed with cows and calves, fabulous views over the open country were evident (to those relaxed enough not to be bothered by cows protecting their young). More fields led to Winder with views of the Trough of Bowland and The Three Peaks. The open spaces seen in every direction made us realise we were lucky living in the North West.

Leaving the remote Winder farm we made our way down to pretty Warm Beck Gill and then up for more views passing by a line of trees to Thornbush before descending down the road to Barkin Bridge and lunch in the sunshine by the river Roeburn.

After lunch a brief walk up the road through Little Salter and then off to Haylot Farm crossing the river whose course had been disturbed by the winter flooding despite reinforced  bridge and banks. Pendle Witches Way was joined at the farm as we crossed moorland with more lambs, some recently born.   Some members of the group realised we were once more on a path taken before; the cows and calves were a bit of a hint although this time active measures were being taken by the cows to stop geese getting anywhere near the calves. 

Roeburndale gave way to Caton-with-Littledale, a rough track was taken to Littledale Hall; round the back of the hall a path led past once stylish gardens to enter the woods.

After gates held in place by a variety of bits of string, metal clips and sometime good luck the route now included a few interesting ladder and stone stiles to ensure variety.

From the wood a muddy field to Field Head and then down the track to Belhill Farm consisting of some modern housing redevelopment.  Wisp Ford wood was entered and a wooden bridge took us over and up to Skelbrow Farm with views ahead of gorse, The Cragg  and Morecambe Bay with the Lakeland Hills behind. The last minor incline taking us back to the car park in the sun.

A stunning area for quiet walking with fabulous views.