Whitewell via Crag Stones from Dunsop Bridge - Forest of Bowland AONB Lancashire - Walk 3505

Region	Forest of Bowland AONB
County/Area	Lancashire
Author	Allan Friswell
Length	8.5 miles / 13.8 km
Ascent	1100 feet / 333 metres
Grade	easy/moderate
Start	OS grid reference SD661501 Lat 53.48708422028519 + Long -3.49733044259154 Postcode BB7 3BB (approx. location only)

This is a varied walk encompassing conifer woodland, open moorland and meadowland within the Forest of Bowland AONB. The views from Crag Stones and especially at the start of the descent into Whitewell are breath-taking. After wet weather it can be very boggy in many places, so appropriate footwear is advised. Also part of the walk is across unpathed Access Land, so a compass is needed during periods of poor visibility.

The start is the car park in Dunsop Bridge (grid ref. SD661501). Turn left from the car park along the main road, and then cross and turn into the tarmacked track on the south side of the road between the trees. After crossing the bridge go through the little gate at its left hand end and walk along the narrow path parallel with the river on your left. After a couple of hundred yards cross the stile, and follow the path as it drops right, then goes between two trees. Keep ahead making through double gates. Eventually you come to a Concessionary Path on your left. Pass through a couple of kissing gates and follow the very obvious track for a couple of miles, passing Knowlmere Manor on the way. At this point the track divides and you should bear round to the right, eventually coming to a sturdy stone Giddy Bridge over a beck (grid ref. SD682494).

Immediately after the bridge you take the left hand path at a fork. This brings you to a tarmacked road where you turn left and, having crossed Foulscales Brook, turn right at the farmhouse along the public path (grid ref. SD692493). Then follow your nose! After about ½ mile at grid ref. SD696488 take the fenced track which leads off to the right. Go through the gate and cross the beck and keep straight on. At grid ref. SD695483 the path veers sharply left over a low wooden bridge and advances slightly uphill and to the left of the power pole ahead. You reach a gate / stile at grid ref. SD696480. From here make off, heading for the distant marker post at grid ref. SD695478. You should see the landmark of Crag Stones ahead and to your left.

There is no visible path now and the countryside is pretty boggy, so you should carefully negotiate your own route so that the Stones lie uphill on your left, when you turn left and make your way up to them at grid ref. SD696475. From there superb views can be had, including distant Pen-y-Ghent and Ingleborough. From the Crag Stones, drop down westward, keeping the wall close on your left. Again there is no obvious path. Go through the gate at grid ref. SD695472. Drop down and cross a beck, climb to the other side to be confronted by some extremely boggy ground. Keep heading in a south-westerly direction towards the conifer wood to arrive at the exit on to a tarmacked road (grid ref. SD681471), near where the OS map marks a sulphur spa.

Go over the road and take the very clear track through the conifers. Follow this to a lane (grid ref. SD666468). Cross over and follow the path bearing right towards the lower part of the slope ahead, and then follow it steeply downhill via a gate into Whitewell where you reach a main road. Here you turn left and then right. The Inn at Whitewell is now before you. If you can find the entrance just by the end of the inn to the very narrow path (not marked on the OS map) that runs parallel to the road with the Hodder on your left, then take it. Otherwise just follow the road with care until, after about 200 yards you come to a gate on the left, which you go through. In either case you will see a green metal double gate, which you pass through and then follow the hedge with the road immediately on the other side.

Cross the hidden stile in the field corner (grid ref. SD657475). Then cross the road with care and walk to Burholme Bridge. Drop down the near side of the bridge, following the track. A lot of heavy digging is going on at the time of writing (2008), but you will eventually come to Langden Holme Farm, and you pass through it to arrive at yet more excavations. Keep the fencing on your left, go straight ahead across a number of temporary stiles until the last amid a hawthorn hedge, where you turn left and rejoin the “proper” path. Birkett Fell and Hodder Bank Fell accompany you all the way on your right. This will soon bring you to the pipe bridge over the Hodder. (grid ref. SD662493). The path continues on its riverside way until you reach Dunsop Bridge and turn right for the car park.

It is recommended you take a map with you when following a walk route. The preferred scale is 1:25000 used by the Explorer series.

Note : If two maps are listed at the same scale then either (a) both are required for full coverage of the route or (b) the route is covered on both maps.

Lakeland Lodge, Borwick, Carnforth
Self Catering - 16.5 miles / 26.4 km away