18th October 2014 - Around Bolton by Bowland
Walk Details
Distance walked: 6.0 miles
Total ascent: 517 ft
OS map used: OL41 - Forest of Bowland & Ribblesdale
Time taken: 2.5 hrs
Route description: Bolton by Bowland-Skirden Beck-Oaktree Nursery-Stoop Lane-Forest Becks-Monubent Lane-Hellifield Road-Monubent Head-Fooden Moor-Fooden Hall Farm-Bolton Hall Farm-Bolton Park-Bolton by Bowland
Not a great weather forecast for this weekend, rain at times and windy, particularly on high ground so I decided to do one of the many relatively short, local, low level walks I have reserved for such occasions. Bolton-by-Bowland is a pleasant little village and I enjoyed the walk through the countryside around it but if you don't like encountering cattle when out, be prepared because you probably will.
After having a look around the village I set off by crossing the bridge at the western end to take the path north by Skirden Beck. This ends at Stoop Lane by Oaktree Nursery. I then followed the road to the hamlet of Forest Becks and onto the track of Monubent Lane. This becomes an access road that took me out to Hellifield Road. I crossed the road and went through the farmyard of Monubent Head Farm and onto the footpath across Fooden Moor. Part way across I turned right onto the path to Gisburn Road, across the road and onto the path to Fooden Hall Farm. After making my way through the farmyard my route took me across fields to Bolton Hall Farm. I then had a walk through Bolton Park back to Bolton-by-Bowland.
Total ascent: 517 ft
OS map used: OL41 - Forest of Bowland & Ribblesdale
Time taken: 2.5 hrs
Route description: Bolton by Bowland-Skirden Beck-Oaktree Nursery-Stoop Lane-Forest Becks-Monubent Lane-Hellifield Road-Monubent Head-Fooden Moor-Fooden Hall Farm-Bolton Hall Farm-Bolton Park-Bolton by Bowland
Not a great weather forecast for this weekend, rain at times and windy, particularly on high ground so I decided to do one of the many relatively short, local, low level walks I have reserved for such occasions. Bolton-by-Bowland is a pleasant little village and I enjoyed the walk through the countryside around it but if you don't like encountering cattle when out, be prepared because you probably will.
After having a look around the village I set off by crossing the bridge at the western end to take the path north by Skirden Beck. This ends at Stoop Lane by Oaktree Nursery. I then followed the road to the hamlet of Forest Becks and onto the track of Monubent Lane. This becomes an access road that took me out to Hellifield Road. I crossed the road and went through the farmyard of Monubent Head Farm and onto the footpath across Fooden Moor. Part way across I turned right onto the path to Gisburn Road, across the road and onto the path to Fooden Hall Farm. After making my way through the farmyard my route took me across fields to Bolton Hall Farm. I then had a walk through Bolton Park back to Bolton-by-Bowland.
Route map
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In Bolton-by-Bowland. Before I set off I'll have a quick look around.
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There are a couple of village greens. The first has the village stocks....and war memorial.
The second village green
Onto the path by Skirden Beck
A nice view of Skirden Beck as it curves away from the path
If I turn around I can see Pendle Hill. I'll see it quite often today.
The view from Stoop Lane. The hill in the distance is Longridge Fell.
A colourful scene as I reach the start of Monubent Lane in Forest Becks
The best bit of Monubent Lane
A potential roadblock successfully negotiated. I'd reached the part of Monubent Lane where the tarmac begins and if I couldn't get past there wasn't an alternative so I probably would have turned around and headed back. I don't have a problem with cattle unless they have a problem with me (bulls are a different matter), so I walked towards them at a steady pace to see how they reacted. They stayed calm and one of them even let me stroke its head.
Pendle Hill as I cross Fooden Moor
A bit of sunshine really brightens things up
Through the farmyard of Fooden Hall Farm plus a couple of tractors that are nearly as old as I am
A nice bit of countryside as I cross the fields to Bolton Hall Farm. The River Ribble is in the bottom of the valley below. Unfortunately you can't really see it at any point.
I've reached Bolton Hall Farm
Skirden Beck as I make my way through Bolton Park..
..and back to Bolton-by-Bowland