Slaidburn and Waddington Fell
For the past three years Nigel has been banging on about a walk from the top of Waddington Road leading from Clitheroe over into the Hodder Valley. From this watershed he proposed a climb to the trig point perched on the rim of the vast Waddington Fell Quarry. By starting at this location he hoped the walk would become more palatable to those Dotcom Walkers who don’t like slopes reducing the ascent by about 1000ft. Twice I put Waddington Fell onto our programme – twice the intended route was aborted because of poor weather. Amongst the Dotcoms Waddington Fell was seen as jinxed and became synonymous with failed enterprise  -  until last month.  Nigel managed to sneak in a climb to its trig point for a small group of us breaking away from the main party undertaking the walk described below. Instantly I appreciate Nigel’s insistence for including it on our walks programme. Not only were we rewarded with a close up view of the impressive quarry but we  enjoyed a magnificent panorama of both the Ribble and Hodder valleys. After 10 years of writing up walks in Lancashire I did not think there was anything left to surprise me but I was delightfully surprised by that day on Waddington Fell. 

Start: Slaidburn Village car park BB7 3ES
 

Fact File:

Distance: 8 miles (If diverting to summit of Waddington Fell add 1 ½ miles
 

Time: 4 - 5 hours + 40 minutes for optional diversion

Grade: Strenuous. First half of the walk is a sustained climb with almost 1,000ft of ascent.

Map: OS OL41 The Forest of Bowland.

 

 Map by kind permission of Johnston Press

Directions:

1. From the car park turn left onto the B6478 which crosses the Hodder on a handsome bridge

 

and climbs away from it steeply. After a sharp bend turn right onto a footpath

 

accessed by a wooden gate. Follow the path through a field as it brings you alongside a wall gaining elevation to arrive at a step stile close to a metal gate.

 

Cross this and with a wall to your left continue for 300yds to a metal gate on the left. Through this continue in the same direction with the wall now to your right gently descending to a quiet lane.

 

Cross this directly onto the drive of Broadhead Farm an impressively large complex. Passing the main farm to your right keep ahead and then bear right into the yard at the rear.

 

A farm track crosses a brook and out into fields. Follow this and the waymark sign on a post indicating straight ahead. After a second metal gate the track peters out so aim diagonally right to what is in effect the far corner about 300yds distant. Here turn right through a metal gate,

 

ford a narrow stream and then after crossing stepping stones at the next stream

 

turn left through a wooden gate

 

on a path taking you up to Skelshaw.

 

When you reach the farm house continue on a broad farm track leading resolutely uphill to the next farm - Fellside a little over ½ mile away.

 

While the climb is sustained it is rarely steep. As you arrive at Fellside and its dogs turn left through its yard and go through a gate

 

onto the open fell. The climb continues now amid moorland splendour.

 

Keep on a rough track

 

until it levels out bringing you to the Waddington Road B6478.

 

2. This is a point of decision. A diversion to the summit of Waddington Fell is thoughly recommended if weather and time permit. Turn left onto the road and as you reach a car park on the left go left onto a path that climbs up to picnic tables. From here cross to a wire fence that encloses the vast quarry

 

and follow it around the edge of the quarry

 

heading towards a radio mast.

 

The trig point is close to this in effect on the far side of the quarry. After enjoying one of the finest views in the county, country, universe …retrace your route to where you joined the road. Keep on the road for almost a mile.

 

After a large bend and at the corner of the next turn left onto a private road

 

leading

 

to New laithe Farm. After going through its yard keep ahead on a track

 

to where it bends sharply left.

 

Here cross a field corner over a duet of wooden stiles and then continue downhill with the fence on your right. After a wooden gate

 

follow a tree-lined green lane to a farm outbuilding.

 

Here join a drive ahead leading to a lane.

3. Turn right and almost immediately cross a stile

 

on the left leading onto the riverside meadows of the Hodder. The last part of the walk follows this beautiful river back to Slaidburn. Bear right in the first field crossing to a wooden gate. After this bear left to a step arrangement in a fence with the river in full view before you.

 

The path soon brings you alongside the water

 

and then continues to the B6478 just before Newton Bridge.

 

Turn left to cross the river and then on the far side turn immediately right to follow a obvious path

 

back to Slaidburn.

 

After Dunnow Hall on the left

 

the path briefly leaves the river as it circumvents the sewage - as one would do.

 

Back on the banks the path takes you through a patch of woodland before emerging on the green close to the village hall with the car park directly ahead.