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Walking - Mellor Hill
Dennis Kelsall goes over the stepping stones to... Mellor Hill and the Hodder Valley
Apart from being one of the best Areas of Natural Beauty in the country, the Ordnance Survey has proclaimed Bowland to be at the geographical heart of Great Britain.
To celebrate the announcement, BT commissioned a special telephone box, unveiled by Sir Ranulph Fiennes in 1992, which stands beside the river opposite the Puddleducks post office and tea shop in Dunsop Bridge, from where this walk begins.
It traces a short section of the Hodder Valley to the famed Inn at Whitewell, crossing the river on stepping-stones before returning over gentle hills below the steep western flank of Totridge.
For a longer walk, hang on for next week's, which begins from the Inn at Whitewell.
1 Leaving the car park go left as far as bend, there turning off along an avenue graced by imposing redwood trees that leads to Thorneyholme Hall. Immediately over the bridge, swing through a gate to follow the riverbank downstream. The way very soon joins a track, but where that later swings away, keep going at the field edge beside the Hodder. Beyond an unusual metal bridge, built by Blackburn Corporation in 1882 to carry a water pipeline across the river Hodder, the way joins another track. Stick with that as the river later describes a sweep to the right, shortly approaching Burholme Farm. Go right to follow its access track out to the lane beside Burholme Bridge. The Inn at Whitewell lies a three-quarter mile ahead along the lane.
2 Open for food at lunchtime and in the evening, the inn evolved from a 14th-century manor house in what was then a Norman hunting forest. The lands hereabouts form part of the Duchy of Lancaster and came to the crown in 1399 when Henry Bolingbroke, the then Duke of Lancaster deposed his cousin Richard II to become Henry IV.
3 Just beyond the inn, turn in past the church and go right down to the river to find the stepping stones a few yards downstream. Climb the opposite hillside to New Laund Farm and follow its track out to a lane. Head uphill for a quarter mile to reach a waymarked field gate on the right. A developing shallow trough takes the path up the field, opening a rearward picturesque view along the valley. Through a gate at the top, bear right to intercept a tarmac track. Go right towards the steeply rising slopes of Fair Oak Fell and Totridge.
4 At a fork approaching a farm, take the right branch, following the track a little further to a bend by a group of hen huts. The footpath is there signed off to the right, climbing to a gate into the Whitemore plantation. Carry on along a swathe through the trees, later gently undulating alongside a wall. Finally breaking from the trees carry on across the hillside high above New Hey Farm to a stile beside a gate.
5 Over that, bear left across the flank of Mellor Hill, a wonderful view opening ahead into the Trough of Bowland. Beyond a gate and stile, keep going downhill, soon leaving the accompanying wall to follow a gully towards Hareden Farm. Through an intervening gate, continue down to a track and follow it out over a bridge and downstream to meet the lane.
6 To the right, it will take you back to the village, but you can abandon the tarmac after half a mile through a gate on the left, from which a bridleway is signed to Dunsop Bridge. A vague trod contours the foot of Staple Oak Fell, leading to a wrought iron gate. Carry on behind the cottages of Closes Barn to reach a tarmac drive and follow that right over a cattle grid back to the lane. Finally, go left over the bridge, passing Puddleducks Caf and the BT phone box back to return to the car park.
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Weather for Preston
Wednesday 23 May 2012
Today
Sunny spells
Temperature: 11 C to 18 C
Wind Speed: 13 mph
Wind direction: North west
Tomorrow
Sunny spells
Temperature: 14 C to 19 C
Wind Speed: 8 mph
Wind direction: North west
