THE HODDER WAY

By Peter Dobson
Length of walk 40 Kilometres (25 Miles) approx
Undulating walk with some short steep ascents / ground boggy in places
Starting height 427 metres approx, also the highest point
OS Map required, Sheet 103 1:50000, or much better OL41 1:25000. Forest of Bowland & Ribblesdale.

5BG = Five barred gate / 7BG = Seven barred gate / m = metres

The walk begins at the Cross Of Greet north of Stocks Reservoir near Slaidburn, and finishes where it joins the R. Ribble between Stonyhurst College and Gt.Mitton, some 40 km / 25 miles away.

Splitting the walk into two stages would give you an approximate halfway point at Whitwell or Dunsop Bridge. You could stay at “The Inn At Whitewell”, a well known hotel – it is very popular and accommodation would need to be booked well in advance.

There is also an excellent Youth Hostel at Slaidburn; however this is not at the halfway point. Bookings for this are made through Earby Y.H.A. The Hark to Bounty Inn close by also offers accommodation and produces an excellent menu. There is also accommodation available at the Parkers Arms in Newton.

Source of River Hodder to Slaidburn. 8.5 miles.

Start by The Cross of Greet (just a stump to be precise) SD 68227 60850
There is room to park several cars here.

YES - FREE AT LAST – all the land around is open access. However there remains the small matter of locating the Hodder’s source which is in fact more or less all around you. So to make things simple I made an executive decision and can tell you it is at Grid Ref. (SD 67922 60580 ) .

Therefore to reach the source of the R. Hodder I suggest you follow the fence (opposite side of road/cattle grid side) from the Cross of Greet stump S. W. towards White Hill for about 350 - 400 M.

Where the fence makes a slight bend left you should see, weather permitting, on your left some boggy ground with areas of longish grass interspersed with pools of standing water. This area I have defined as the start of the R. Hodder. Looking eastwards towards a large hill - Carlow Hill, you will also see that the areas of long grass lead downwards into a developing trough which, if approached, will lead to a small stream - the infant R. Hodder.

Once you have located the stream it’s best to follow the right bank i.e. its south side, which will take you close to the road and eventually to where another stream joins. The stream joins from your right and it’s best to aim for the right bank of the now larger water course - I leave you to contemplate the implications of that.

Because there is no footpath i.e. opens access – hoorah! ; you can follow the developing stream in your own way utilising the numerous sheep tracks that generally run 20 - 30 ft above it for the next 1.40 km. After which another stream joins from the right having passed through a small quarry - the spoil heaps of which are stacked on your right also. Cross the joining stream and aim for the disused railway track some 100m diagonally right of the stream you have just crossed. You then follow the rail track for some 600 metres till you can join a shooting track that is visible on the right. Once on the track you cross a flat concrete bridge and a gate gives access to the highway.

Turn left and cross over The Cross of Greet Bridge to a F.P. sign pointing right on the other side. Follow the F.P. sign downstream on the east bank close to a wall at first. The path eventually tends away from the river. Go through a gate to ford Kearsden Beck, then go to the right of the next to follow a track between the fence and the river to meet a farm access road. Follow the access road upwards to a wood 5B gate. Go through the gate and head immediately up and leftwards ignoring a track straight ahead. When the track disappears, keep the gate and the wall on the left and walk to the wall corner.  Go through the gate and over rough ground to reach a barn, passing above Catlow Farm.

On reaching the barn near some shake holes go south down the rough field, access land, to eventually use a farm track which goes through a gate and onwards to a barn referred to as New House on the OS Map ( SD 72012 58070 ). Aim for the concrete farm road and continue south towards Stocks Reservoir until you cross a bridge over Hasgill Beck. Continue along this path (now signed as the Stocks Circular Route) which follows within sight of the reservoir edge until you reach the viewing hide, picnic tables, visitor car park and information boards.

From the car park go along the road, or a path beside it, to cross the causeway. Use the road for 400m where at the end of the trees on the right a stile leads into an open field, still signed Stocks Circular Walk. [The interesting Dalehead Church is a further 300m up the road, see notes.] Go up the field through a band of trees and continue above the reservoir with superb views. Follow the track through the first plantation and then fork right to keep right of the second plantation and continue towards the dam. Just before reaching it go up the steep bank and gravel track on the left. Where the track starts to go downhill look for a stile on the left to access a large field. Here go straight ahead S.E. to reach a farm track, follow it rightwards towards Hammerton Hall (see notes). Go through gates to its left and then down a farm road to a stream with a small flat bridge. Keep on the farm road with the now visible R. Hodder on your right. Cross the river on a stone arched bridge, cross a cattle grid and 100m later bear left onto a signed footpath by a wall. Go ahead towards Slaidburn but before reaching an obvious ford bear right and aim for a metal kissing gate just right of the bridge. Turn left onto the road, up to the war memorial and left again to the café, car park and toilets. Higher in the village is the well known Hark to Bounty where you can get a pint and a meal.

Slaidburn to Newton. 2 miles.
Opposite the café a signpost directs you between a parking place and a house, (an old Wesleyan chapel), leading up to a signed riverside walk. Follow this to the sewage works where you are diverted round and back to the banks of the Hodder. Follow the river passing a bridge below the renovated Dunnow Hall, enter woods by a metal kissing gate and eventually along a concessionary path in newly planted woods. Go right through a wall stile, then left over footbridge and on to meet the road at the bridge. Information board. Turning right takes you to Newton and The Parkers Arms.

Newton to Dunsop Bridge. 3.5 miles.
To continue turn left across the bridge and immediate right following FP sign. Cross a field tending slightly leftwards away from the river till you meet a hedge where steps lead to a stile. Continue above the river over a stile then upwards to a stile by a gate, arrowed stone in field. Go up to the next gate leading into a field where you will see a house ahead, head for this and just before it cross a stile in the hedge to the left onto a road.

Turn right and walk down the road for about 250 m crossing Foulscales Brook to a gravel track on your right marked Private Road. Walk down this for another 300 m till you see a FP sign and stile on your right. Crossing this takes you over a field to a suspension footbridge over the R. Hodder. Cross over and walk ahead uphill aiming to the right of the wooded knoll, go round it to cross a footbridge and field to gain the road at a stile.

Turn left down the road and walk past Boarsden Farm. Look for a F P sign on your left which takes you down the side of a house where there is a gate on the right which gives access to a field. Walk down to the track with your back to the house i.e. west to a 5B gate at the bottom of the incline and continue on passing a suspension bridge on your left to a stile.

This takes leads you over a brook and across a field (keeping river on your left) to a large white painted aqueduct bridge with a stile on its right. Go over this and continue following the river till you reach some woodland with another stile on the left which takes you through a small wood over a foot bridge and stile to another field. It should now be possible to see Thornyholme and a large bridge ahead with a group of Douglas Firs forming its approach from Dunsop Bridge. Cross the field in the direction of the bridge to a gate which allows access onto the road bridge. Turn left cross the bridge and follow the footpath sign rightwards at the end of the bridge. You can detour into Dunsop Bridge where there is a pleasant café and shop that serves hot drinks and food. They also stock an interesting range of books with information on other walks and and the area’s local history

 Dunsop Bridge to Doeford Bridge (via Burholme Bridge) 5.5 miles.

Follow the path along the river, crossing 2 stiles before approaching a metal aqueduct bridge. The footpath continues past the aqueduct, keeping close to the river. Eventually the path leaves the river and crosses a meadow towards Burholme Farm. At the farm take the path across the ford or wooden bridge into the farmyard, (ignore the path off to the left). Go through the farmyard and the path follows the farm access road to Burholme Bridge.

The track from the farm joins a road by the bridge, turn left away from the bridge towards the Whitewell Inn, There is a concessionary footpath (recommended) on the right after about 200m which runs parallel to the road. There is a gap in the hedge just past a metal gate where it starts. Following the road or path (accessed through a kissing gate and across a footbridge) will bring you to the Inn at Whitewell where you can break the journey.

Outside the Inn the road forks, take the left bending road upwards, past a Social Hall, to a FP sign on your right.  Go up the steps through the gate and walk diagonally up the field right of the house ahead. Near the house is a green Aqueduct gate with an interesting tunnel set back. Follow a track to the right of this into a sloping field. Continue, tending upwards, to a gate on the right of remains of a small building, into another field which is crossed to a 5B gate.

Go through the gate and follow the fence, crossing a stile, (S.W. direction) to a wall & 7B metal gate in the direction of Laund Wood - keep close to the fence on your right till a large ornate black gate (probably an access gate for a small quarry) is reached . Views to the Loud Valley & Parlick Pike on the right. Continue downwards gaining closer proximity to the road on the right, (aim for the left of the wood on the other side of the road). Go through a 7B gate and continue to another ornamental gate & FP sign is reached by the roadside.

Turn left down the road and after 60 M approx you will come to another footpath sign and stile on your right. Go over the stile and then over another by the hedge on the left. Head diagonally towards the end of a wood on the right some 300m distant. At the end of the wood go through a gate/stile and continue straight ahead at first for 200m approx and then, towards the fence by the river (ignore the two stiles in the fence by the river). A dirt track develops which takes you to a brook feeding the river, cross this and continue to a kissing gate which allows entrance to a field (farm up to the left). Aim between two disused stone gate posts 100m ahead. Follow this bearing to a stile under an oak tree and then head upwards for the left edge of a wood on the horizon and 50m to the left is a stile by a 5B gate and access to a gravel track.

Turn right down the gravel track follow this until you reach a large stone farm building with Stakes Farm some 200m beyond. Ahead there are 2 gates that allow access past a sheep pen. Go through the gates, turn left and walk uphill past the side of the barn onto a developing track. This takes you upwards and across a field to another metal gate which you go through, proceeding with the hedge on your right, to a post F.P. marker which points slightly left. Follow the direction of the arrow across a field for about 200 m to another marker just before the descent down to the river and Doeford Bridge.

Doeford Bridge to the Ribble (Fin) 7.5 miles.

Emerge onto the road that crosses the bridge and turn left up the road and walk for just over a kilometre to a gravel road on your right at a bend before a barn. Follow the track for 250 m approx and turn left at what looks like a crossroads, walk along this track for about 100 M to a stile on the right which affords access into a field. Cross the field along an old hedge line to drop into a junction of ditches, go up left to a stile giving access to a field. Aim for the left edge of some woods ahead where stiles cross pipeline access track.

On passing the woodland walk ahead to another stile and wooden bridge in the centre of the field ahead, after which you head towards some pine trees crossing another stile in a wire fence. Walk to the edge of the woods and find another stile by a wooden hurdle.

A path then takes you down through the wood to a stone bridge (SD 67277 43520) which you cross and turn immediately right tending upwards to a footbridge and stile which lets you onto more open ground. A grassy track continues past a post and up to a stile. Cross it to another which arrives at something of a highpoint looking down to the river. From here you traverse down and left looking for a gate and stile in a hedge some 150 m before the river. Cross this grassy area roughly parallel to the river (woodland up to your left) to a 5B gate with stile. Go over small stream and then ascend steeply (muddy) to cross a stile in fence on the left halfway up the slope.

Continue ascent of steps to a stile at top of slope – go over this and up to a useless stile 30M ahead. There is now a signed variant (sign insert ad been removed on last visit) across the hillside above the Hodder which you should include as it gives beautiful river views and allows closer contact with the Hodder. White waymarks.Turn right at the stile/map follow a line of fence posts to a metal gate. Continue traversing above the river by a water trough to another metal gate, past a seat, then ascend the slopes to a metal gate. Head across the field towards Buck Thorn Farm. Turn right to stiles over the pipeline to reach steps which take you down to a stream which is crossed and then up more steps to a stile and a track which you follow into Aigden farm yard ( SD 68652 43180 ), Go through the farmyard to a stile, cross this to another 20m further on in a hedge.

 Now in a field you can follow the old hedge straight ahead for 250 m approx away from the farm to a stile by a 5BG. Cross another field keeping fence on right to a stile – over this and go ahead towards fence and rusty 5BG with stile.

Go over stile and turn left to follow hedge across a field to another stile with small foot bridge, cross this and walk diagonally rightwards looking for a stile ahead by the visible farm access road, cross this stile to join the farm access road and walk towards the road leaving the farm behind you

On reaching the road [Pub up to the left] turn right to see a split ahead, take the right fork and continue for 1.30 km approx to a crossroads, turn right and walk to the Higher Hodder Bridge 560 Metres approx.

Walk to the end of the bridge and turn immediate left (F.P. sign) onto a well defined footpath which follows the Hodder for some 3.60 Km. Keep to this undulating track following the river. At one point where you rise through the woods there is an interesting stone cross. Passing below the commanding Hodder Place buildings you go through fields to arrive at Lower Hodder Bridge.

On Arrival at the Lower Hodder Bridge go across the road to a Ribble Way marker. The remainder of our route follows the Ribble Way so you can follow the Blue Signs. There is a narrow access path going ahead for a short distance to give close up views of ‘Cromwell’s Bridge’. Walk up the pavement for about 400 Metres to a bus shelter on your right and there is a FP sign on your left. Go over the style into a field and cross two more as the ground rises. Views back to the stately Stoneyhurst College. Over the brow you will see off to your right the roof and chimney of a small building, aim for this and go through a metal kissing gate in the middle of the field and on to another to the left of the small building which gives access to a road. Turn left and follow the road passing by Winkley Hall. Tall trees to the left are home to a group of herons. Walk on down the track and walk through Winkley Hall Farm till you can see the Hodder again and follow the FP sign pointing right. Continue on the track for about 250 M to a gate where there is a seat and steps down to the banks where the Hodder and Ribble join. CONGRATULATIONS! open the Champagne you have been carrying for the last 25 mile or head for the nearest pub either at Mitton or Hurst Green.

From here there are three options for returning

a) About turn and retrace your steps to Lower Hodder Bridge on Whalley Rd. Longridge - Clitheroe bus service.

b) Look at the OS Map and you will see It is possible to loop back in a circle by continuing along the Ribble Way past the Jumbles then off right to Fox Fields Farm which you can pass leaving it to your left and eventually onto Whalley Rd. Where turning right will take you back to the Lower Hodder Bridge. The loop is worth while as the scenery is pleasant and adds about 4 Km from the merge point of the rivers.

c) Continue along the delightful Ribble Way for about 3K to Hurst Green, here there are pubs and transport.

F  I  N

Acknowledgements : I would like to thank

Angela Towers and Bess for their help, patience and companionship while walking the Hodder Way. Bess also managed to swim a good deal of it.

John Proud who tested my description of the walk and has indeed written up a marvellous walk of his own called the "Longridge Skyline Walk"
To obtain details of this walk please us the contact form

Members of Kendal Mountain Rescue Team : Hilary Fouweather, Chris Rogers and Barbara who also tested the walk bravely without the use of a map, and helped greatly in producing the final draft.

Notes

Dalehead Church St. James' Church
Dalehead is a mortuary chapel in the Parish of Tosside. It is located within the area of the Forestry Commission's plantations known as "Gisburn Forest". It was built from stone reclaimed from the original church which was demolished circa 1936 as a result of the flooding of Dalehead in the early 1930s to create Stocks Reservoir.

Stocks Reservoir
It was thought that the original site of the church would be flooded and so many of the bodies in the graveyard were disinterred and reburied at the new site which is on higher ground. In actual fact, the original site at the bottom of School House Lane was never flooded and is now a car-park and picnic site. Occasional services are held at the church by the priest in charge: Reverend Mark Russell-Smith from St. Andrew's Church, Slaidburn.

 Hammerton Hall
Hammerton Hall is a large three gabled building built with a layout resembling that of a capital letter "E". This was a floor-plan often used in houses built or altered during the 16th or early 17th centuries. The house has been extended to the rear over the centuries and at one time was split into two houses. This was once the home of the "de Hammerton" family, a wealthy medieval family who are reputed to have been able to ride from Slaidburn to York (approx. 50 miles) on their own land!  This is reflected in the place-names: "Kirk Hammerton" and "Green Hammerton" near York; both villages owned at one time by the family. Unfortunately, the family lost most of their wealth and power when Sir Stephen de Hamerton joined Abbot Paslew of Whalley in the Pilgrimage of Grace of 1536. This was a protest against Henry VIII's proposed dissolution of the monasteries. Sir Stephen was executed for treason and as a knight was hanged and beheaded in 1537. His neighbour Nicholas Tempest of Catlow, a commoner who had also taken part in the Pilgrimage of Grace, suffered an even worse fate; that of being hanged, drawn and quartered at Tyburn.

 The Hark to Bounty Inn :
Formerly know as the Dog Inn. The building has a long history; an upper room was used as a forest court when Slaidburn was the administrative centre of the Forest of Bowland The Inn is generally open all day with food served:

 Stonyhurst College : Well known Roman Catholic educational establishment
The facade of  St Peter’s Church is quite impressive. The Church was inspired by Kings College Chapel in Cambridge and was completed in 1835. The Jesuits, fleeing from Liege, France, settled at Stonyhurst Hall in 1794, when it was given to them by Mr Thomas Weld, heir of the Shireburns. The museum treasures include the embroidered cap of Sir Thomas Moore, Catherine of Aragon’s religious robes and a cloak of Henry II’s. Much older than these, though is the 7th century copy of St John’s Gospel. This is the oldest example of an English leather-bound book, surviving from the Anglo-Saxon period.

 Lower Hodder Bridge : Built in the1820’s and gives us a most interesting view of the much older pack-horse bridge. This bridge is reputed to have carried Cromwell and his armies on their way to battle at Preston.

Links
http://www.slaidburn.org.uk/  and   http://www.dalehead.org/