13th July 2014 - Aughton & the Lune
Walk Details
Distance walked: 10.0 miles
Total ascent: 795 ft
OS map used: OL41 - Forest of Bowland & Ribblesdale
Time taken: 4 hrs
Route description: Bull Beck picnic site-Crook o'Lune picnic site-Lune Valley Ramble-Aughton Barns-Aughton-Far Highfield-Middle Highfield-Lower Highfield-Hawkshead-Park Lane-Low Road-Crook o'Lune picnic site-Bull Beck picnic site
Sometimes it pays to have a late start and that was the case today. Overnight rain had left a grey start to the day but the weather improved through the morning and I'd been saving this walk for a fine afternoon so I set off and arrived at the Bull Beck picnic site at 1300. Ideally I would have started from the Crook o'Lune, I checked the car park there and unsurprisingly found it full. Starting from Bull Beck adds a couple of miles.
So after having a sausage sandwich from the refreshment kiosk I started at 1330 on what may well be one of my favourite walks of the year. Fantastic scenery on a beautiful summers afternoon.
From the Bull Beck picnic site I crossed the A683 and followed the cycle path to the Crook o'Lune. I then followed the Lune Valley Ramble by the north bank of the river, through Lawson's Wood, around 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 the Crook o'Lune picnic site. I then took the cycle path back to Bull Beck.
Total ascent: 795 ft
OS map used: OL41 - Forest of Bowland & Ribblesdale
Time taken: 4 hrs
Route description: Bull Beck picnic site-Crook o'Lune picnic site-Lune Valley Ramble-Aughton Barns-Aughton-Far Highfield-Middle Highfield-Lower Highfield-Hawkshead-Park Lane-Low Road-Crook o'Lune picnic site-Bull Beck picnic site
Sometimes it pays to have a late start and that was the case today. Overnight rain had left a grey start to the day but the weather improved through the morning and I'd been saving this walk for a fine afternoon so I set off and arrived at the Bull Beck picnic site at 1300. Ideally I would have started from the Crook o'Lune, I checked the car park there and unsurprisingly found it full. Starting from Bull Beck adds a couple of miles.
So after having a sausage sandwich from the refreshment kiosk I started at 1330 on what may well be one of my favourite walks of the year. Fantastic scenery on a beautiful summers afternoon.
From the Bull Beck picnic site I crossed the A683 and followed the cycle path to the Crook o'Lune. I then followed the Lune Valley Ramble by the north bank of the river, through Lawson's Wood, around 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 the Crook o'Lune picnic site. I then took the cycle path back to Bull Beck.
Route map
© Crown copyright. All rights reserved. License number PU 100034184.
After crossing the A683 from the Bull Beck picnic site I'm following this cycle path to the Crook o'Lune. It makes use of the trackbed of the former Lancaster to Wennington branch line that was axed in the 1960's.
As I cross the viaduct over the Lune a glorious scene reveals itself. The Crook o'Lune. The river is curving south at the start of the horseshoe shaped bend it takes that gives the place its name. My route is also in view, I'll follow the far bank of the river upstream and my return will be across the hillside on the left.
Looking back towards the picnic site at the Crook o'Lune which is in the trees in the distance in the middle of the picture
By the banks of the Lune
A weir and monitoring station for salmon
The path heads into Lawson's Wood
But first I pass the Waterworks Bridge. Carrying the Thirlmere aquaduct south to Manchester.
In Lawson's Wood. Lots of bluebells in here, a good place to visit in spring.
Looking downstream as I exit Lawson's Wood
and upstream as the path now follows the bank of a large meander
Lawson's Wood, Burton Wood and Cole Wood collectively make up the Aughton Woods Nature Reserve
A couple more riverside shots..
Over Lune Barn. This is where the path heads back in.
One last shot by the Lune with Ingleborough in the distance
A lane now heads steeply uphill to Aughton
In the hamlet of Aughton (pronounced Affton)
As I take the hillside path out of Aughton there's a fantastic view looking back with the Lune Valley below and the hills of the Yorkshire Dales in the distance
Caton Moor on the other side of the valley
and a panorama
Fields of barley
The path goes past three farms and this is the middle one, Middle Highfield, though some of it has been converted for residential use. The others are Far Highfield and Lower Highfield.
Across more fields and it's a perfect afternoon
Ward's Stone and Clougha Pike in the Forest of Bowland to my left
Looking back to Middle Highfield and there's a last chance to see Ingleborough peeping over the hillside
Lower Highfield just ahead
Past Lower Highfield there was a short walk through a wood but as I exit it the view to my left opens out to show the village of Caton in the valley below with Ward's Stone and Clougha Pike in the background
A little further on and the loop in the river I was following earlier is in sight
As I walk down Park Lane the buildings of Low Mill on the other side of the river catch my eye
A concessionary path keeps me off the busy Low Road
Instead of going directly back into the picnic site at the Crook o'Lune I keep on the path and follow it round
The final and best shot of the day. The "Turner View" at the Crook o'Lune. I still have a walk back to the Bull Beck site to do.