Downham via Chatburn

The walk starts from St Leonard Church on Downham main Street and follows the clockwise circular route via Worsaw Hill, Chatburn and packhorse bridge.

Details

4298238
Creation:
Last update:
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  • Walking
    Activity: Walking
  • ↔
    Distance: 6.81 km
  • ◔
    Average duration: 2h 15 
  • ▲
    Difficulty: Easy

  • ⚐
    Back to start: Yes
  • ↗
    Ascent: + 109 m
  • ↘
    Descent: - 101 m

  • ▲
    Highest point: 168 m
  • ▼
    Lowest point: 87 m

Photos

Description of the walk

Start : St Leonard church Downham (BB7 4BJ). Grid ref. SD 784 443

(S/E) Start from St Leonard church Downham. Excellent view of Pendle Hill from the church yard. Head South down the main street. Cross the bridge and take the road West. Take West Lane West between cottages. The visitor centre north of cottages is worth a visit.

(1) Take the gate North of Chestnut Cottage into a field. Follow the footpath South-West along south side of hedge. Pass through the gate and head diagonally South across the field. Take the gate North towards Worsaw Hill. Follow the path on the north side of wall around base of hill. Worth a climb to the top of the hill for view.

(2) The path heads North-West between smaller Warren Hill and larger Worsaw Hill. It's a good place to find fossils in outcrops. Take the stile and head North across fields towards A59.

(3) Take a stile and carefully cross A59 to the path on the north side of road. Take Kayley Lane North then first left down Pendle Ave to Downham Road. (There is an Ice cream shop 100 yards on the left). Turn right North-East along Downham Road. After crossing the bridge take the footpath North into the field via the gate. Bear North-East along the south of hedge to gate. Take the gate and follow the path North-East between hedges.

(4) Cross the bridge and continue North-East along the path. Follow the path North-East along the north side of broken hedge to gate. Take the gate in the field corner and follow the path East over the footbridge to Swanside Beck.

(5) The restored packhorse bridge is a good spot for a rest and cool the feet. When rested, head South-West along the south of Swanside Beck. Pass under the railway and follow the path South-East on the south side of the hedge to Rimmington Lane/Green Lane.

(6) Cross the road to the track on the opposite side, take the track East.

(7) Use the gate to take the path South towards Pixie Rock outcrop. The path turns South-West between a group of mounds towards Town End Croft Wood. Use the gate to exit the field and take the path around the bungalow and via the Pub back to St Leonard Church.(S/E)

Waypoints

  1. S/E : km 0 - alt. 148 m - St Leonard Church
  2. 1 : km 0.33 - alt. 135 m - Chestnut Gate
  3. 2 : km 1.42 - alt. 148 m - Fossil Rocks
  4. 3 : km 2.86 - alt. 113 m - A59
  5. 4 : km 4.51 - alt. 102 m - Railway Bridge
  6. 5 : km 5.29 - alt. 87 m - Packhorse Bridge
  7. 6 : km 5.81 - alt. 113 m - Rimmington Lane
  8. 7 : km 6.47 - alt. 157 m - Pixie Rocks
  9. S/E : km 6.81 - alt. 148 m - St Leonard Church

Notes

Start : St Leonard church Downham (BB7 4BJ). Grid ref. SD 784 443

Parking : Parking at the start on the main road or West Lane.

Refreshments : Food and drink are available in Downham and Chatburn.

More detailed route info :
http://www.graemelinford.com/walks/downh...

Reviews and comments

3.7 / 5
Based on 2 reviews

Reliability of the description
3 / 5
Ease of following the route
3.5 / 5
Route interest
4.5 / 5
User 16337582

Overall rating : 2.7 / 5

Date of your route : Sep 14, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★☆☆☆ Disappointing
Ease of following the route : ★★☆☆☆ Disappointing
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

There are a few places where the description of the walk is hard to follow, especially where it talks about cooling off in the water by the packhorse bridge as this takes you away from the walking route so great potential to get lost. It would be better to use descriptions of turn left or right rather than south or east etc.

gfl57
gfl57

Glad you enjoyed the Downham Chatburn walk.
There are several other walks in that area, all with detailed routes in several formats together with pictures of each waypoint, on my website
www.graemelinford.com/walks

JeffCottam
JeffCottam

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Feb 17, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good

Thoroughly enjoyed the walk. Following the route on the phone was brilliant

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