Dolphinholme and Scorton

VISIT two attractive villages on the edge of the Forest of Bowland, writes JOHN EDMONDSON. This walk starts from Dolphinholme (whose name derives from a Norseman called Tolfin), follows scenic footpaths to Scorton and returns along the Wyre Way.

Start from Dolphinholme Village Hall car park on Greaves Hill Lane, grid reference SD 516 533, postcode LA2 9AJ.

INFORMATION

Distance: 8 miles with 500 feet of ascent

Time: 4 hours

Terrain: good footpaths, tracks and quiet lanes

Maps: OS Explorer OL41

ROUTE

1 From the car park turn right, walk past the church, turn right onto Common Bank then left down a tarmacked path. At the bottom of the steep slope turn right onto the road into lower Dolphinholme. Thomas Edmondson started a worsted spinning mill here in 1784. In 1806 the prosperous village became one of the first in the UK to have gas lighting. Cross the bridge and after the start of the hill turn right onto a signed footpath. Notice a ruined tower on the left. Follow the field path and turn right onto Wagon Road. The road passes Wyreside Hall, a former 19th century country house, crosses a beck and swings right onto Tinkers Lane. At the road junction turn right (signed Bay Horse). Turn left at the bottom of a slope onto a signed footpath over a footbridge to Street Lake. Turn left and keep to the left of the field and a hedge ahead to a stile into the left corner of a wood. Follow the path through the edge of the wood to meet a track. Turn right and after 100 yards left at a waymarker post to pass a pond on the right.

2 Follow the waymarked path through the wood over a footbridge then turning right to go along the outside edge of a wood on the right. Go through a kissing gate then to the left of Foxhouses Farm and along a straight tarmacked lane to a road. Turn left then right onto Arkmere Lane. Keep straight on at a bend into Wyresdale Park with the lake on the left and Applestore Café on the right. Keep straight ahead onto the road, crossing the M6 and descending into the pretty village of Scorton, which offers further opportunities for refreshments and shopping.

3 Turn right and follow the main road (signed Trough of Bowland) through the village. After passing the 30mph delimiter signs turn left onto the Wyre Way path signed Cleveley Bridge. On meeting a road turn left, cross the bridge and turn right to continue walking by the River Wyre and then across the M6 footbridge. On meeting a lane turn right, pass Guy’s Farm Activity Centre and turn left through the car park.

4 The waymarked Wyre Way goes through a caravan park, out through a gate and to the right of the track past Fox’s Lake. Cross a road and walk beside the river then cross a track next to a bridge. Continue along the line of the river past Corless Mill, a former corn mill (notice the 17-feet, 6-inch diameter waterwheel on the right) and beside Mill Wood. Take the path bearing left up through the wood then across a field to Dolphinholme Church. Walk through the church grounds, out through the main gate and left onto Greaves Hill Lane to the village hall where the walk began.

Next week: Lords Lot, which is near Crosthwaite and Crook

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