LET’S TAKE A RIDE
This is an easy and extremely family friendly cycle route, suitable for adults and young children, located in the Forest of Bowland, a designated Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB)
Dunsop Bridge – Dunsop Valley
Distance: 8k
Time: 1 hour
Start and finish: Dunsop Bridge car park
A charming little village nestling in the Ribble Valley, Dunsop Bridge is the closest settlement to to the geographic centre of the United Kingdom. This is a lovely out and back route taking you into the heart of the Forest of Bowland alongside the upper stretch of the River Dunsop with the fells on all sides. The upper end of the valley is a good spot for a picnic.
1 – Arriving by car, the main route into Dunsop Bridge is through Clitheroe over Waddington Fell and via Newton. Whichever direction you approach in, it is well signposted.
2 – There is a general store in Dunsop Bridge for refreshments.
3 – The route is mostly tarmac bridleway and reasonably flat. Turn right out of the car park and right again immediately past the shop along a track, indicated by a bridleway sign. After 700m you come to a small row of houses. Follow the track behind them, pass through a gate over a wooden bridge over the river. Turn right onto the tarmac road. You then simply continue along this as it weaves along the valley for a further 3.2km.
4 – At this point the valley forks. The bridleway continues up the western (left) valley. You can follow this for some additional riding but it does involve some steep climbs and descents so you may decide to stop here, have a picnic and enjoy the wonderful views.
5 – To return to Dunsop Bridge, simply retrace your route down the valley. As an alternative to crossing the wooden bridge again, you can continue along the drive to the village. You come out by the war memorial – turn left down the short hill over the bridge and back to the car park.
