RVRNEWS 102 No. 1 By River Ribble & Brungerley Park 3¼ Miles, Approx 2 Hours This walk starts at the gate on platform 2 of Clitheroe station. Leaving the station turn left making towards Kirkmoor Rd and go right down to the far end, then straight through the gate and across the field to a muddy gateway. Carry on to the next gate then over a large field keeping the fence to the right. From the next gate take the path which bears to the right and makes for the river where a path heads down to the riverside. Now, keeping the river to the left the large building on the opposite bank is Waddow Hall which belongs to the Girl Guides Association. Through another gate then walk alongside the river as far as Brungerley Bridge where the path crosses a sturdy bridge before ascending steep stone steps to the road. Turn right for 50yds then left into Brungerley Park passing the blocked up toilets! Keep your eyes open here as there is a sculpture trail in the park and there are lots of unusual carvings around. After 100yds or so, the path turns away from the river. Here is a wonderful spot for a picnic as there are 2 seats by the riverside. In the early 1900 s boats could be hired from here as it was a popular venue. The path here had to be closed owing to the banks giving way so the route now goes up the rise. Once on the top path after a short while there is quite a sudden drop but it rises quickly again and after a short time take the 2nd path which descends to the left. Don t take the 1st one as it has rather steep steps but this one is much easier. Back on the original path in a short while a lovely sculpture of an otter marks the spot where the path heads down quite steeply to the riverside. Carry on through the gate and take the riverside path all the way to Bradford Bridge. This track can be very muddy in wet conditions. Another gate is encountered before reaching the road. Climb over the wall and turn right up the road past the farm and the offices of Hanson s Cement Works as far as their car park. Right here through the gate and into the woodland, which makes a steady descent, passing the otter, then left up the gradually rising path to the top once more. Bear right and just before the dip keep left through a gateway then immediately right through another and across a field approaching some housing where you pass between them and a large hedge. Go through the gate and right to the road. Left here and follow the road past the cemetery and the old Catholic graveyard, over the rise and under the railway, turn right and back to the station. 2 stiles, 11 gates, can be muddy, wear suitable footwear
RVRNEWS 103 No. 2 Salthill & Brungerley Turn right on leaving station, right under bridge then left passing the bus station. At T-junction, turn right and up to a small roundabout, then left on to Pimlico Road passing Waggon and Horses pub, then at Horrocksford Jct signal box, turn right into Bridge Court and down to a tennis court and over Mearley Brook. Left here and follow path between cricket nets and a well kept bowling green. Left again to pass the clubhouse on to Chatburn Road. Take the lane opposite up to the top part of Salthill Road, and left on the unmade cul-de-sac passing Salthill Villa and Salthill Barn. Take the right fork to 24 steep steps down to Lincoln Way, cross over where there is a plaque then up 13 more. Continue in a straight line over what used to be called Salthill Moor to a welcome seat, which is capable of holding 5 bodies. It is in memory of Jack Cottam, who spent his entire working life at Dugdales, the animal food manufacturer, whose site is just beyond at Bellman Mill. Now round to the left to follow the path down steeply to a gate. Right here and cross Lincoln Way to the footpath, and carry on up to the Link road passing the Auction Mart. Turn left but do take great care as this road is very busy on weekdays as HGV s are constantly travelling in both directions. Go straight down to the roundabout and cross over. Much more care must now be taken especially with children as there is no pathway until Pimlico is reached. There is only a wide grass verge provided on both sides of the road, and this can be slippery in wet weather. There is an alternative path to the left behind the hedge and in the woodland skirting Coplow Quarry but this tends to be an even muddier route, so not to be attempted. Cross over the branch line, which serves Hanson s Cement works, then sharp left, up the rise and skirting Johnson Mathey Chemical works keep to this top path until Waddington Road. Good views can be had to the right, of the Ribble below and Waddington Fell on the skyline. The track carries on downhill for a short way, and, just before a small metal kissing gate, one of the many sculptures can be seen to the right in the form of two deer. Straight on over the dip in the path, then take the left fork by a tall fir tree on to a large grass area, where there are a number of seats making this another good spot for a break. A great view can be had here of the river looking downstream. Now, just before the gates look out for Pan Boiling Over. Left here and stay on the road passing the cemetery on the right, followed by the old Catholic burial ground on the left. Up to the top of the rise then down to the railway bridge, pass underneath then turn right and return once more to the station. Two gates, muddy, wear boots
RVRNEWS 104 No. 3 Back Commons, Low Moor, Riverside 4 Miles Exit station off platform 2 and turn left then right along Kirkmoor Road round to the left on to Back Commons then right at Commons House down to the bottom. Pass through the gate then half left up the field then through at least 5 gates before arriving Edisford Road. Right here passing Spar and down St Paul s Street keeping the church on the left. Walk to the bottom of the street. This is Low Moor village. Turn right then bear right on to the Ribble Way along a new metalled road between new housing which ends with hen pens and stables along an unmade lane. At next gate, don t go half right but stay in a straight line over rough ground to the weir and the sluice gate, which formerly controlled the passage of water down the mill race to the Low Moor Mill and which was demolished many, many years ago. On the opposite bank is the rather grand Waddow Hall, now an activity centre for Girl-Guiding UK. Herons can often be sighted here. Take the path up the hill and away from the riverside and continue to a gate. Right here, and follow the path, which skirts the cemetery, and finally on to Waddington Road. Turn left here, and down the road to the entrance gates of Brungerley Park. Keep to the top path, where a few seats have been placed (a good place for a break). Soon a path comes in from the left but keep on to just passed the dip then turn sharp right through the gateway and go straight up the field to the top passing a children s nursery, cross over Moorland School access drive to join a permissive path to the next gate. In wet weather this path can be exceedingly muddy before reaching another gate by an old barn. Up the rise to cross the branch line to the Hanson Cement works. Turn right on to Pimlico Road over the Clitheroe Hellifield line, down the road and past the signal box which carries the name Horrocksford Junction on its front then the Waggon and Horses pub set back on the left before arriving once more on to Waddington Road. Right, then before the railway bridge, left and return to the railway station. 12 gates - muddy - wear boots
RVRNEWS 105 No. 4 Low Moor & Waddow 4 Miles On leaving the platform, turn right down the path and then half left to pass the Royal Mail sorting office with the car park to the left. At the junction turn left on to Waddington Road, over the rise and left at the cemetery to follow the path, which skirts the grounds. At the gate, go left and stay in a straight line leaving the riverside, down the hill, through two gates, and on to an unmade lane, passing horses, stables and hen pens. Soon a metalled road is reached with new housing all around. At Low Moor village, turn sharp right and head down to the riverside, then over the relatively new bridge, which spans the River Ribble (lots of ducks splashing around here). Turn right up the road passing the entrances to Shireburn Caravan Park. Take care here as there is no footpath and fast traffic is the norm! Within a short time a footpath sign points in the direction of the rear of Waddow Hall on the right. Take this long straight track, then pass behind the buildings and follow the waymarks through the grounds. Soon a metalled road is reached. Go left, over the rise and take the right fork. In the distance a good view of the river can be seen. Through the gate on to Waddington Road again, and turn right down the hill to cross the river again. This is Brungerley Bridge, which was formerly the boundary between Lancashire and Yorkshire. Extra care must be taken here, single file over the bridge and up to the corner as there is a lot of fast moving quarry traffic on weekdays. The park to the left is a good place for a break. Where the footpath starts, look over the wall to see a lovely little waterfall cascading down to the garden of Pighill Cottage. Carry on past the cemetery retracing your steps but this time pass under the railway bridge, turn right and back to the Railway Station. 5 gates - muddy - wear boots
RVRNEWS 106 No.5 Moorland Coplow & Salthill - Leisurely 3 Miles Approx. Leaving the station turn right then half left to pass by the Royal Mail sorting office and go on to the end of Chester Avenue. Left here and take the 2nd road on the right namely Eastham Street. Bear left then right signed to Moorland School. Keep straight on, and at the entrance to the school grounds, take the twisting footpath on the left. When the Children s Nursery is reached, turn right along the permissive path to a gate, then over the sometimes muddy area to a gate by an old barn. Over the branch line, then left on to Pimlico Road. Keep alongside the railway, then turn right up Moorland Road then left along Moorland Crescent to the end, and in the right corner a path goes down to the woodland, which then passes between the high bank of Coplow Quarry and the Clitheroe Hellifield line. Take the right fork and follow the main path through to the Link road. Take extreme care here when turning right, especially with children, as this is a blind bend, and very large trucks are moving each way between Hanson s Cement and Tarmac. There is no footpath here so keep in as far as possible on the grass verge, cross the railway, and within 100 yards or so, is the roundabout. Go straight over here and keep to the path, which carries on to the brow of the hill passing Deanfield. At Lincoln Way, follow the path round, then passing Auction Mart and down the slope as far as the car park, cross over and take the small gate, which doubles back and up a steep slippery slope. At the top a fine view can be had of the former Salthill limestone quarry, which now houses the Industrial Park. A large seat has been placed in memory of Jack Cottam, who walked by regularly. Just in front is a walled seat with 3 stone carvings depicting the geology of the area. Carry on down from here into woodland and keep going downhill until a 5-barred gate is reached. Through here and follow the track. The large building on the right was a former Golf Driving Range. At the buildings, pass through a kissing gate and follow the path beside the brook and Twin Brooks Farm, (Worston Brook and Mearley Brook converged further back). Stay on the lane to the cross roads, then turn right to another welcome seat, then left and make for the entrance to UltraFrame but bear right at the gates, and go along a path to Salthill Road. Left here and walk down to the end by the Royal Oak pub. This is Waterloo and the large lamp by the car park originally stood in the centre of the road. Over the roundabout and keeping the Grammar School 6tth Form College to the left, proceed along Well Terrace to St Mary s Well. This was one of three wells in the town, which up until 1854, watered the townspeople! Keep going straight over and into Waddington Road, down towards the railway bridge, and turn left to the station. 4 gates, muddy, wear boots