Little Bowland
Squeezed between the Hodder and the wild Bowland Fells, Little Bowland is a delightful area of Lancashire. Here the underlying geology is limestone, where the bones of the hills are evident in reefs and knolls. But that is only part of it. Within this short walk besides the prettiness of a miniature limestone landscape, you will traverse a wild upland moor, pass through scattered woodland and cross a stretch of parkland within the space of a few hours. Had this scenery had the ill luck to have been formed within 50 miles of London it would have been declared a National Treasure. As it is it's Lancashire's treasure.
Time: 2˝ - 3 hours
Terrain: A moderate walk mainly across farmland with a short moorland yomp before dropping to Chipping. On return mainly easy across park and pasture.
Map
Start: Isolated telephone box between Chipping and Burholme Bridge. On reaching Chipping from Longridge, turn right into the main street and by the War Memorial turn left. At the next junction keep left. 2 Km further on where the lane turns sharply right, there is limited parking close by an isolated phone box.
1. Car park to Chipping (6 Km or 4 miles : 2 hours)
From phone box retrace way back to lane and turn left onto tarmac lane leading to Dinkling Green Farm.
Cross cattle grid and follow farm track to the substantial farmstead of Dinkling Green reached in about 15 minutes. Keep on main track through the farm as it bears slightly to the left. Cross a shallow ford. Take the footpath as it forks left.
Cross another shallow ford and go through a five barred wooden gate.
With the fence on your right, in fairly rough pasture, continue until you come to a five bar wooden gate in a corner of the field. Pass through and re-enter the field you have just vacated by a metal gate on the left. (Do not question – this is the right of way.)
Now with a fence on your right advance upwards towards a hillock. Passing through a gate size gap in the wall keep the high ground on your left as you begin to drop into a wooded vale before Lickhurst Farm. After crossing a wire fence by means of a stile, cross a brook by means of a footbridge. Beyond follow track up to the farm.
On reaching the main yard keep right. The way is through a gate onto access land and a rough moorland track.
Views open up towards Saddle Fell and Parlick on the southwest flank of the Bowland Fells. Keep on the main track as it turns to the left 10 minutes after leaving the farm. After crossing a stream by stepping stones, arrive at the tarmac lane below Burnslack in a further 15 minutes.
On reaching the lane, look for a footpath immediately on the left across a stile.
Cross this stretch of rough pasture aiming to the right of a hillock crossing the wire fence by a stile. wooden stile.
On reaching the fence of the next field turn right. With the fence on your left follow path down through a number of fields 750m to Windy Hill Farm.
Turn right between buildings then immediately left onto footpath through a gate.
Descend through pasture to cross a footbridge on the left. Through broken woodland a distinct path leads to the open side of the valley. Ahead the top of a telegraph pole will come into view. Aim for this. Cross a very large field to reach a stile in its left corner. With a hedge on the left follow the path through three fields down to lane. The path passes close to an imposing white house.
On reaching lane turn left and follow it through the works yard and down to village.
The Cobble Corner Café is a popular refreshment stop for walkers and cyclists while the village has two pubs. (See below)
2. Chipping to Car Park. 4 Km or 2˝ miles: 1 hour)
Turn left at the church and walk down to the war memorial and turn left into the lane.
A little further on you have the option of taking a concessionary path that keeps you off the road. At the entrance to Leagram Hall turn left onto the drive.Hall. With a wood on your left and past a distinctive oak tunnelled at its base
turn sharply right to aim for a pair of gates and stile across the parkland.
Cross stile and with fence on left follow path past another plantation on left. Keep on this path eventually arriving at a footbridge.
Cross to gently climb up to a double stile beyond scattered woodland. Before you is a limestone outcrop called Knot Hill.
Follow footpath as it skirts the base of the knoll on its left side. Pass a quarry and then a lime kiln to reach a recently tarmac-ed farm track.
Turn left and follow it up to the farmstead of Lower Greystoneley. (At time of writing undergoing extensive rebuilding).
Keep on the track as it descends in woodland (care is needed here as the footing can be quite slippery) and crosses a ford, with footbridge available on the left. The track leads on to Higher Greystoneley. Follow it through the recently restored buildings onto the lane. Turn left and in 250 metres arrive at the car.
The Sun Inn
If there is a finer way of spending lunch time during a lovely walk than in the Sun Inn at Chipping feasting on their famous pie and peas and washing it down with a pint of Black Sheep Bitter than we would like to know about it. (emails to mail@lancashirewalks.com).
The Sun Inn is a Boddingtons house and on this visit was serving Boddingtons Bitter (4.1%), Jennings Cumberland Ale (4.0%), Theakstons Mild (3.5%) and Black Sheep Bitter (3.8%). As the Black Sheep is one of our favourite traditional style bitters we have always opted for this on our visits to the Sun Inn and have never been disappointed, it being served in excellent condition.
As stated previously the Sun Inn is famous locally for its pie and peas so despite a very good lunch menu we have always gone for this. On this occasion Bob had the steak and kidney pie and John had the traditional pasty, both served with mushy peas and gravy as well as a side dish of raw onions. Delightful! On previous occasions we have sampled the pork pies and meat and potato pies.
The main bar has wood panels, an open coal fire and wood beams. There is a large collection of framed black and white photos bedecking the walls. The other 2 rooms maintain the character of this gem of a pub.
