Follow the fairies through the fields steeped with history around Clitheroe

Start : The Red Pump Inn, Clitheroe Road, Bashall Eaves, Clitheroe, (BB7 3DA)Grid ref. SD 695 431

(S/E) Leaving the Red Pump Car Park, follow the main road to your left (North) up the hill, to the next junction, where you take the lane to the right beside the triangular village green. Passing the old cheese press on your right (which represents the agricultural heritage the village once thrived on), continue along this lane until you see a fingerpost and stile on your right, here you should see your first glimpses of Pendle Hill and Clitheroe to your right.

(1) Cross the stile into the field and head straight across towards a residence and pass through the two kissing gates onto an old lane. Turn right (South-East) and continue down the hill passing Clough Bottom on your left.

When you reach the cattle grid, take the left-hand gate, and keep to the left of the hedgerow making sure the farm is to your right side. This will take you across two stiles and the 17th century Saddle Bridge, legendary for having been built in one night by fairies to help a woodcutter escape a witch.

Cross Saddle Bridge, turn left (North), go through the kissing gate and you’ll find yourself onto a track. Follow the track to the left and take a right before the barn, to a stile.

(2) Once over the stile bear diagonally left uphill, keeping the hedgerow to your left. (Be aware there are often loose poulty in this field, so dogs on a lead please). You’ll reach a stile and once over it, carry on further keeping the hedge to your left until you come across a ladder stile embedded in the hedgerow, climb over this and drop down into an old sunken road.

(3) Sticking to the natural course of the land and descending downhill, you’ll come across the picturesque cottages of Talbot Bridge (a Grade II listed bridge built by the Talbot family, who rose to fame after recognising and capturing the tyrant king Henry IV during the War of The Roses).

Ascending the road on the other side of Talbot Bridge is a footpath with some old stone steps to your left, cross this stile and continue straight (South-West) keeping the hedge to your left, again, continue straight keeping the two large oak trees to your left and the path reaches the road.

(4) Once on the road, turn left following it downhill (South-East) and then take your first right turn on the road, straight ahead of you, Longridge fell dominates the horizon on clear days and leers forebodingly on others.

On this small stretch you should see a stile to your right, cross this and then immediately cross the other stile on the right-hand fence, from here walk to your left following the fence continue across to the next stile and then straight on again crossing the tiny bridge across boggy ground and up the ladder stile onto the main road.

Take a left on this road keeping an eye out for any passing traffic (this is quite a fast road), staying on this road will lead you back to Red Pump Inn. (S/E)

Start : The Red Pump Inn, Clitheroe Road, Bashall Eaves, Clitheroe, (BB7 3DA)Grid ref. SD 695 431

Parking : At the Red Pump Inn.

Dog friendly : Livestock will be grazing in most of the fields, so keep dogs under close control and ideally on a lead.

Terrain : Slight gradients, Several old stiles and a steep ladder stile. Stout boots recommended

Mapping :
Grid Reference SD69602 43343
OS Explorer OL41,
OS Landranger 103

Refreshments :
The Red Pump Inn
Clitheroe Road, Bashall Eaves, Clitheroe, (BB7 3DA)
Tel: 01254 826227

Find more walks and information at Love Ribble Valley here.