A circular walk from Sawley to Gisburn
distance 10.61 miles : time 5 hours
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A circular
walk from Sawley to Gisburn and Bolton-by-Bowland
From
the Spread Eagle Walk towards Sawley Lodge. After passing the entrance
to Sawley Lodge a sign states that the Ribble Way is closed and
a diversionary route to Steep Hill is given. Turn right through
the gate and go through the second gate; turn left along the road.
At Dockber bear right through the farmyard. At the end of the farm
track turn right through the double gate and then left and walk
down hill to the stile at the bottom end of the wood. Cross over
this stile and a second stile into the field; the path now follows
the edge of the wood. Go through the gate and follow the fence
on the right. Towards the end of this fence go through the gate
on the right and carry straight on to Huggan Ing. The path now
encounters a series of stiles and bears right towards Gisburn Coates
Hall. Carry on along the road over the railway; turn left to Gisburn
Coates.
Go through
the entrance, turn immediately left and proceed over the footbridge
over the railway line. Bear right towards Long Holme Row. To
the left of the house go over two stiles and turn left along
the track. After about 20 yd the Ribble Way sign is seen followed
by steep steps into Steep Wood. The path proceeds through the
wood and descends to the Ribble bank. The path is now fairly
straightforward to Coppice Farm. At the farm turn left and follow
the waymarkers to the road. Turn right for Gisburn; at the T-juction
in Gisburn turn left for the White Bull.
From
Gisburn walk up the road over the Ribble and past the Kennels.
The return FP starts at the sign for 'Ribblepark" on the
left further along the road. After Park House walk down to the
footbridge over the Park House Beck and take the stile immediately
on the left. Follow the fence to the next stile at the corner
of Bolton Close Plantation seen ahead. Follow the inside edge
of the wood to the stile and then the fence on the right to Fooden.
After the first building turn right and then left to find the
footpath sign to Bolton Hall. The FP now follows an old farm
track and the Ribble is seen down below through the wood. Walk
along the edge of the wood and continue in a straight line with
the fence on the left. A plank bridge crosses the brook downhill
of Scott Laithe; continue straight on to Bolton Hall. Turn right
along the road for Bolton-by-Bowland. After leaving the housing
complex at the cattle grill the FP on the left offers a short
cut avoiding the village. On reaching the main road turn left;
the Coach and Horses is seen after 100 yd.
The
FP back to Sawley starts just to the left over the road bridge
along a tarmac road, and continues over a stone stile just before
the house. The path to Sawley is well way marked over successive
fields and stiles. Towards the end of the walk with the road
bridge at Sawley well insight, the path crosses over a footbridge
and follows the hedge on the right to the bridge.
The walk as described starts at the Spread Eagle close to the remains of
Sawley Abbey, however Gisburn or Bolton-by-Bowland are alternative starting
points.
The walk between Sawley and Gisburn forms part of the Ribble Way. However, shortly before Sawley Lodge the path is diverted away from the Ribble until Steep Wood; this diversion is not shown on the O.S. map. The walk offers a combination of river, woodland and meadow views with a number of pubs as objectives.
The Spread Eagle in Sawley, the White Bull in Gisburn, and the Coach & Horses and the Copy Nook in Bolton-by -Bowland are all well worth a visit - but perhaps not all on the same walk.
The walk between Sawley and Gisburn forms part of the Ribble Way. However, shortly before Sawley Lodge the path is diverted away from the Ribble until Steep Wood; this diversion is not shown on the O.S. map. The walk offers a combination of river, woodland and meadow views with a number of pubs as objectives.
The Spread Eagle in Sawley, the White Bull in Gisburn, and the Coach & Horses and the Copy Nook in Bolton-by -Bowland are all well worth a visit - but perhaps not all on the same walk.
