Walk Leader - Barry Wilson

Distance – 10.5 miles

Weather – Overcast and breezy but continual improvement throughout the day.

14 Walkers and 1 dog met (outside) the Spread Eagle at Sawley.  We  walked out of the village along Sawley Old Brow and upon reaching the driveway to Sawley Lodge (now Sawley Hall?) we turned uphill following the Ribble Way to the hamlet of Dockber, where several most unusual features were seen adjacent to a ‘strictly private’ plantation. This it transpires is the venue for the annual ‘Beat Herder’ three day Music Festival held each July and attended by over 5000 people. (Music? but perhaps not as we know it). Today however all was peaceful.

At Gisburn Coates Farm the route crossed then re crossed the Manchester to Hellifield Railway now little used beyond Clitheroe. We were welcomed by a herd of most inquisitive but otherwise friendly young cattle, an exciting interlude not however appreciated as such by all. Continuing on a revised Ribble Way route, the footpath turned down the aptly named (very) ‘Steep Wood’ to the River Ribble. A morning ‘brew’ was taken in this most tranquil location, all too quickly followed by heading uphill away from the river across several fields to Coppice Farm, then  out onto a quiet Mill Lane. We left Ribble Way at Gisburn Bridge and then also the road at Park House Farm to head back in the direction of Sawley.

Lunch was taken within the peaceful confines of Bolton Close Plantation. Suitably refreshed we headed across more fields to the hamlets of Fooden with its myriad of footpaths, Bolton Hall with its connection to King Henry VI and on to the village of Bolton by Bowland.  On leaving the village at Skirden Bridge, assistance was requested by the driver of a rather large white van stuck on the village car park with a flat battery. Our intrepid walkers came to the rescue and succeeded in ‘Bump Starting’ the vehicle. Suitably stimulated by our achievement we then followed the path between Skirden and Holden Becks, the latter crossed at Hell Syke Foot Bridge, bringing us to a path following the course of the Ribble across the fields back to Sawley.

To view all of the photo's taken on this walk please click here

Barry