All the muddy footpaths and tracks have become dry and dusty, after this wonderful, welcome heat wave. Large puddles and deep pools, filling walled tracks, have disappeared. The heat has been tremendous and those leaving for a walk without a hat have had a bad time. So for this week’s walk I’ve suggested starting from Broughton and enjoying the first 1.5 miles along the shady railway track. The walk continues through more woodland for much of the way. Don’t forget the suncream and to take lots of water.

Park in Broughton Square, grid reference 213876, if you can find a space, otherwise use street parking.

1 Leave Broughton Square following the sign for the ‘toilets’. Wind right with the track. Ignore the first left and take the signposted railway track, immediately beyond. Stroll the tree-shaded way which is now lined with tall grasses, meadow sweet and pink campion. Pass under the ivy–clad railway bridge and, just beyond, ascend a narrow path, on the left, to pause on a seat overlooking the second large lake. Rejoin the track and continue on along the railway track. Soon tall forest trees shade you as you cross a wide flat bridge high above a farm track. Stroll on below a high wall of rock where the railway line had to be cut through and continue to a gate across the line. Before it, wind right down the slope, pass through two gates and descend to the Five Arches road.

2 Wind left along the way, its sides bedecked with flowering grasses, but no shade alas, until the lane turns sharp left. Here go ahead along a wide hedged track. Go through a gap stile into pasture before entering ancient Buttstead Wood by a gate. Where the path divides veer right, descend to climb a stile and go on beside a hedge on your left to pass through a large gap in it. Keep on in the same general direction, with the hedge to your right, to climb the next two stiles. Go ahead to cross the stiled footbridge over the Kirkby Pool and walk on to take a ladderstile over the wall.

3 Follow the Woodland Trust markers through a large birch wood and descend to cross a narrow stream in the valley. Beyond, follow more markers on narrow paths up the slope through scattered bushes and much undergrowth. Eventually you reach a wide green track where you need to turn right onto a long, narrower path that runs ahead through young trees and rough vegetation below Latter Rigg. It ends at a deer gate onto pasture. Keep ahead along a grassy trod to the waymarked corner and on through rushes to another waymark that directs you right to the gated footbridge over the Kirkby Pool.

4 Once across, stride ahead over the pathless pasture to go through a gate to a small humped-backed bridge over Galloper Pool. Follow the continuing path, beside the wall on the left, until you reach a stile onto the Five Arches road and turn left. A few steps down the quiet way take a wide track into woodland, on the right, soon to climb uphill through more shady woodland. Just before the top of the path it divides into two short branches; take the right, cross the farm access track and climb the stile ahead. Go on up through scrub vegetation and then walk on along the indistinct path above the walled pastures of the farm, right.

5 Just beyond a boundary wall, coming in on the right, drop down the slope to pass through a narrow squeeze stile. Keep beside the wall, on the right, to the far corner. Pass through the gate or stile and then head on towards the trees that overlook the railway track. Wind left to go through a gap in the wall ahead and continue to the far right corner to take the stone step stile over the wall onto the railway track. Turn left to walk a short way into Broughton and then right to the Square, where there are seats. You might have left yourself time to visit one of the two cafes, one of the two pubs or a good restaurant. Keep cool!

Information

Distance: 5.5 miles

Time: 3 hours

Terrain: Good paths and tracks, a little road walking.

Map: OS Explore OL 6

NB: Restrictions on space mean that this article provides a general summary of the route. It is advisable for anyone who plans to follow the walk to take a copy of the relevant Ordnance Survey map.