Bolton-by-Bowland Circular

Starting point  and OS Grid reference:  Bolton-by-Bowland – free car park (SD 784494)		Ordnance Survey Map Explorer OL41 – Forest of Bowland and Ribblesdale. Buy this map from List of OS Maps
Distance:  10 miles (excluding detour to Gisburn)	Date of Walk:  2 March 2012
Ascent: Descent: See Walking Time Calculator	922ft (281m) 922ft (281m)
Traffic light rating:      (For explanation see My Walks page)
For advice on .gpx files see My Walks page	Click the PDF logo above to give a printable version of this walk without the photos.

To view route as a dynamic Ordnance Survey map click here.

If you need to buy any hiking equipment/clothing before your trip see the Hiking Store

Introduction: Bolton-by-Bowland is a lovely stone built village on the edge of the much under rated and under discovered Forest of Bowland, by Skirden Bridge. This walk starts there and takes you on a circular route via the equally attractive Sawley with its remains of a Cistercian abbey originating from the 12^th century. In places, the route follows the River Ribble and also part of the Ribble Way. The walk is through pleasant level countryside and is easy but can be very muddy in places. It is best done after a dry spell or in winter when the ground is frozen. Gaiters are strongly recommended. Considering the Ribble Way is one of the recognised long distance National Trails, those responsible for some of its signposting, stiles and gates should be ashamed!

It is difficult to find the correct route for some of this walk, which is why the route description is rather long.

The walk starts at a free public car park in Bolton-by-Bowland where there are toilets and a basic information centre. There are refreshment opportunities at pubs in Bolton-by-Bowland, Sawley and Gisburn (subject to a short diversion) all subject to timing.

To get to Bolton-by-Bowland, turn north off the A59 in Gisburn (signposted).

Start: Out of the car park (SD 784494), turn left over Skirden Bridge. Immediately over the bridge, turn left on the tarmac, private road, to Bolton Mill Farm. There is a public footpath fingerpost.

As the tarmac track bends sharply left to the farm (SD 782490), go straight ahead over a stone stile marked with a yellow footpath arrow and a large sign. Ignore the kissing gate on the right and follow the fence line up the field.

Go through the next kissing gate and follow the left hand boundary of the field along by the trees, crossing another stile. At the end of the trees go straight ahead to the kissing gate and beyond.

Over the next stile, follow the strip of land between the two becks, Holden Beck on the right and  Skirden Beck on the left. Go over the footbridge (SD 780481) and follow the boundary of the next field and turn left over a bridge. Pass one gate and look out for a stile on the left. If you reach a second gate, you have passed it!

Head for the right hand corner of the next field from where the path bears left through the newly planted trees. Once through the trees, a very prominent sign tells you that the path bears off to the right (SD 776481) and is marked by cones. Be warned here, that although it is tempting to follow the riverbank, the right of way most definitely does not. A local resident told me that this principle is very strictly enforced by regular patrols so, to avoid the wrath of the water bailiff, stick to the marked route. After crossing a little stream, turn left to follow the hedge line (do not go through the gate).

Come on to the road by Sawley Bridge and after crossing it, turn left. Walk along the road to the Spread Eagle pub. Here, our route turns left, along the lane “Sawley Old Brow leading to Laneside” If you want to visit the abbey ruins, turn right at the Spread Eagle and they are clearly visible on the left (English Heritage – free). Return to Sawley Old Lane and walk along it.

As the road bends to the right, carry on straight ahead through the gateway for Sawley Lodge.  The next section follows the Ribble Way indicated by a blue fingerpost.

Look out for a walkers’ gate on the right and go through this, turning left on to a broad track to follow the Ribble Way. Stay on this track through the middle of Dockber Farm and look out for a gateway on the right (SD 789473) continuing the Ribble Way.

This area is used for an annual Beat Herder Festival and there are one or two unusual indicators. The first is an archway of shoes through which you pass. From here, head for the “ancient stone circle” (not that ancient!), passing the corner of a copse of trees (not through it as indicated on some older maps). You will also see a “Sword in a Stone” - but I do not think you get to be king/queen if you can remove it!

Pass to the right of the stone circle and follow the Ribble way signs, going through a metal gate to follow the bridleway between two rows of trees and turn right by Huggan Ing farm  then immediately left staying on the Ribble way. At the end of the next field, turn right. There is a concrete water tank here (SD 800478) with 360° views and it is a convenient spot to perch for sandwiches.

From the water tank, bear left to Gisburn Coates Hall then left along the farm lane. Cross the railway line then go left.

As you approach the next farm, (Gisburn Coates farm), go left and over the grassy bridge (SD 804479) to re-cross the railway, then bear right heading for the left of Long Holme Row farm. Cross an “ordinary” stile then a small ladder stile. Turn left past the barn on to the farm track and when it bends left, go straight ahead over a stile (still on the Ribble Way).

Cross another stile at the end of the field then down some rough steps to follow the right hand side of the stream. The path zig-zags down through the aptly named Steep Wood to the River Ribble where you turn right (SD 802485).

NB. Since I did this walk (2012), the route of the footpath has changed in that from a barn (New Laithe) (SD 812487), the footpath route  no longer goes via the farm buildings at Wheatley. The resident of the property has provided the following paragraphs to replace mine. Current 1:25000 OS maps are correct but if you are using an older one beware.

Continue to follow the Ribble way markers passing through a wooden gate in the corner and keeping the hedge line and stone barn on your left. Walk up tarmac drive and turn left before Higher Laithe farm building at top of hill.

Just beyond the buildings, bear right over the brow and continue down to a walkers’ gate then follow the stream to the right. Pass over the plank bridge footbridge up through the wood, through two kissing gates then bear right heading for another to the right of the pink farmhouse (Coppice Farm).

Go through the farmhouse and follow the drive to the road (SD 822491) (this section is also the Pennine Bridleway). If you wish, turn right here and walk along the road for half a mile to visit Gisburn where there are pubs/toilets, then return to this point. Otherwise, turn left.

Stay on the road for ¾ mile, crossing the river bridge where the Ribble Way diverts off right – you stay on the road. Pass a road off to the right then, when the road bends sharply right (SD 811498), continue straight ahead along the track to Park House Farm, passing it to the right. There are good views along here to Pendle Hill.

After Park House Farm, bear left and descend to cross a stream via a footbridge then go left then over a stile and turn right to follow the right hand field boundary. At the top of the rise, keep straight ahead to the right hand corner of a copse of trees where there is a gate (SD 807496). Go through this and follow the path through the right hand side of the trees. Follow the right hand fence line once out of the trees.

At Fooden Hall Farm, follow the track through the farm, going right in the farmyard then turn left signed for Bolton Hall just past a metal barn. After the next barn on the right, turn right, again signed for Bolton Hall. The path follows the left hand side of the field where there is what could have been a sunken lane.

Go through the kissing gate at the end and far below you on the left is the River Ribble once again. Follow the obvious path to the left of a small concrete building. The path is now clear across the fields through various kissing gates and arrives at a newish looking stone barn with a metal roof. Turn right.

At Bolton Hall Farm (SD 787483), turn right and follow the long drive to the road. Bolton Hall itself was demolished in the 1950s and the house conversions on this site are now known as King Henry’s Mews. Turn left here into Bolton-by-Bowland. Note the stocks by the remains of the 13^th century cross on the village green.

If you need to buy any hiking equipment/clothing before your trip see the Hiking Store

All information on this site is given in good faith and no liability is accepted in respect of any damage, loss or injury which might result from acting on it.