15th March 2025 - Whitendale and Whins Brow
Walk Details
Distance walked: 11.7 miles
Total ascent: 2554 ft
OS map used: OL41 - Forest of Bowland & Ribblesdale
Time taken: 7 hrs
Route description: Dunsop Bridge-Holme Head Cottages-Bishops House-Foot Holme-Whitendale-Whitendale Farm-Brennand Farm-Brennand Intake-Tarn Clough-Brennand Tarn-Whins Brow-Trough of Bowland-Trough Road-Closes Barn-Dunsop Bridge
After enjoying last weekend's walk in the Forest of Bowland I decided to return to the area for this weekend's walk. The route I decided on was more or less a repeat of one that I did in April 2018. Hard to believe that nearly seven years have passed. It takes in the valley of the River Dunsop and Whitendale, then crosses the moor to Brennandale, before climbing to the trig point on Whins Brow and returning to Dunsop Bridge down the Trough Road. I made a couples of changes to the route to make things more interesting and to take in some new ground. The first was taking a different way up onto Whins Brow, going via the Brennand River to Tarn Clough and Brennand Tarn, then up the northwestern slopes of the fell. Second was using the bridleway from the Trough Road to Closes Barn. A nice alternative to keeping to the road all the way back to Dunsop Bridge. With a fine spring day forecast I set from Dunsop Bridge in the morning with fair weather clouds and sunny spells. However, cloud did build up into the afternoon to limit the sunshine somewhat before starting to melt away as the end of the day approached. That meant that I was lucky enough to enjoy the view from Whins Brow with the sun being out.
From where I parked my car in Dunsop Bridge I took the bridleway along the private road up the valley of the River Dunsop, and followed it north past Holme Head Cottages, Bishops House, and the waterworks buildings to a footbridge on the right across Whitendale River. I crossed this and took the footpath north by Whitendale River to reach Whitendale Farm. From Whitendale Farm I then took the bridleway across the moor to Brennandale and Brennand Farm, where I found a convenient place to stop for lunch. After this break I left the bridleway for access land just before it reaches Brennand Farm and a track up the valley of Brennand River. I took the upper one across the hillside of Brown Bank before leaving it to make my way down to Brennand River at Brennand Intake. I crossed Brennand River here, then made my way up the hillside on the northern side of Tarn Clough to Brennand Tarn, from where I made my way south up to the trig point on Whins Brow. After taking in the view I made my way down by the fence to the Trough of Bowland, and started on the long walk along the Trough Road back to Dunsop Bridge. When I reached Langden Intake I got off the road and took the footpath by Langden Brook to join the road again at Hareden Farm, walked towards Dunsop Bridge, then left it again for the bridleway to Closes Barn. I then took the bridleway along the private road from Closes Barn back to Dunsop Bridge.
Total ascent: 2554 ft
OS map used: OL41 - Forest of Bowland & Ribblesdale
Time taken: 7 hrs
Route description: Dunsop Bridge-Holme Head Cottages-Bishops House-Foot Holme-Whitendale-Whitendale Farm-Brennand Farm-Brennand Intake-Tarn Clough-Brennand Tarn-Whins Brow-Trough of Bowland-Trough Road-Closes Barn-Dunsop Bridge
After enjoying last weekend's walk in the Forest of Bowland I decided to return to the area for this weekend's walk. The route I decided on was more or less a repeat of one that I did in April 2018. Hard to believe that nearly seven years have passed. It takes in the valley of the River Dunsop and Whitendale, then crosses the moor to Brennandale, before climbing to the trig point on Whins Brow and returning to Dunsop Bridge down the Trough Road. I made a couples of changes to the route to make things more interesting and to take in some new ground. The first was taking a different way up onto Whins Brow, going via the Brennand River to Tarn Clough and Brennand Tarn, then up the northwestern slopes of the fell. Second was using the bridleway from the Trough Road to Closes Barn. A nice alternative to keeping to the road all the way back to Dunsop Bridge. With a fine spring day forecast I set from Dunsop Bridge in the morning with fair weather clouds and sunny spells. However, cloud did build up into the afternoon to limit the sunshine somewhat before starting to melt away as the end of the day approached. That meant that I was lucky enough to enjoy the view from Whins Brow with the sun being out.
From where I parked my car in Dunsop Bridge I took the bridleway along the private road up the valley of the River Dunsop, and followed it north past Holme Head Cottages, Bishops House, and the waterworks buildings to a footbridge on the right across Whitendale River. I crossed this and took the footpath north by Whitendale River to reach Whitendale Farm. From Whitendale Farm I then took the bridleway across the moor to Brennandale and Brennand Farm, where I found a convenient place to stop for lunch. After this break I left the bridleway for access land just before it reaches Brennand Farm and a track up the valley of Brennand River. I took the upper one across the hillside of Brown Bank before leaving it to make my way down to Brennand River at Brennand Intake. I crossed Brennand River here, then made my way up the hillside on the northern side of Tarn Clough to Brennand Tarn, from where I made my way south up to the trig point on Whins Brow. After taking in the view I made my way down by the fence to the Trough of Bowland, and started on the long walk along the Trough Road back to Dunsop Bridge. When I reached Langden Intake I got off the road and took the footpath by Langden Brook to join the road again at Hareden Farm, walked towards Dunsop Bridge, then left it again for the bridleway to Closes Barn. I then took the bridleway along the private road from Closes Barn back to Dunsop Bridge.
Route map
© Crown copyright. All rights reserved. License number PU 100034184.
Leaving Dunsop Bridge I follow the bridleway along the private road up the valley of the River Dunsop
Passing Holme Head Cottages
Looking across the River Dunsop to Mellor Knoll and Totridge
and back along the road to Mellor Knoll and Totridge
Following the road up the valley past Bishops House..
Middle Knoll appears ahead. The Brennand River and Whitendale River meet below it.
Just ahead the road divides to go to Brennandale on the left, and Whitendale on the right. I'm going to use the footbridge to cross the Whitendale River.
Before I do, I take a look at the view up Brennandale
Crossing the Whitendale River
At first the footpath follows a track by the river
A glimpse of the view up Whitendale
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The footpath leaves the track and heads uphill to cross Costy Clough via a couple of footbridges
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Looking across Costy Clough and Whitendale to Whin Fell
Following the footpath up the eastern side of Whitendale towards Whitendale Farm...
Looking back down Whitendale
I'm going to take the bridleway to Brennand Farm
Passing Whitendale Farm
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Taking the bridleway across the Whitendale River..
Looking back down to Whitendale Farm
Following the bridleway across the moor to Brennand Farm..
To my right, wild and remote upper Whitendale
At Brennand Farm. For the first time I'm not going to follow the bridleway through it but go onto access land and further up Brennandale.
Looking up Brennandale..
..and back towards Brennand Farm as I follow a track up the valley
The track will take me up the valley and the hillside on the right
Looking back to Middle Knoll and Brennand Farm
Making my way down to Brennand River
At Brennand Intake
After crossing Brennand River, which wasn't difficult, I make my way up the hillside on the northern side of Tarn Clough
Looking back down into Brennandale
The head of Brennandale and the southern slopes of Wolfhole Crag
I finally reach the top of Tarn Clough and take in the view across the fells around Brennandale and Whitendale
Brennand Tarn
Making my way up Whins Brow
Looking across Brennandale to Brennand Fell and Middle Knoll
and back across the depression that holds Brennand Tarn to Ward's Stone and Brennand Great Hill
Wyresdale on the left, and Grit Fell and Ward's Stone in the distance as I near the top of Whins Brow
At the trig point on Whins Brow
Taking in the view from Whins Brow. Wolfhole Crag and White Hill to the northeast, and I can make out the tops of Whernside and Ingleborough in the distance.
Grit Fell, Ward's Stone, and Brennand Great Hill to the northwest
Looking across Losterdale to Hareden Fell, Fair Snape Fell, Top of Blaze Moss, and Hawthornthwaite Fell
Pendle Hill in the distance beyond Waddington Fell
I walked a short distance along the fence towards Brennandale to take in this view across to Wolfhole Crag, White Hill, and Whitendale Fell. The sun being out makes so much difference to the look of the scene.
Hawthornthwaite Fell to the left of the trig point, with the coast around the estuary of the River Lune in the distance
Pendle Hill in the distance to the southeast
Leaving the trig point I follow the fence west..
..and then cross it and take the one to the left
Having crossed the fence, taking in the view across to Wolfhole Crag
Following the fence down to the Trough of Bowland
The road across the Trough of Bowland looking towards Wyresdale
The Grey Stone of Trough
Walking down the Trough road through Losterdale to Langden Intake
Passing Trough Barn
and Sykes Farm
From Langden Intake I take the footpath by Langden Brook to the road at Hareden Farm
Langden Brook with Smelt Mill Cottages above
Approaching the bridge over Langden Brook at Hareden Farm
After a walk along the road towards Dunsop Bridge, I take a bridleway just ahead on the left to Closes Barn
Mellor Knoll and Totridge from Closes Barn
From Closes Barn I take the bridleway to Dunsop Bridge
Back in Dunsop Bridge