York!
Following the Battle of Bosworth Field that marked the end of the War of the Roses (victory going to the Red Rose of Lancashire), a small tenacious group of Yorkists set up a guerrilla base above the Ribble Valley, near Langhoe. In a similar way to isolated Japanese soldiers at the close of World War 2, these desperate men conducted a private war against the now peace loving Lancastrians. For the most part this campaign was little more than a mild irritant to locals – Yorkists sneaking in and making apple pie beds, while their neighbours were tending the fields. However the lobbing of Yorkshire Puddings at travellers along the A59 made matters more serious. Lancastrians defended themselves by carrying flat pieces of wood made out of willow and thwacked the puddings back and the rest they say is history! This is just one explanation as to why there is a village called York in the wedge of upland between Blackburn and Pendle Hill. Once again here is a landscape of surprise and unexpectedness, overlooked by visitors to the county, but most rewarding when explored on foot.
Time: 1½ - 2 hours
Terrain: A walk that makes moderate demands with some moderate ascents. Mainly pastures and some walking along quiet lanes.
Start: Car park or large lay-by Harwood Road. This is best accessed from Blackburn. From junction 6 of the M65, cross the roundabout following signs for the A6119 (Whitebirk Drive) towards Blackburn North and Clitheroe.At third set of traffic lights turn right onto Whalley Old Road. Follow this for two miles. At junction by the curry house turn left onto Rishton Road and then left into Harwood Road. The car park is a mile further on the right.
Map
1. Car park to York: (4 Km or 2½ miles: 1 hour 15 minutes).
Walk along the road towards Great Harwood and a conifer plantation. Just before plantation turn left onto a grassy track.
Follow track downhill towards Dean Clough Reservoir.
Beyond a kissing gate the track peters out to become a narrow footpath.
Descend with plantation on your right. By now you will feel as though you are in a different world. Ahead a magnificent view of the Pendle Massif less familiar from this angle. To the right the distinctive top is Bowley Hill. As the path levels out you come to the first of a pair of kissing gates with a wall on the left. This gives way onto a broad track ahead.
Keep straight. The track leads to Goldacre Lane. You’ll notice a small car park on the left. Turn left onto the lane and keep on it past the large farmstead by Bradley Hall. The lane bends to the right. Past a cottage called Shawcliff look for a wooden stile on the left.
Cross this and climb steeply towards a wall. Cross the track and this stile –
then turn left along a less than distinct path.
On this section with the steep side of Sunny Bank on your right and surrounded by gorse, you may feel somewhat enclosed, but soon you reach a more open prospect.
Ahead the end of Dean Clough Reservoir will come into view.
The path leads across fields to the north-east corner of the reservoir. When you reach the wall leading up from it, turn right. As the ground evens out you will arrive at this metal gate.
Cross the stile following the direction of the waymark arrow.
As you reach the highest point on the grassy path beyond, you will be rewarded with a grand view of the Ribble Valley. More immediately, the village of York will be a short way in front of you.
2. York to Car Park: (2 Km or 2¼ miles: 45 minutes)
On reaching York Road turn left past the Lord Nelson (see below) and leave the village. A short distance along take a footpath on the right.
Although you are not at a great height, about 200m or so, the views are extensive encompassing a substantial chunk of Lancashire.
Follow the path to where it gives out onto a lane.
Across, at the entrance to Little Snodsworth Farm, follow the sign directing you across paddocks, to the left of a slurry pit, to a junction of lanes.
Directly opposite cross this stile and take the path to another on a wall.
Cross it and turn left. About 100m ahead you will see a junction of paths at the next stile.
Even though no arrow directly right, this is the way to go; down the hill crossing near the tip of the reservoir. Once again great views!
Through a wall you may be tempted to continue on the track hugging ths shore of the reservoir, but your way is up, beside a ditch on a faint path. When you reach a broad track, turn left and this will lead you back to Harwood Road, directly opposite the car park.
Lord Nelson
The Lord Nelson is the very epitomy of a cosy village pub. The photographs will show you several small rooms, wooden beams, coal fire, brass ornaments etc. They will not show you the warmth of greeting you will receive.
The menu was simple but the food freshly prepared and cooked, and very reasonably priced. We settled for sandwiches of egg and mayo, beef and onion. Both were served on brown bread with side salad and crisps.
Four cask ales were on offer. Theakstons Best Bitter(3.8%), Theakstons Old Peculiar(5.6%), Old Speckled Hen(4.5%) and Adnams Broadside (4.7%).
We had the Adnams (Good body for a stronger beer with a pleasant distinctive taste) and the Old Speckled Hen (another stronger ale with a good body and smooth but interesting flavour. it is worth checking out the website for this beer - it has an interesting history.)
We visited the Lord Nelson on a cold windy day in February and a most inviting hostelry we found it to be.