Barley and Newchurch in Pendle (4 miles)

Date: 25th September 2016

Description: A short walk from Barley along Pendle Water, then up to Newchurch in Pendle passing Clarion House. Fantastic views of Pendle Hill along the way.

Starting point: Large car park at Barley picnic site.

The walk: Walk to the far side of the car park in the opposite direction to the toilets and join the track signposted with the distinctive witch waymarkers of the Pendle Way footpath. This leads between cottages and goes through a gate following a track with the stream of Pendle Water on the right. Continue straight ahead along this track and when the houses at White Hough are reached on the left just continue straight ahead until the access road bends sharp right over the stream.
Leave the lane here as waymarked footpaths point to paths straight ahead on either side of the stream. Cross the stream and join the path following the right hand bank of the stream. This is a pleasant stream side path passing a farm on the right. It soon joins a lane at a gap in white railings. Turn right along the lane back to a crossroads. Join the lane almost opposite, Jinny Lane, which soon leads to the Clarion House on the right hand side.

From the Clarion House simply go back and turn right along Jinny Lane and follow this quiet narrow road into Newchurch. The lane climbs steeply as you reach the village with a conifer plantation to your right. At the road junction turn left if you want to visit the village church but to continue the walk turn right uphill passing the Witches Galore gift shop on the left.
Continue uphill along the lane and on the brow of the hill turn sharp right along the tarmac farm access road signed as a footpath. Ignore the path forking right off this leading alongside a woodland but continue along the access road to the farm buildings.Pass the first farm and stables on the left and as you approach the second set of buildings take a path on the left leading downhill alongside an electrified fence. This path emerges onto a stony track. Turn left along the track and it drops downhill to a lane. Turn right along this past Barley village hall on the left. Turn right at the lane junction, crossing the stream again, to return to the car park on the left.

The pub: The Pendle Inn. Dog friendly pub with 6 locally sourced cask ales on the bar, including my choice Moorhouse's Pride of Pendle.

Waterfall on Pendle Water

Clarion House, established in 1912 by the Nelson branch 

of the Independent Labour Party. Generations of walkers and

cyclists have stopped here for a brew and thanks to volunteers

you can still stop here for refreshments on a Sunday.

Looking back down Jinny Lane

Pendle Hill in the mist and rain

The Pendle Inn

Barden Bridge, Bolton Abbey and The Strid. ( 7 or 8 miles )

Date: 16th September 2016

Starting point: Small car park at Barden Bridge.

Description: An easy to follow walk alongside the River Wharfe.

The walk: Leave the car park and go through the hand gate onto the path. Follow this path for about 3 miles. Don't cross the bridge to the pavilion.
After crossing a stream by either a ford or footbridge walk up a lane for a few yards and go through the gate on the right. On meeting a choice of 2 footpaths take the one on your left rising.
Follow the path to descend to the bridge at Bolton Abbey. Cross the river by either the bridge or stepping stones.
To visit the pub take the path up to the right of the ruins to the road. Turn left and follow the road for about half a mile to the Devonshire Arms. Return along the road and follow the signs for the ruins, passing the tea rooms.
Take the path down to the bridge and cross. This time take the lower path which eventually reaches the path you previously came along. Continue until you cross the bridge to the pavilion.
Turn right and follow the river upstream all the way back to Barden Bridge, passing The Strid on the way, to the finish.

The pub: The Devonshire Arms. More of  a bistro but a nice seating area at the back. Black Sheep Bitter and two Copper Dragon ales on the bar. I went for the Black Sheep.

 Barden Bridge. The current bridge was built in 

1659, to replace an earlier crossing that served 

nearby Barden Tower.

 Barden Aqueduct, constructed in the 1850s as

part of a complex engineering project to supply 

water to the rapidly expanding city of Bradford.

 A good resting place on the way out to Bolton Abbey.

 The ruins of Bolton Abbey

The Devonshire Arms

The Strid

The River Wharfe

Bridge and Stepping Stones at Bolton Abbey.

Lumb Spout (3 miles)

Date: 3rd September, 2016

Description: A short walk, which is quite literally on my doorstep, to view Lumb Spout waterfall.

Starting point: The Trawden Arms, Trawden, near Colne, Lancashire.

The walk: To the right of the pub follow the old cobbled tram line to the top. Notice the few feet of iron tram tracks at the top, some of the few remaining tram tracks in Lancashire. Cross the road and head for the old library (Trawden Literary Institute) directly across from the telephone kiosk. Go diagonally left between garages and up a narrow ginnel. At the top, turn left and cross the fields towards Boulsworth Hill.
After the fourth stile follow the wall on your left to reach a wooden gate that leads onto a farm tack. Go down the track for a few yards then turn right onto a tarmaced lane past Meadowbottom Bungalow. At a crossroads go left downhill and follow the lane as it goes uphill. Take a gate on the left, opposite the access track to Alderhurst Farm, and follow the obvious path. Cross 2 footbridges and continue on the path uphill. Look out for Lumb Spout on your left as you approach the top of the path. An easy scramble down the banking will take you down to the waterfall. After viewing the waterfall, continue uphill, shortly swinging left to cross a concrete bridge over the stream. Follow the path uphill and across a field to reach a farmyard.
Go through the farmyard and along the farm track to shortly meet a tarmaced lane. Turn left and follow the lane down to Trawden.
After passing a converted mill and new housing development, turn right past the bowling green. Go over the cattle grid and follow the track as it swings left.
When you reach a farmhouse go through the farmyard and follow the path downhill to cross a footbridge over the stream. Go uphill to reach the tram line and turn right, back to the starting point.

The pub: The Trawden Arms. Still referred to locally as The Rock, its previous name. 3 cask ales on the bar including Reedley Hallows Brewery's Old Laund Bitter.

Boulsworth Hill

Hollin Hall

Lumb Spout

Towards Lumb Spout

Trawden Arms

Grassington and Conistone (6 miles)

Date: 31st August 2016

Description: Outstanding limestone scenery with a walk along the River Wharfe to finish.

Starting point: Park at the large National Park Centre car park. Our walk starts from Grassington Square.

The walk: Walk up the left hand street out of the square past the Devonshire Hotel.
On reaching the town hall turn left down Chapel Street.When Chapel Street turns steeply left downhill go right up Bank Lane. At the signpost (Kettlewell, Dalesway) go left.
Go up the middle of the field, through a narrow gap stile and then on in the same line along the obvious path.
Go through a gap in the wall and immediately left through another one.
Now turn right up the wall and over a stile. Walk straight ahead to meet a broad track and turn left along this on to the open moor.
Stick with this old cart track avoiding all leftward deviations towards Grass Wood, to reach the limestone clints.
The path continues, eventually passing a huge kiln. Carry on along the green sward with a radio mast coming into view.
On crossing a wall, a signpost points downhill to Conistone. The track passes below Bull Scar before winding its way down through Gurling Trough to enter Conistone.
Walk out towards Grassington, with the River Wharfe on your right.
At an "S" bend just beyond a barn on the right go straight ahead through a gate and across the field. Regain the road again at the corner of Grass Wood.
Continue along the road for another couple of hundred yards until a signpost points the way diagonally towards Grassington Bridge.Walk down through the trees to link up with the Wharfe and turn left along the bank..
Follow the riverside pastures back to Grassington, admiring the rapids of Ghaistrill's Strid en route.
Cross the road at Grassington Bridge and continue along the path until you reach Linton Falls. Turn left up the enclosed path back to the car park.

The pub: Foresters Arms, Grassington. Nice pub with a friendly barman who served me a wonderful pint of Black Sheep's Riggwelter.

Limestone Clints

Ghaistrill's Strid

Ghaistrill's Strid

Linton Falls

The Foresters Arms, Grassington