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Contents :: RIBBLE WAY :: Day 4


		INTRODUCTION		DAY 5
		DAY 1		DAY 6
		DAY 2		DAY 7
		DAY 3
		DAY 4

THE RIBBLE WAY RUNS FLOWS FROM ITS SOURCE IN THE YORKSHIRE DALES TO ITS RIVER MOUTH BEYOND PRESTON

NATIONAL TRAIL GUIDES UK

Day 4 :: More Attractive Scenery:: Clitheroe to Gisburn:: 10 miles

We were to walk today from Brungerley Bridge in Clitheroe to Gisburn Bridge, but we had problems in finding somewhere to leave the car at Gisburn Bridge. Gisburn Bridge is more than a mile away from Gisburn itself and it took us a considerable length of time to find somewhere suitable to park. This was in a car park opposite Gisburn primary school, much further away than we had intended, and adding 1 mile to our journey.

We commenced our walk at Brungerley Bridge, where we finished yesterday, and walked over the bridge and towards Clitheroe, turning left into Brungerley park only 100 yards from the bridge. It was a wonderfully sunny day and the sun shone brightly over the River Ribble, and the surrounding parkland. We entered the parkland via open metal gates and walked along the park drive, immediately reaching a fork and opting for the leftmost. We exercised the same option at the next fork, and soon reached the riverbank near to a small but picturesque cascade.

Continuing along the park track we entered woodland and at a stile on the riverbank we progressed to the Cross Hill Quarry Nature Reserve. I had dreaded this part of the journey as the quarry looked dreary, noisy and dirty from the map, but in actuality it was a beautiful area. The quarry was well screened and without a map it would scarcely have been noticeable. Far from hearing quarry noises all we could hear were birds chirping merrily as though being filled with joy from the brilliance of the sunny day.



The Ribble from Brungerley Bridge		Ribble at Cross Hill Quarry Nature Reserve

We soon found ourselves walking along a narrow track on the top of the riverbank between grassy verges and a fence on our right separating us from arable farmland. Hawthorn and other small trees were dotted here and there along the path and there were many wild flowers adding their brilliance to the wayside.

From time to time there were small cataracts along the river, often heard before being seen. After a considerable time a look back and to the right would reveal the receding image of the quarry. We were not walking in a direct line from it but rather sweeping a large bend of the Ribble and circumnavigating the quarry from one side to the other.



Ribble Way just beyond Cross Hill Quarry		Almost stepping stones

Before entering further into the woodland I glanced back at the Ribble to see the most amazing view, the beautiful blues of the water contrasting so heavenly with the variegated greens of dense herbage fronting the wood, and the woodland on the far bank. In the wood we followed a narrow, curving dirt track between widely spaced stands of trees and rich vegetation containing an assortment of yellow and white flowers.

We crossed a stile and shortly after climbed up some stone steps onto Bradford Bridge, an attractive bridge with 3 arches. On the opposite side of the bridge we passed through a gate stile to rejoin the riverbank and continue as before but on a slightly wider track. We passed a stretch of the river that seemed to have stepping stones that reached from each bank to a point almost midway across the river, but having, midway, a gap too wide to cross.



Pendle Hill and Chatburn village		Grindleton Bridge

We continued to walk along the riverbank on the edge of an attractive meadow with trees lining the far side and wondered about the tranquility and beauty of the area, and how lucky we were to be experiencing it this day. We walked for a long time, passing many stiles, and never ceasing to be impressed with what we saw and felt. At times the meadow to our right narrowed to hug the path.

At length our track veered to the right and up a green grassy bank and we walked from an elevated position over the riverbank at the side of a fence and trees. A stile took us into a narrow wood and we left it to walk along the edge of a tree lined meadow, following the edge of the trees. While walking along the meadow on our right we could see, looming quite closely now, the infamous pendle Hill, with the village of Chatburn nestling beneath its flanks. This was Lancashire witch country.

At the end of the meadow we passed through a kissing gate to enter a country lane, where we turned left and walked back on ourselves. The object was to cross the River Ribble which would have to be done at Grindleton Bridge, some half mile back. We reached Grindleton road bridge and walked across the Ribble, about 50 yards beyond the bridge and turned sharp right to return to the riverbank but on the far side.

After following the path a short distance it was fenced off. From now on there were many points along the Ribble Way were there were diversion notices and route finding became quite confusing. The proposed new routes were awkward to understand and the maps accompanying them were not very helpful. As they were only proposed changes we ignored them.



Carol rock-hopping		Sand Martin burrows

We found our way among large stones on the riverside and managed to bypass the fenced off area. Finding a suitable spot for lunch on the riverside we indulged ourselves for 15 minutes, disturbing sand martins flitting in and out of their burrows not far away on the riverbank.

Carrying on we walked along a large sweep of the river, following the riverbank and crossed a stile into another meadow containing a slightly raised bank away from the riverside. After a while we saw on the opposite side the Swanside Beck, as it joined the River Ribble. Beside it were some fishermen. Shortly after passing the beck we crossed a stepped stile that quickly took us to another stile and another field which we crossed diagonally to reach a small wooden bridge by a stone wall, where we crossed a stream and then immediately climbed a ladder stile over the wall to walk up a short but steep buttercup clad field. There were actually a good mixture of meadow flowers but buttercups were the most prominent.

Rounding a bend beyond the hill crest we reached a ladder stile across the wall on our left and entered a field of long grass. This itched by bare legs considerably. Eventually we reached the end of the field and crossed a stile by a gate onto the road into Sawley. There was a remarkably good view of Pendle Hill from here. Walking downhill into Sawley we passed Bank House and several cottages and as we neared the foot of the hill we saw the span of the road bridge at Sawley. At a bend in the road we left it to take a shortcut across a freshly cut meadow that took us directly to Sawley Bridge.



Confluence of Swanside Beck with the River Ribble		Buttercup clad field



Pendle Hill from road near Sawley Bridge		Sawley Bridge

In the village of Sawley we loitered long enough to take photographs of the remains of Sawley Abbey and then left on a lane adjoining the car park to the Spread Eagle pub. A short way along the lane we turned left through a gateway that led to Sawley Lodge. This was a delightful but very short section of tarmac walking between lush green meadows. We left the tarmac via a gate on the right leading immediately to another gate and a gravel track leading to West Dockber Farm.

We walked for a while up the track and over a cattle grid towards the farmhouse to be met by a large yearling cow running down the track. It screeched to a halt and back-tracked very quickly. As we walked past the farmhouse and into the farm itself the cow was still back-tracking. The farmer's wife, in the meantime, was trying to control its direction of travel using her car, and once she had it under control we progressed forward, climbing a dirt track out of the farm and passing many gates until reaching a stile on our right taking us across a large field. We walked towards the end of a plantation in the field, to find more proposed diversion notices. These were very confusing and we simply ignored them.



Plantation beyond West Dockber Farm		Pond at Gisburn Hall Farm

At the corner of the plantation we passed through a stile at the side of a wall and entered another field, bearing right until reaching an old field boundary of sparse trees and the obvious lay out of an outdoor market or similar. We proceeded forward, crossing a few stiles and by-passed Huggan ing, which was being renovated. We then passed through a gate onto a lane and passed through another gate on the opposite side of the lane, to enter another field, where we were met by a couple of adorable cocker spaniels.

After sufficient fondles, caresses, pets and tickles, we waved to their owner, the farmer, waiting patiently some 70 yards away and crossed the field diagonally until reaching the lane at Gisburn Cotes Hall. Here we re-met the cocker spaniels together with a third and an aging black labrador and met the farmer, who had taken a quicker route. We chatted for 15 minutes or thereabouts and then left, passing in front of the farm, and walked along the lane, crossing a railway. This led us to Gisburn Cotes Farm, which we proceeded to, along a track, passing a pond filled with yellow water lilies.

Passing through the farm we left at a gate and aimed for a railway bridge, that was neatly turfed, and joined a field via a stile at the other end. We then walked beside an electrified fence until reaching a gap allowing entrance to the field and the grassy track beyond leading to another farm. We entered and left the farm via stiles, to reach a tarmac road beyond displaying a broken sign pointing to Fooden Ford.



Track beside a field of crops		Diverting round a stream

We followed the lane left until at a bend at the top we reached a stile taking us through several fields and into, via a small bridge (a wooden plank) a wood. We wound round the contour of a steep hillside on a narrow track between thickets of ransoms (wild garlic), walking down a steep set of wooden steps, until eventually reaching the Ribble bank once more. We then walked along successive fields, through several stiles until moving away from the riverbank to climb a hill. We then detoured sharply to the right around a freshly planted wooded area surrounding a small fenced stream, and once crossing it on a wooden bridge, returning on the opposite side to return to the original direction.

Next we passed through a gate to the right of New Laithe, and passing beyond we joined a farm track, briefly, and crossed to the other side and passed through a gate, traversing a field that appeared to have no egress. We eventually found our way out, at a stile hidden away near the far end of the field and then crossed another field and found a bridge at the far end leading over a stream and into a woodland. We soon left the woodland on a narrow grassy track and walked across another field. Again we could not find the egress, but did eventually. Passing through a stile we entered into the yard of Coppice Farm. Walking past Coppice House we joined a good lane that took us to the road into Gisburn, where we had parked our car.



Field near Coppice Farm		Stile to Coppice Farm

Day 3

Day 5

Author - Roy McKee