11th May 2015 - River Lune bluebells
Walk Details
Distance walked: 7.3 miles
Total ascent: 840 ft
OS map used: OL41 - Forest of Bowland & Ribblesdale
Time taken: 5 hrs
Route description: Crook o'Lune picnic site-Lune Valley Ramble-Lawson's Wood-Lune Valley Ramble-Over Lune Barn-Aughton Barns-Aughton-Far Highfield-Middle Highfield-Lower Highfield-Hawkshead-Park Lane-Crook o'Lune picnic site
My one and only previous visit to the Crook o 'Lune was in July last year. I had a thoroughly enjoyable afternoons walk following this route upstream by the river then returning across the hillside above. I didn't want to leave it too long before visiting again so I thought today was a good time to head back as there are bluebells to be seen in Lawson's Wood. It started out sunny but then clouded over for a while before brightening up for the walk back. It was windy throughout. Also, it was a little unnerving walking round the meander with the river high after recent rain.
I started my walk today from the car park at the Crook o'Lune picnic site. There were no problems finding a parking space at 1130 on a Monday morning. I set off by following the Lune Valley Ramble by the north bank of the river to Lawson's Wood. Here, I left the public footpath for a concessionary path up and across Lawson's Meadow and back down through Lawson's Wood. This is where most of the bluebells are. Once back on the Lune Valley Ramble I followed it round the large meander and past Over Lune Barn to Aughton Barns. I then made my way up a lane to the hamlet of Aughton. My return route took me across the hillside above the valley past the farms of Far Highfield, Middle Highfield and Lower Highfield, through a wood to the farm of Hawkshead and out to Park Lane. I then followed this road down to Low Road and back to the Crook o'Lune picnic site.
Total ascent: 840 ft
OS map used: OL41 - Forest of Bowland & Ribblesdale
Time taken: 5 hrs
Route description: Crook o'Lune picnic site-Lune Valley Ramble-Lawson's Wood-Lune Valley Ramble-Over Lune Barn-Aughton Barns-Aughton-Far Highfield-Middle Highfield-Lower Highfield-Hawkshead-Park Lane-Crook o'Lune picnic site
My one and only previous visit to the Crook o 'Lune was in July last year. I had a thoroughly enjoyable afternoons walk following this route upstream by the river then returning across the hillside above. I didn't want to leave it too long before visiting again so I thought today was a good time to head back as there are bluebells to be seen in Lawson's Wood. It started out sunny but then clouded over for a while before brightening up for the walk back. It was windy throughout. Also, it was a little unnerving walking round the meander with the river high after recent rain.
I started my walk today from the car park at the Crook o'Lune picnic site. There were no problems finding a parking space at 1130 on a Monday morning. I set off by following the Lune Valley Ramble by the north bank of the river to Lawson's Wood. Here, I left the public footpath for a concessionary path up and across Lawson's Meadow and back down through Lawson's Wood. This is where most of the bluebells are. Once back on the Lune Valley Ramble I followed it round the large meander and past Over Lune Barn to Aughton Barns. I then made my way up a lane to the hamlet of Aughton. My return route took me across the hillside above the valley past the farms of Far Highfield, Middle Highfield and Lower Highfield, through a wood to the farm of Hawkshead and out to Park Lane. I then followed this road down to Low Road and back to the Crook o'Lune picnic site.
Route map
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Lunchtime at the Crook o'Lune and the weather is lovely...
By the river as I follow the Lune Valley Ramble path to Lawson's Wood..
Past the weir and level monitoring station. It's quite high today.
Through a patch of woodland that's full of wild garlic in flower
and then into Lawson's Wood, part of the Aughton Woods Nature Reserve
I'm taking the concessionary path that..
..heads up and across Lawson's Meadow
A bench at the top of the path provides a great spot to take in the view across the Lune valley
Including Clougha Pike and the big meander I'll be walking round the inside of later
Lots of bluebells as I make my way down through Lawson's Wood....
Bluebells and stitchwort
I finally exit Lawson's Wood at the tight bend in the river. The water is surging round it and creating whirlpools and eddies.
Back on the Lune Valley Ramble...
..to Over Lune Barn
A last shot from by the Lune to a distant Ingleborough
Past Aughton Barns
and in Aughton
This old cottage with its mullioned windows caught my eye
As did these forget-me-nots in flower on the verge
Turning round to see a great view of the Lune valley and Ingleborough as I take the footpath up to Far Highfield
Caton Moor, Ward's Stone and Clougha Pike
Middle Highfield
Looking back to Middle Highfield
Leaving Lower Highfield behind
Views across the valley..
until I reach Hawkshead Farm
An unexpected bonus of a hillside of bluebells in a patch of woodland by Park Lane
and there's a nice view across the valley as I follow the road down
A concessionary bridleway then avoids the busy Low Road..
..and brings me back to the Crook o'Lune