Walk 2137 - printer friendly version

Clougha & Goldsworthy's Installation Circular Walk

Author - Lou Johnson

Length - 5.2 miles / 8.5 km

Ascent - 1000 feet / 303 metres

Grade - moderate

Start - OS grid reference SD547618
Lat 54.0501590 + Long -2.6933889
Postcode LA2 9ET (approx. location only)

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.

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