multi-stemmed trees. Trees don’t grow like that naturally, and these have come up from stools (the base of the plant from which shoots grow) last coppiced 70–100 years ago to provide wood to make charcoal, and bark for tanning leather.
Plant life also includes primrose, opposite-leaved golden-saxifrage, wood speedwell, foxglove and many ferns. Pied flycatchers breed here regularly, and nuthatches and wood warblers have also been found in the woods. You may even hear the call of the woodcock at dusk.
Frosty morning on the Lune
Immediately over the footbridge, turn left, at a signpost, onto a concessionary path climbing into the woodland. This is clear enough throughout, and climbs free of the woodland to cross a high pasture before returning to the shade of trees, Burton Wood, and later descending to a riverside pasture. Here, the river makes a great loop southward, and this is the way to go, with the river eventually swinging back to a northerly direction. Note This great riverside loop is prone to flooding, and if this occurs you have no choice but to retrace your steps and come back another day.
As the route heads northwards, so you encounter a wide farm track that will guide you towards a small wooden hut. Keep to the left of the hut, and go through a gate to follow the broad track to Afton Barn Cottage, beside which you reach the end of a surfaced lane. Now simply follow the lane, rather steeply, up into the village of Aughton (pronounced ‘Afton’).
Aughton cottage
Go through the village, following the road for Halton, still climbing, but only for a further 150m, as far as a footpath sign on the left. Here, leave the road by climbing a metal ladder-stile, and from the stile follow a grassy path to a step-stile beside a gate. From this, strike up the ensuing field, aiming roughly at the right-hand edge of a thin strip of woodland in the distance. There is no path here, but as you climb, gradually move a little more to the right to locate another stile in a fence corner.
Walk across to a footbridge ahead, and then up towards the left-hand edge of Far Highfield farm, where you will find a step-stile. From the stile start off half-left and then gradually drift towards a fence on the right, following this to a step-stile in a corner and an obsolete ladder-stile a short way further on. The route now continues alongside an established hawthorn and holly hedgerow, heading for Middle Highfield farm. Cross an intermediate stile, and then continue towards the farm buildings, a number of which have been converted to residential use.
Luneside pastures
Pass through a gate and walk on between the first buildings, and then turn left through a metal gate and immediately right to a stone gap-stile (waymark). Go through the gap and a wooden gate, and then on across cobbles between converted barns to reach a surfaced road. Bear left for a short distance, but keep an eye open for a low step-stile in a fence on the right. Cross to this, go over it, bear right alongside the fence, and go down to walk beside a wall, passing through a gate en route.
Beyond the end of the wall another fence takes you on to a gate and ladder-stile, beyond which you cross the corner of a field and pass through an old field gate. Cross to a signpost in a fence. Now bear left alongside the fence and follow a waymarked route to a metal gate giving access to Lower Highfield farm.
Keep to a waymarked route through the farm. Go through a dip to enter a sloping pasture. Bear across this to a corner of woodland to locate a metal kissing-gate giving into the woodland. Follow a path along the upper (right-hand) boundary of the woodland, which later pushes on through the woodland, finally emerging at another metal kissing-gate.
Go forward, keeping above and to the right of two isolated trees, to reach a fence corner. Now keep on beside the fence, which guides you to a gap-stile at the end of a wall and, a few strides further on, a step-stile. Walk along a grassy path across a field slope to a waymark post, from which you bear left around the edge of a farm building (beware sudden drop) to a step-stile giving onto a farm access track at Hawkshead.
Turn right along the access track and follow it out to meet a surfaced lane, and there turn left. Taking care against approaching traffic, and follow the lane for about 1km, until it reaches a main road. Just before a cattle-grid at the road junction, turn left onto a footpath parallel with the road and follow it back to the Crook o’ Lune car park.
WALK 3
Annas Ghyll and Forge Mill
| Start/Finish | Bull Beck picnic site and car park, Caton (refreshment kiosk; toilets) (SD541648) |
| Distance | 6.5km (4 miles) |
| Total Ascent | 140m (460ft) |
| Terrain | Variable field paths and farm tracks; some road walking |
| Maps | Explorer OL41 (Forest of Bowland and Ribblesdale) |
This is a short but hugely enjoyable walk, largely across open country, using ancient sunken tracks and visiting the site of an old mill before returning through the village of Brookhouse.
Leave the Bull Beck car park and return to the Lancaster-to-Hornby road, walking east, away from Caton, for about 100m. Take care against approaching traffic on this short stretch – the road is busy and high-speed.
As the road bends to the left, leave it by crossing a step-stile on the right, to the left of a metal gate. Walk up-field to a mid-field waymark, and from it cross to an obsolete step-stile at an old field boundary. Now head across a sloping pasture to the far corner of the field, where a metal kissing-gate gives onto a narrow path leading out to an estate road on the edge of Brookhouse. Turn left to a T-junction and go left again, walking uphill beside the road. After about 400m, on reaching a speed de-restriction sign, leave the road at a footpath sign by crossing a step-stile on the right.
Tight-fit squeeze-stile, Annas Ghyll
Now walk up a shallow groove along an old field boundary flanked by ancient hawthorns, an oak and an ash. Cross the high point of the pasture, with improving views, and continue in the same direction, still following the course of an old track. Aim for a stile in a wall, and from it go forward along the left-hand field beside a fence. When the fence changes direction, keep on in the same direction, down a sloping pasture to a wall corner.
At the corner, keep to the left of the wall to reach a very narrow stone stile, beyond which follow the left-hand field boundary to reach Annas Ghyll farm.
On reaching the farm, pass through a gate, and immediately swing right through another gate to gain the farm access just above a cattle-grid. Now walk up the access track. At the highest point of the track take a breather and enjoy a fine view of the Lune valley. Continue across another cattle-grid, or through a nearby gate, and carry on along the farm access, eventually descending to meet a lane.
Turn right, gently walking down to a road junction, and turn left (Littledale Road). Walk through a dip and up to another road junction, and there cross into the driveway leading to Cransfield Cottage. On the reaching the first outbuilding, bear right alongside it to a step-stile (waymarked for the Caton Village Walk).
Over the stile, go forward down a broad sunken track, often wet, and follow this as it swings right. The track ends at another stile. From this go diagonally left across a large pasture to a waymark post near a fence corner. Keep on along a grassy path to reach the remains of another wall, which contains some vaccary stones. Vaccary is a medieval term for a cow pasture usually bounded by upright stone slabs (see photo below).