Walking

Whilst the Forest of BowlandAONBmay not have particularly high peaks, there are large areas that are remote and isolated with little distinguishing features to aid navigation. The Forest of Bowland has its own Mountain Rescue Team who are often called out by people who have underestimated the Bowland Fells.

Before embarking on any walking in the Forest of BowlandAONBwe recommend that you purchase a copy of the Ordnance Survey Map OL41 - Forest of Bowland and Ribblesdale, and let somebody know your plans before departure. Mobile phone coverage is patchy and can not be relied upon on most of the Bowland Fells.

Key messages to remember:

• Be safe - plan ahead and follow the signs.
• Observe the local dog restrictions where they apply: e.g. Dogs are usually excluded all year round from grouse moors and seasonally from lambing enclosures. On all other land they must be on a 2 metre lead during the bird-nesting season (1st March to 31st July).
• Leave gates and property as you find them.
• Tread carefully - much of Bowland’s Access Land is important for ground-nesting birds, upland farming and game management.

Walks

There are a number of walks and rides for all abilities in and around Bowland, ranging from the high fell walking in open access areasto the less taxing walks around places such as Gisburn Forest or along the Lune Millennium Park.

Ribble Way

The Ribble Way follows the river from the sea near Preston to its source high in the fells of the Yorkshire Dales; 70 miles of delectable walking through an ever varied landscape. For convenience it is divided into seven easy sections with comprehensive descriptions of places passed en route such as Preston, Ribchester, Stonyhurst, Clitheroe, Settle and Horton. For those who do not wish to tackle the whole route, each section makes an easy day’s walk. See more information on the Ribble Way walk from Lancashire County Council’s Countryside web site.

Pendle Way

The Pendle Way is a 45 mile circular walk in 8 sections passing through villages like Barnoldswick, Earby and Newchurch-in-Pendle. There are also 6 smaller circular walks along the route. Information about the Pendle Way is contained in a special information pack available from Nelson Tourist Information Centre. Telephone 01282 692890.

Downham Circular Walks

Nestling under the bulk of Pendle Hill, Downham is quiet and unspoilt village with a church, stone cottages full of character and a brook running through the middle of the village green. The Downham Circular Walks offer routes through the village taking in various points of interest such as the Ribchester to Ilkley Roman Road and a lime kiln at Twiston Lane. The walks range from 3 to 7 miles in length taking approximately 2-5 hours to complete. Leaflets are available from Downham Post Office or the Assheton Arms Pub. See more information on the Downham Circular Walks from Lancashire County Council’s Countryside web site.

The Lune Millennium Park

A multi-user route roughly following the River Lune from Glasson near Cockerham to Lancaster and on to Bull Beck near Caton. The section between Lancaster and the Bull Beck Picnic Site follows the banks of the River Lune and is suitable for disabled users. It follows the route of the former Lancaster to Wennington railway and is approximately six miles in length. Car parking facilities are available at Lancaster, Ladies Walk, Denny Beck, Crook O'Lune, Bull Beck, Conder Green and Glasson Dock. A leaflet on the cycleway is available from Tourist Information Centres Lancaster Tel:01524 32878, Morecambe Tel: 01524 582808.

Gisburn Forest

Gisburn is the largest forest in Lancashire and is managed by Forest Enterprise. Within the forest there is a network of waymarked forest walks. These are based on existing forest roads and offer a variety of routes with a cycle network of 16km length. Contact Forest Enterprise for further details on 01229 860010.

Barley Circular Walks

Good walks are available all around this area including up and around the surrounding countryside of Pendle Hill, legendary home of the Lancashire Witches. Parking is at Barley visitor centre, where leaflets can be obtained or at Downham.

Brock Valley Nature Trail

This trail offers a pleasant riverside walk through rich woodland which displays many interesting species of trees and plants. The trail follows public footpaths and culminates at the ruined remains of an old mill with a water wheel and grinding stone. Contact Wyre Borough Council for further details on 01253 891000. For additional information on the Brock Valley Trail see Lancashire County Council’s Countryside web site.

Beacon Fell Country Park Trails

The Fellside Trail is a circular route on Beacon Fell provided for mountain bikes. The route takes approximately one hour to complete. Horse riding is permitted by prior arrangement with the Ranger Service. Please remember to give way to walkers and wildlife and to wear a cycling helmet at all times. For further information on horse riding permits please contact the ranger service on 01995 61693. See more information on the Fellside Trail from Lancashire County Council’s Countryside web site.

Gisburn Circular Walk

The walk begins in Gisburn, a village with an ancient church dating back to Norman times, inns and other buildings of interest dating from the sixteenth to the nineteeth centuries. Between the main village and the River Ribble is Gisburn Park, which until 1943 was the ancestral home of the Lister family and their successors the Lords Ribblesdale. Walks are approximately 4-5 hours, medium grade. Leaflets are available from local shops and businesses. See more information on the Gisburn Circular Walks from Lancashire County Council’s Countryside web site.

Reservoir Walks

Listed below are a series ofPDFs that provide detailed information on walks around reservoirs in the Forest of BowlandAONB.

• Aitken Wood Walk Leaflet (PDF, 266kb)
• Black Moss Reservoir Walk Leaflet (PDF, 302kb)
• Ogden Reservoir Walk Leaflet (PDF, 258kb)
• Stocks Reservoir Walk Leaflet (PDF, 196kb)

Other Rural Rambles

Listed below are a series of pdfs that provide detailed information on other walks in the Forest of BowlandAONB.

• The Bleasdale Circle Walk Leaflet (PDF, 917kb)
• Lune Valley Walk Leaflet (PDF, 518kb)
• Lune Valley Rambles Leaflet (PDF, 549kb)
• Tolkien Trail Leaflet (PDF, 381kb)

Five Walks Around Longridge

This attractively illustrated pack details 5 walks in the area to the east of Longridge. It includes circular walks on Longridge Fell and between Longridge and Ribchester"in the footsteps of the Romans", together with a linear walk over Longridge Fell to Chipping. Copies of the packs are available for£3 from Clitheroe and Preston Tourist Information Centres, Longridge Library and Longridge Post Office.

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