Start: Dunsop Bridge car park. From junction 31a on the M6 follow signs for Longridge (B6243) From Longridge follow signs for Trough of Bowland and Whitewell. Dunsop Bridge is two miles after Whitewell. The car park is through the village on the left.
 

Fact file: Distance: 13k 8 miles
                Time: 3 1/2 - 4 1/2 hours
                Summary: Strenuous. For the most part the walking is easy but there is a long ascent to Dunsop Head. This route was checked under ideal conditions - on a warm day after a long dry spell. Prolonged wet weather would make the moorland crossing much more difficult.
              Map: OS OL 41 The Forest of Bowland

 

Map by kind permission of the Blackpool Gazette

Directions: Walk towards the eponymous bridge

and after the post office café of Puddleducks turn right onto a farm drive.

 This will take you past the children's playground to a terrace of cottages.

Pass these on your right to enter a stretch of woodland.

 Cross a footbridge over the River Dunsop

and turn right onto a utilities service road. With its stands of close packed conifers the Dunsop Valley has the feel of a Scottish glen.

 It is probably this combined with the lack of traffic that makes this a popular destination in Lancashire.

After 40mins (2 1/2 k) the road reaches a scattering of utility buildings

 and then begins to climb the slopes of Middle Knoll.

When it forks go right towards Whitendale.

 The road climbs to an appreciable height above the valley floor before dropping to the lonely farmstead of Whitendale 30 mins or 2k from the fork.

Turn right onto a farm track in front the farm,

 cross the River Dunsop and continue past farm buildings

 to reach the fell track that soon begins to climb away from the valley.

At first the way is steep

but then gradually the gradient eases and allows you to look around and admire the views.

As you come to the top near Dunsop Head aim for a gate in a wall.

Once through turn right and using the wall as a handrail follow it along the ridge.

In 15 - 20 mins (1k) you will reach its highest point (431m) at a trig point.

Continuing along the wall you will come to a sad place. Marked by a wooden cross a patch of broken ground was the scene of a war time plane crash which cost the lives of four American servicemen.

From here bear left away from the wall until you pick up a shooters' track. Follow this first to a gate in a wall

 and then down the fellside.

At the bottom pass through a gate leading out onto a large rough pasture.

Continue downhill towards the farmstead of Beatrix. When you arrive at the farm road turn right.

As you leave the farm through a metal gate turn right again to enter a large pasture.

 Here follow the line of telephone poles to the far side.

 Cross a stone stile into woods

and then descend a flight of steps to join a footpath close to the River Dunsop.

 Now on the outward leg turn left for Dunsop Bridge which you'll reach in about 15 mins.