Walks Around

Walk 1 – Tunbrook Round – approx. 3 miles

This walk can be viewed on the following maps:

OS Landranger Map No 102 – 1:50,000 scale

OS Explorer Map No 286 – 1:25,000 scale – preferable for walking

Only the most recent editions of the Landranger Map shows the “Redrow” estate. The route is described from the junction of Drive and Preston Road - grid ref: SD 5828 3392. This point can be reached by walking from the green south down Preston Road in the Preston direction to just after the skew bridge. Walk along Ribblesdale Drive, round the bend, past Roshaw and turn right into Blackleach Avenue. Go through the gate at the end and along the path bringing you onto Carbis Avenue – turn left and then right at the end onto Douglas Avenue. You will then see a pretty little footbridge – cross over into the field. Turn left and walk alongside the small brook.

You’ll see a stile – that on inspection is clearly going nowhere……thick thorny bushes behind …………. ignore and keep going! You’ll soon see another pretty footbridge, followed by some not-so-pretty scrubland. Keep going straight ahead.

There is a gate here, which has at times been padlocked. Hopefully it won’t be for you!

You then come out onto a lane – go left and fairly immediately start looking for a gate on the right. It is fairly easy to spot, as there is a footpath sign on it – you have to reach over to slide open the bolt. Go through and cross the garden and when you come to a gravel drive go right. Fairly immediately you’ll

see a sign saying “Private Drive” and a marker showing the footpath going to the left.

Now you come down into the first crossing of Tun Brook – over a charming footbridge. This is a lovely little wooded glade and remarkable for being right on the edge of the village, but not known to many! Coming out of the valley you now need to head pretty directly towards Salisbury Farm, which can be seen in the distance in this photo. HOWEVER at the time of “going to press”, the farmhouse and surrounding buildings were about to be demolished. You need to head fairly directly east, crossing two stiles – second of which is pictured here. It is likely your view will be a little different! The footpath goes to the farm and down the farm lane, to reach Elston Lane where you then turn right.

You continue down Elston Lane for a bit over a mile. You may notice the distinctive sign for the Ribble Way, as this joins from the left. Shortly after this the course of an old Roman Way crosses the route.

There are charming views to the east over the .

At the point where the lane turns sharply left and down a steep hill, the route goes straight on, following the Ribble Way sign, over a stile. Head straight for the big tree in the middle of the field and over towards the woodland. You’ll see the stile where the path goes into the woods.

The locals around here are very friendly – at least if they think you are about to feed them!

Here you again enter the Tunbrook Valley and cross the stream over another lovely footbridge. The valley is charmingly unspoilt. After the crossing there is a slightly steep ascent up the other side. You can pause to listen for the woodpeckers that are known to reside in the woods – and catch your breath at the same time!

The sign at the top of the west bank of Tunbrook Valley gives details of the woodland – flora & fauna.

From this point the correct route is not entirely easy to find. From where you come out of the wood, you follow the fenced-in route to a bridge/stile. After crossing the stile you need to head diagonally up/across the field in a north- west direction. You should see the gap in the hedge. Cross into the next field.

This image is from “MARIO” – County Council’s Interactive Mapping System. It shows this section of the walk.

MARIO carries the most up to date information on current rights of way and can be accessed by anyone.

Continue heading towards the corner of the buildings that mark the edge of the industrial estate. When you reach a track turn directly right – this will lead to a stile over into a footpath that continues past the offices of some of the units on the estate, and onto Preston Road. From here you turn right and stroll back along the road to the start of the route.