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Clougha & Goldsworthy's Installation Circular

Forest of Bowland Walk

Region - Forest of Bowland

County/Area - Lancashire

Author - Lou Johnson

Length - 5.2 miles / 8.5 km    Ascent - 1000 feet / 303 metres

Time - 3 hours 40 minutes    Grade - moderate

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Ordnance Survey Explorer OL41Sheet Map1:25kBUY
Anquet OS Explorer OL41Digital Map1:25kBUY

Walk Route Description

Photo from the walk - Clougha & Goldsworthy's Installation Circular
Click image to see photo description.

A circular walk near to Lancaster exploring an area of moorland rising to Clougha Pike (413 m.) in the north-western sector of the Forest of Bowland. The route starts from Littledale and follows an anti-clockwise circuit of Clougha passing by an impressive trio of cairns and visiting the Andy Goldsworthy installation. The are can be confusing in poor visibility and even in clear weather the relevant OS 1:25000 map is a useful addition to your pack. In fine weather there are excellent views to Morecambe Bay and the Lake District Fells.

The walk starts from the Littledale Road car park (grid ref. SD547618). After parking, exit the parking area and turn left along the lane. Just before the cattle grid, turn right and cross the ladder stile. Follow the grassy track half left across the field. Continue into the next field and keep the wall on your left. Bear left at a wall corner and keep close to the wall. Follow the grassy track as it bends right and continue in the next field with the wall on your right. Continue ahead to Skelbow Barn (grid ref. SD551613). Continue between walls soon turning right to reach a gate. Stay on the grassy track to cross a ladder stile (grid ref. SD550611).

Once over the stile, bear right along a path running parallel to the wall on your right. Continue on this path for 300 metres after which the path splits. Keep to the right-hand path now walking parallel to Cragg Wood on your right. This path soon leads to a clear track (grid ref. SD541612). Turn left along the track and follow the clear route as it twists and turns climbing onto the highest part of the moor. Off this track to the right are the three stone men (cairns). Continue for three kilometres along the track to reach Andy Goldsworthy's Installation (grid ref. SD556595).

After visiting the installation, retrace your steps along the track for about 300 metres to a less-distinct cross path (grid ref. SD553596). Turn right and head north across the moor. The path is generally distinct and after just over a kilometre bears half left to run parallel with a wall on your right. The path heads down a gully to re-join the outward route at a ladder stile (grid ref. SD550611). From here retrace your steps past Skelbow Barn and back to the start.

Other walks nearby

Walk 2257 Clougha Pike from Quernmoreeasy/mod4.8 miles
Walk 1742 Grit Fell from the Jubilee Tower near Quernmoremoderate7.7 miles
Walk 2164 Clougha Pike from the Jubilee Towereasy/mod4.7 miles
Walk 2278 Ward's Stone from Stoops Bridgemod/hard13.0 miles
Walk 3459 Abbeystead Reservoir Circulareasy1.6 miles
Walk 3457 Wyre Valley Circulareasy/mod6.4 miles
Walk 3038 Wolfhole Crag from Tower Lodgemoderate9.0 miles
Walk 1994 Cockerham, Glasson & Conder Greeneasy/mod6.6 miles
Walk 1641 Bankhouses via the Lancashire Coastal Way easy/mod7.0 miles
Walk 1218 Fiensdale Head & Bleasdale Watermoderate10.0 miles

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