Forest of Bowland Walk

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Summary: The Forest of Bowland Walk is an extensive circuit around the historic Forest of Bowland, an area of barren gritstone fells, deep valleys and peat moorland. Now an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB) the forest was one of the last places in England to permit access to walkers. Once a vehemently guarded place with keen gamekeepers keeping ramblers out to safeguard the place as a preserve of shooting only the open access movement and Right to roam acts allowed greater access. The walk begins in Caton and starts with a walk the Littledale before climbing Clougha Pike. Next the walk drops from moor to Lentworth Hall and crosses the River Wyre. Then tracking south comes Grize Dale and Garstang before the walk heads east to Clitheroe via Calder Dale, Bleasdale, Chipping and Longridge Fell. From Clitheroe the path heads north across Easington Fell to Slaidburn. The heart of the forest is then crossed, mainly a moorland trek via Croasdale, Hard Hill Top, Salter Fell and Whit Moor before decending to the Lune Valley at Hornby. The final stretch of the walk from Hornby to Caton is a leisurely stroll alongside the River Lune. A well earned riverside walk.