Dunsop Valley & Whitendale
1
SD659500 You’ve had two full days with lots of moorland (and perhaps a bit of bog) so you now deserve something a little easier and this romp up the valley of the River Dunsop uses a private water authority road to gain access to some secretive scenery in the heart of Bowland. And in the hamlet of Dunsop Bridge you’re at the very heart of Britain too – the floor of the phone box incorporates a steel cross which marks the official geographical centre point. Take the lane next to the tearoom and sports field and follow this to a row of cottages, after which a path leads on to a substantial footbridge over the river.
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SD656508 Cross the bridge and turn right on the lane. This serves a couple of remote farms as well as the pumping stations and weirs associated with the water works. Simply walk ahead for 2km and watch the valley, with some forestry, steepen into a tightly enclosed cut through the hills. The river is always close by on the right. Pass the main water works building at Foot Holme and continue for another 200m to a footbridge on the right.
3
SD653533 Cross the bridge and turn left on a grass track which soon narrows and runs through a small canyon. Pass a small building on the left, go through a gate and take the path over a stream. This hidden ravine with waterfalls lies at the foot of wooded Costy Clough. Head up to a tiny footbridge, cross another higher footbridge and turn left to meet a path on a terrace above the valley. Pass through a small gate in a wall and continue ahead on a narrow path through heather – in places this has been badly eroded to the edge of the slope above the river. Go through a small gate in a fence and a couple of small gates in walls.
Keep ahead over some boggy ground to the barns at Whitendale Farm.
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SD661549 Turn left between walls, go through a gate and walk down to pass the farmhouse. Go right over a stone bridge, then left on a footbridge over the Whitendale River. A steep path climbs out of trees and up the open hillside to a small gate in a wall. A sign warns of deep peat but the route is marked with intermittent wooden posts. Pass a pool on the right to reach a wall on the high ground of the pass.
5
SD652548 Go through the large gate, with bridleway marker, and follow the wall downhill for 250m. Shortly afterwards, join a rough farm track which bends left to pass through a gate in a wall. Turn immediately right down the field, with a plantation on the right, and veer left to a gate at a track. Walk downhill and soon fork right to the river. Cross the bridge and walk to Brennand Farm.
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SD645541 Join the farm lane through the splendid valley of the
Brennand
River and fork right
400m after the buildings at Lower Brennand. The lane descends back to the water works buildings from where you retrace your steps down the valley. Keep ahead at the footbridge and follow the lane on the west side of the river to houses and a T-junction.
Turn left for 100m to cross the arched bridge and return to the start.