LET’S TAKE THE DOG
This is an interesting walk that takes in some stunning countryside. There are quite a few stone stiles, farms and open fields so keep dogs on a lead where appropriate
Rimington – Downham Circular
Distance 7 miles
Time: 3 – 4 hours
From the parking area walk towards what used to be the Black Bull (now apartments) and the footpath starts down the road at the stile opposite the last cottage. Walk down the middle of the field to the stile at the bottom left corner.
Keep to the right of Windhill Laithe cottages and squeeze through the stile. After the house bear left to the stile – the track leads to Hollins Farm. At the farm go uphill passing the old mines, then bear left after the stile and follow the fence on the left to the road at Ings End.
At the road turn left and look for the stone stile on the right. Walk downhill to the stile, onto the footbridge over Ings Beck, and up to the stile by the stream. Following the stream to the right is an uphill walk to a stone stile.
Follow the wall to its end (ignoring the stile) and continue to the stone stile at the corner of the field. Turn right and walk in front of Clough Head to meet the track at the bridge. (60 minutes).
Walk up the road for 20 yards and turn left up the track. After 200 yards the track turns right. Pendle Hill is ahead.
When the track turns left carry on over the stile towards Pendle across the fell. Before Coolham go through the stile at the left corner of the field and follow the wall down to the house. The track leads to the road.
At the road turn right – the footpath starts on the left just after the cottages and follows the wall on the left. At Brownlow there is a steep descent to the footbridge – follow the beck for 20 yards and bear left to find a second footbridge. Go uphill following the wall on the right to meet the track to Ravens Holme. The footpath continues to the left before the house and follows the fence on the right to a stile. The path goes around the back of Hecklin Farm and on to Hollins Farm. The route goes to the left of a plantation to meet another high stone stile. From here a footpath is waymarked. After the stile go ahead to the barn in the distance. At the barn turn right to follow the footpath to Downham. After Clay House the path follows the beck over a series of fields and stiles. The path emerges in Downham – turn right for the Assheton Arms. (80 minutes)
Starting at the post office walk 400 yards down the road – the footpath starts on the left after the cottages. Walk over the fields and cross the stiles in the direction of the distant farm. The waymarkers lead to a footbridge. Bear right and follow the beck to the next footbridge and stile. Walk ahead uphill to the next stile. Waymarkers show a route avoiding Stubs Wood. Go downhill to the stile close to the caravan, turn left to find the kissing gate into the field. Walk dowm the middle of the field to Bustards Farm. Turn right at the road to Rimington. (50 minutes)
With thanks to Michael Wainright of Fellscape. For full details please go to the Fellscape website: www.fellscape.co.uk
