LET’S TAKE THE DOG

Tim Adams of Bowland Walks embarks on a relatively easy walk with his dogs across Longridge Fell

Start point: Park on Jeffrey Hill
Terrain: Boggy in places

I live on Longridge Fell and have spent many days exploring, but it’s bigger than you think and there are always more places to discover. However, today I took a classic route which is done within a couple of hours and gives the dogs some great exercise.

I parked up on Jeffrey Hill, and facing the information sign with your back to the entrance to Cardwell House bear right towards the kissing gate. Head straight up the track and you see a stone marker. Make sure your dog is on the lead for this section, especially between March and July because of the livestock.

As you continue up the hill you might get a glimpse of the Yorkshire Dales. The track kicks right a little and then shortly afterwards left as you move closer towards the marker.

At the marker post the obvious track fades, then bear left as though you’re heading towards the Bowland fells. The track now is reasonably well trodden and you should be able to follow the route easily, even in poor visibilty. After about 20 metres there is another marker post and the track becomes really obvious. Shortly afterwards, with the heather on your right, Spire Hill comes into view.

To the left there is a track down the hill, ignore and go straight up towards the conifer plantation. After a few hundred metres you’ll come to a marker stone.

Head right from the marker stone, crossing the stream. The path climbs steadily, kicks left and then to the right as you make your way to the wall below the plantation. At the dry stone wall, turn left and head up, keeping the wall and the plantation to your right. Stay on this track until you reach the trig point on Spire Hill.

Continue along the rocky track, with the Bowland fells to your left. This section of the walk can be boggy so be prepared to detour through the heather. Carry on past the welcome sign and at the trig point take a minute to admire the views. If you have a small dog you can pick them up and hop over the wall and head back down the hill in the same direction you have come from. If you have a bigger dog there is a gate a little further along. Descend the hill with the wall on your right and trees to your left. This is a good opportunity to let the dog off the lead.

After a little while you’ll come to a fence with a stile, turn left through the gatepost but then bearing right. Be careful not to take the track to the left.

Eventually the trees clear revealing a view of the Ribble Valley. You should see a stile, don’t go over it, head along the sandy track. After not too long the path takes a sharp right and ascends around the plantation.

Eventually you meet up with the wall along the original route. There are three steps in the wall which most dogs can use to get over it. Don’t retrace your steps, instead follow the wall back down to the road and then turn right back to the car.

www.bowlandwalks.co.uk

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