Dunsop Bridge Circular Walk

OS Explorer Dunsop Bridge Circular Walk OL41 Start Point Distance/Time Public transport Terrain Key to Facilities Dunsop Bridge 10 miles, 6 hours B10 Clitheroe to Slaidburn Tracks, fields, roads, open Post Office, Parking, Circular (Mon to Fri) moorland SD6598 5017 Shorter Route Café, Toilets, Bus Stop, Gates and some stiles 7 miles, 3.5 hours Petrol Station Steep sections and can be very wet under foot (Whitendale onto Dunsop Fell) GPS Waypoints (OS grid refs) N 6 Note: The section from 1 SD 6598 5017 7 Whitendale onto Dunsop Fell 8 2 SD 6576 5079 – it is important you are 9 adequately equipped as the 3 SD 6563 5097 walk covers extensive areas of 4 SD 6527 5318 open moorland, the route should not be attempted in 5 SD 6529 5366 5 bad weather. 6 10 SD 6600 5502 4 GPS Waypoints (Alt. Route) 7 SD 6667 5467 8 SD 6744 5443 13 12 11 1a SD 6588 5011 9 SD 6875 5426 2a SD 6554 5065 10 SD 6912 5336 14 11 SD 6912 5284 12 ) SD 6863 5285 2011 ) ( 13 SD 6824 5284 15 14 SD 6739 5212 100023320 ( 15 SD 6652 5143 3 2a 2

1 GPS: SD 6598 5017 8 GPS: SD 6744 5443 14 GPS: SD 6739 5212 Ordnance Survey have declared Dunsop Take the track in the centre of Dunsop Pass through a gate in the wall and bear Follow the track past The Hey and leave Bridge as the official centre of the British Bridge between the Post Office and the right and descend the fell with Dunsop it at the footpath sign on the right. At the Isles, the famous explorer Sir Ranulph Bridge. Brook to your left. On a clear day you plantation cross a picturesque clough and Fiennes unveiled the plaque that verifies 2 GPS: SD 6576 5079 will have fine views ahead to Stock’s over a stream and field to a gateway this. With resident ducks and grassy Follow this track passing a row of houses Reservoir and Gisburn Forest and in the leading to Beatrix Farm. banks it is the perfect place to stop for a on the right, here the track turns into a path distance Pendle Hill. 15 GPS: SD 6652 5143 picnic or a cup of tea and a cake at and then crosses the river via a footbridge. 9 GPS: SD 6875 5426 Turn right along the lane and look for the Puddleducks cafe. As the track nears the fell end take a footpath sign that crosses the large field 3 GPS: SD 6563 5097 The first part of the walk follows the sharp right, continue and at a gate in the on the right, following a line of overhead Turn right and follow the access-only road River Dunsop for a few miles up the wall turn left and follow the waymarked pylons. Head for a stile in the wall and up the valley passing Bishops House on Dunsop and Whitendale valleys; this is path down passing Burnside. descend steps to rejoin the lane, turn left the left. favourite with bird watchers as it is a 10 to retrace your steps back to the start. 4 GPS: SD 6527 5318 GPS: SD 6912 5336 prime spot for raptors including hen Continue and pass United Utilities Continue to the road, turn right and harrier, merlin, kestrel, peregrine falcon, continue to the first house on the left - Alternative route suitable for installations and artificial concrete weirs. pushchairs, wheelchairs and Trampers short eared owl and goshawk, which are Cross a bridge followed by a short ascent Laythams Holiday Cottages. most commonly seen in spring. Closer to to reach a road junction. 11 GPS: SD 6912 5284 1a GPS: SD 6588 5011 the village of Dunsop Bridge you might see house martin, swallow and great 5 GPS: SD 6529 5366 Follow the footpath opposite Laythams and Start the walk at point 1a. – the post spotted woodpecker. Turn right and follow the road to reach cross diagonally left over a field to reach a office is on your right, go over the bridge, stile in a fence. Continue down the field up the hill to the war memorial, on the the hamlet of Whitendale This is a wonderfully diverse walk starting heading for a track. Cross the track and next bend you will notice a signpost (if you are following the shorter route, with a picturesque village, a pleasant river turn around and re-trace your steps) follow the path diagonally left across the pointing right along a road. field aiming for the bottom left corner of valley amble followed by a steep ascent 2a GPS: SD 6554 5065 6 GPS: SD 6600 5502 a wood plantation. to open moorland and wonderful views At Whitendale turn right onto a track and Continue along this road for about ½ across to Pendle Hill in one direction and GPS: SD 6863 5285 walk past a barn, follow the waymarked 12 mile where the above route joins the Gisburn Forest and Stocks Reservoir in Cross a small stile in the fence next to zig zag track as it ascends Dunsop Fell to track at Point 3, from here follow the the other. Contrasting with a return via the plantation (quite difficult to spot from reach a gate in a wall. above instructions from Point 4 to 6. farmland and rolling hills – something for afar), follow the edge of the plantation to Once at Whitendale, retrace your steps GPS: SD 6667 5467 everyone! 7 a wall, turn right and soon after cross a back to the start. Continue to follow the waymarked track wall stile into a field. over Dunsop Fell (it can be very wet and Note: the route is suitable for a boggy underfoot) which eventually 13 GPS: SD 6824 5284 wheelchair to Point 4 where you reach reaches a well defined wall. Walk across the field towards Burn the United Utilities Installations; beyond House, reach the track and turn right here the track is a rough surface which around the back of Burn House. may not be suitable. www.forestofbowland.com