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Wyre Valley Circular from Abbeystead

Forest of Bowland Walk

Region - Forest of Bowland

County/Area - Lancashire

Author - Lou Johnson

Length - 6.4 miles / 10.4 km    Ascent - 600 feet / 182 metres

Time - 3 hours 50 minutes    Grade - easy/mod

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Walk Route Description

Photo from the walk - Wyre Valley Circular
Click image to see photo description.

This Lancashire walk starts from the village of Abbeystead and follows the Wyre Way for the whole route. The walk climbs onto the fringes of the moors of the Forest of Bowland before turning west to follow the valley of the Marshaw Wyre which is a tributary of the River Wyre. Generally, the route is easy to follow with waymarking in place at all key points along the way.

The start is the small car park at Stoops Bridge at the eastern end of Abbeystead village beside the River Wyre (grid ref. SD563544). After parking return the short distance to the road junction and turn right up Straight Lane. Where the road bends left after 400 metres take the footpath straight ahead through waymarked garden gate to continue along the Wyre Way. Continue with woodland on your right and then maintain direction across fields to reach a stile and a lane (grid ref. SD575547).

Go straight across the road and follow the access drive to Top of Emmetts. The path veers off right just before the house and then heads in a north-easterly direction across fields to reach a lane at Tarnbrook (grid ref. SD587556). Turn right and at the end of the buildings fork left onto a clear track to continue along the Wyre Way. The open country to your left is some of the moorland of the Forest of Bowland. Stay on the track to reach Gilberton after 800 metres. Turn left in front of the house and continue, initially along a track.

The path bends right and then heads south passing between barns at Speight Clough. Continue south, with wall right and continue past a stand of trees on your left. At the end of the trees the path swings southeast to join a track (grid ref. SD603542). Bear right along the track and follow it south through trees through a metal gate to the road at Tower Lodge (grid ref. SD604539).

Turn right along the road. Follow the road for 2.6 kilometres passing Marshaw Farm on your right. Keep straight ahead at a junction near Well Brook. Where the road bends to the right continue straight ahead following the waymarked Wyre Way (with fence on your left). The path veers right to skirt woodland on your right and then continues by following the River Marshaw Wyre. The path crosses several footbridges and eventually leads to a lane. Turn right and the car park is a short walk away.

You can extend the walk. Instead of turning right to the car park, turn left and follow Walk 3459 to complete a circuit of Abbeystead Reservoir and finish with a stroll through the attractive and well-maintained village.

Other walks nearby

Walk 1742 Grit Fell from the Jubilee Tower near Quernmoremoderate7.7 miles
Walk 2164 Clougha Pike from the Jubilee Towereasy/mod4.7 miles
Walk 3038 Wolfhole Crag from Tower Lodgemoderate9.0 miles
Walk 2257 Clougha Pike from Quernmoreeasy/mod4.8 miles
Walk 2137 Clougha & Goldsworthy's Installation Circularmoderate5.2 miles
Walk 1218 Fiensdale Head & Bleasdale Water from near Sykes Farmmoderate10.0 miles
Walk 2594 Totridge Fell & Fiendsdale Head, Forest of Bowlandmoderate11.0 miles
Walk 1670 Hazelhurst Fell, Fair Snape Fell and Parlickmoderate11.0 miles
Walk 1994 Cockerham, Glasson & Conder Greeneasy/mod6.6 miles
Walk 3505 Whitewell via Crag Stones from Dunsop Bridgeeasy/mod8.5 miles

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