The Pictures:- 

To see who was on the walk click on the following picture:-

To view all the pictures taken on the walk click 'HERE' then again on first picture to view in full screen. Click small arrow on right to continue.

The Walk:-

Walk leader - Ian Wardle

Number on walk - 16

Distance - 16.5 miles.

Weather - Gloomy and drizzly at first. Windy but bright over the tops. Rain for last couple of miles.

 Dunsop Bridge to Hornby.

 As we drove from Hornby to our starting point at Dunsop Bridge it looked very much as though we were going to have a rather miserable day, as it was continually drizzling with rain and the cloud level was very low so there were no views to be had. This was as the morning weather forecast had predicted! 

 Amazingly though, by the time we reached our starting point the rain had actually stopped and there were signs that the cloud was starting to lift.   Who would have thought it?

 We set off walking from Dunsop Bridge following the River Dunsop upstream.

 It was interesting to see how vast areas of plantation made up of conifers such as sitka spruce, Norway spruce, European larch and Scot’s pine had been part clear felled, and restocked with broadleaved trees. This is being done to produce mixed plantations so as to add diversity to the landscape and also broaden their wildlife interest.

 We passed Whitendale farm and then followed the Whitendale river climbing up through boggy pastures to reach the wide track of Hornby Road at the head of the valley.  From here there was an excellent view back down the valley which typified the remoteness of this magnificent Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty.

 As we followed the Hornby Road track the wind picked up quite a bit and it became much colder, so we only stopped for a short lunch break before moving on. From Hornby Road there were good views across to Pen-y-ghent, Ingleborough and Whernside.  We soon reached High Salter from where we followed the road down to Barkin Bridge and then up to the turning to Back farm. We stopped here, where it was much more sheltered, to replenish our systems for our final push to the end.

 From Back farm we dropped down to the River Roeburn passing through the community of the Middlewood Trust. This is a charity which aims to develop sustainable and natural ways of living.  We were now also in Roeburndale Woods which is a designated site of special scientific interest being one of the best examples of northern upland deciduous woodland in the country as well as being one of the most extensive ancient woodlands in Lancashire.

 We were soon in the quaint village of Wray. By now there was thick cloud above and it soon started to rain very heavily as we headed in the direction of Hornby Castle, crossing fields to join a track by the side of the River Wenning which led to our car park in Hornby.

 Another very enjoyable walk

Ian.