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Short Walks

Gisburn Circular Walk

Gisburn Walk 1 map

This map is based upon Ordnance Survey material with the permission of Ordnance Survey on behalf of the Controller of Her Majesty's Stationery Office © Crown copyright. Unauthorised reproduction infringes Crown copyright and may lead to prosecution or civil proceedings. Lancashire County Council 100023320 2004

GISBURN CIRCULAR WALKS I (Allow 4-5 Hours to complete the walk)

1. Leave the village and proceed on the A682. Opposite Benthea Road turn right onto a metalled track leading to a school. Before the school cross a wooden stile on the left and then walking up the left hand hedge of the field, cross two more stiles heading towards a large radio mast on the skyline. Cross the stile by the mast and head across the field in the direction indicated by the waymarker post. As the field is crossed a gate will become visible in the far corner where the fence on your right meets the hedge. head for this gate. pass through and straight across the farm track through another gate. Cross the footbridge over the small stream and head across the field towards a stile in the hedge opposite. cross the stile, heading forward in the direction indicated by the way-marker post towards another stile crossing an old wall. Continue across the next field keeping to the left of the small ditch. Head downhill to a stile leading to a road.

2. Cross the road turn right passing the entrance to Eel beck Farm and continue for 50 yards to a wooden stile on the left. Cross the stile and turn right walking parallel to the road until a gap in the hedge is reached. Cross the stile and walk down the steep steps. At the bottom turn sharp left and follow the path to another stile. Cross and turn right heading diagonally downhill towards a stream crossed by a footbridge. Cross and turn sharp right following the edge of the stream. Cross the stile by the ford and continue walking parallel to the stream until a stile in the hedge is reached. Cross and keep to the edge of the field until another stream is reached. Turn right and follow the right hand bank of the stream as it curves gently round to the right. A footbridge is passed on the left but do not cross this. After 200 yards a stone slab bridge is reached leading to a stone step stile. Cross and turn left along the right hand side of the stream until a metal gate is reached. Continue ahead to the old mill, turn right onto the road and then immediately left onto a farm track.

3. Follow the farm track, which turns sharply runs uphill then turns left to Dudland Farm. As the farm is approached outhouses are passed on the right hand side. After these are passed and before entering the main farmyard, turn sharp right and proceed uphill through a gate. Continue uphill on the left hand edge of the field until a metal gate is reached. Turn left through the gate and follow the hedge to another gate. Go through and head downhill on grassy track to another gate. Pass this and continue downhill to a gate at the bottom. Pass a pond on the left, up a track to a metal gate. Continue, keeping great Dudland Farm on the left, until a stile in the hedge is reached. Cross and head up a metalled road until the busy A59 is reached. Cross with care and turn right along the verge for 50 yards where a stile on the left will be found. Cross and follow the line of an old hedge, through a gate and round the right side of a silage clamp, past a barn to a farm track. Turn right onto this track and continue towards Gisburn Cotes Farm which can be seen ahead. Do not enter the farmyard, but at the entrance turn sharp left through a gate and downhill over a railway bridge. Bear slightly to the right after the railway bridge and head downhill until a small stream is met. Keeping this on the left, continue towards the farm buildings in the distance. Cross two more stiles onto a farm track, turn left and walk uphill for 100 yards. At a sharp left hand bend leave the track for a footpath on the right. Cross the stile and follow the fence downhill to another stile at the edge of Steep Wood. Follow the path through the wood, taking care on the steep steps until the riverside path is met.

4. The route of the walk now follows the Ribble way to Gisburn, so look out for the Ribble way marker arrows. Follow the river bank until a grassy track is reached. Walk up and along this, following the top of the river bank. Turn right over a stile and follow the path along two sides of a large field, until turning right over a stile just before New Laithe Barn. Turn left along the footpath until a farm track is met. Continue along this track, turning left just before Higher Laithe Farm. Pass the farm buildings on the right and walk ahead downhill to a bridge. Cross and head uphill through a wood. Pass through a gate and head right, across the field towards a large farm building. Cross the stile into the farm yard. Walk through and along a metalled driveway until meeting Mill Lane. Turn right and proceed carefully up this road until the A59 is reached. Turn left and walk 50 yards to the start point of the walk.

GISBURN CIRCULAR WALK I
You should allow approximately 4-5 hours to complete the walk. Some parts of the route may be wet underfoot, so good boots are recommended. The walk is over working farmland so please observe the country code and in particular, keep dogs under close control at all times.

Enjoy the walk!

Most visitors are attracted to Downham for its unspoilt character and attractive setting. This walk offers the opportunity to discover more about the village, its surrounding countryside and features of interest as well as offering outstanding views.

GISBURN VILLAGE
The walk begins in Gisburn, a village with an ancient church dating back to Norman times, inns and other buildings of interest dating from the sixteenth to the nineteenth centuries. Between the main village and the River Ribble is Gisburn park, which until 1943 was the ancestral home of the Lister family and their successors the Lords Ribblesdale. Today the old hall is used as a private hospital. Gisburn has long been the home to the cattle trade and this continues today in the form of the regular auction mart.

As you begin the walk and climb up the fields from the village, Pendle Hill comes into view and if the weather is good, views of the Yorkshire Dales peaks are visible behind you to the north. On a good day both Ingleborough and Pen-y-ghent are easily recognizable in the distance.

As you cross the large fields of Westby hall Farm it is interesting to note that this is the site of the original Lister family home known then as Arnoldsbiggin. The family moved to Gisburn park in the late 17th century.

The walk follows Thistleber Beck for some distance. On the far side a trackway lined with hawthorn trees is visible. This is thought to be an ancient route which possibly passed behind Thistleber Farm. At this point it is also interesting to note that the beck is known to be an important spawning area for salmon and sea trout.

RIMINGTON BRIDGE
Some of the fields along the beckside are subject to low intensity types of agricultural practice and as such are important hay meadows for wildlife. However these fields provide important winter feed for farm livestock, so please keep to the edge of these fields during the summer grass growing period. After the stone clapper bridge a weir in Gazegill Beck is seen on the left hand side. If you look closely on the nearside bank a stone sluice can be seen. This was the start of the mill leat which fed the mill at Rimington Bridge. If you look across the fields ahead a shallow ditch can be seen running across the centre of the field. This is all that remains of the leat itself, which has long since been filled in. The mill building itself can be seen on the right just before the road is reached at Rimington bridge. Here again please keep to the edge of this field which is used to produce hay and silage during the summer months and which can easily be damaged by trampling.
Later the walk passes through Steep Wood. here the tree species such as beech, oak and silver birch can be found. Also if you are lucky you may see some of the Roe and Sika Deer which inhabit this wooded river valley.

As you walk along the river bank, birds such as the grey heron and dipper may be sighted and in spring time the adjoining meadows may be host to lapwing and curlew. During the spring and summer, flowering plants are common and species such as tormentil, milkwort, harebell and primrose may be found. As you rejoin the road near Gisburn, the Clitheroe - Skipton railway is crossed. At the time of its construction, the then Lord Ribblesdale was unhappy about it passing across his estate and spoiling the view of the hall. As a result, a short tunnel was constructed to hide the track from the view of the house. This can be seen on the left as you walk back up the road to Gisburn.

PUBLIC TRANSPORT
There are 4 Bus services to Gisburn: Clitheroe - Gisburn Circular (Pendleside Minibus) Monday, Tuesday and Thursday only.
SERVICE NO 203
Friday evening only SERVICE NO. 204
Southport - Preston - Clitheroe - Skipton. Monday to Saturday
SERVICE NO. 280
Skipton - Clitheroe - preston - Southport. Monday to Saturday
SERVICE NO. 280

(External) Public Service Journey Planner on the Internet

Clitheroe County Information Centre Tel: 01200 442226

Location map of Gisburn

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