Scottish Bowland
A few weeks ago a friend of my son’s contacted me seeking advice on his decision to walk the Cape Wrath Trail – 200 miles from Fort William to Cape Wrath. I had little to give him except to state that he would have to be completely self-sufficient as settlement up there is almost non-existent – it is possibly the wildest terrain in Europe. But I could give him a taste of what to expect with a walk in Bowland. The route below is about as wild as anything Britain has to offer (though not on the scale of the Scottish Highlands) and as such provides excellent training for anyone preparing for a challenging trail.
Start: Delph Lane Quarry car park, Bleasdale.
From Junction 32 M6 follow A6 north towards Garstang. After passing Barton Grange Garden Centre on the left continue to a small service station on the right. Immediately before this turn right. Here pick up signs for Cobble Hey Garden Centre. Follow these to Cobble Hey then pass the centre on Hobbs Lane. At the next junction turn left into Bleasdale Lane and then in just under a mile turn left into Delph Lane. The car park is on the left after 1000 metres.
Summary: Distance: 21k 13 miles
Time: 6 - 8 hours
Summary: Apart from the approach this is a strenuous and difficult walk. Unless proficient with map and compass do not attempt in mist.
Map: OS OL 41 Forest of Bowland
Map by kind permission of the Blackpool Gazette
Directions: From the car park turn left onto Delph Lane and walk to Stang Yule. Turn right onto a track that takes you behind the property and continue for 1.5 k / 1 mile passing Fell End and Bleasdale Tower to reach a junction by Brooks Barn. Here turn left and continue to Hazelhurst Farm.
Keep on the track as it swings right to Holme House.
Keep ahead at the farm
and after the track bends to the right
take a footpath on the left
that crosses fields
to Higher Fairsnape Farm.
Here go through the farm follow the concessionary path left
that after passing a barn
leads up through pasture to a ladder stile.
Over this (and shortly after another)
and the way is up on a rocky track that zig zags its way to the ridge not far from the summit of Fairsnape to the left.
If the day is clear it will be possible to pick out a junction of fences at a distance of 800m on the skyline to the north east. With Paddy's Pole to your right and the trig. point on your left aim towards this feature. A path of sorts will lead you through peat hags to a fence to your right. The fence will lead you to the junction of fences, with a kissing gate.
The highest part of the fell (520m) is marked by an unimpressive cairn just to the left of this junction.
Now on Wolf Fell cross the corner so the summit fence is on your right. Follow it for 30 minutes (1.5k - 1 mile) to reach Saddle Fell. This concessionary path is not easy and at times you'll have to work your way round squelchy bogs. Besides these there is not much feature to assist you but after 1000m (20 minutes) you'll pass a fence junction on the right. 500 metres beyond this turn left.
If anything the next part of the walk is harder. First you need to pick up marker posts which will put you on a peaty path. This will bring you to the head streams of Bleadale Water.
After a steep descent you will reach a narrow rocky path that follows the stream down to its confluence with Langden Brook.
Along this section it will not be easy to achieve a walking rhythm as you negotiate rock, water, peat and mud on the downward route. Here the sense of remoteness and isolation will be most keenly felt; so that when Langden Castle comes into view you may feel like giving a cheer!
However you will have to cross Langden Brook to reach it and it may not be possible to do it dry shod.
Langden Castle is a castle in the same sense that the Forest of Bowland is a forest, i.e. it's not a castle at all - it's a shooting hut. At the Castle your way is left.
At first on the track and then on a boggy path leading off it keep ahead for 800m.
The path will bring you back to Langden Brook which you will have to re-ford.
Once across begin the climb to Fiendsdale Head. The path will take you to the very source of Fiendsdale Water along a steep sided valley.
As it levels out it crosses saturated moorland to arrive at a ladder stile and a boundary fence.
As befits a watershed between two valleys Fiendsdale Head is a damp place underfoot as if the water cannot make up its mind whether to flow down towards Langden or to feed into the River Brock. At first the path is far from distinct. However by going at right angles from the ladder stile and with a little persistence you should be able to discern the downward track.
It soon becomes much more definite as you drop towards Bleasdale. To your left you will enjoy a most impressive view of Fairsnape Fell.
Soon after reaching the retaining wall a footpath sign will direct you left across pastures to the farm road back to Delph Lane.
Turn right when you reach it.
After the drama of the high fells this is easy untroubled walking.
Now retrace your steps back to the car park.