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.