Abbeystead, Tarnbrook, and Marshaw – Forest of Bowland

Introduction

With the current spell of warm spring weather set to continue, I decided to travel further afield than usual today. The weather was warm and still, but not very sunny, actually they were perfect walking conditions.

This is an area I don’t know well, and I was unsure how long a walk to do, so I planned a route of 10.4 miles, with an option to reduce this to 7.7 miles if I wanted. I ended up being unable to resist adding a trip up to a summit trig point, and ended up doing 11.85 miles!

It is an hour and 10 minutes drive from Cheadle Hulme to Abbeystead, which is a few miles east of the M6, junction 33 – Lancaster South.

With 2038 feet, 620 metres, of ascent, this walk poses quite a challenge. It took 4 hours 45 minutes plus 15 minutes for lunch.

The walk is not suitable for dogs to run off the lead, with specific signs in many places, and sheep all around.

I parked by the village hall, though could have driven down to the bridge where there is a fair bit of parking next to the river. For satnav use the Village Hall postcode, LA2 9BQ.

The walk is on OS Explorer Map OL41.

Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0

Abbeystead to Ward’s Stone

Abbeystead looks like a pretty hamlet in the spring sunshine as I set off down to the river.

The floods have February have faded and Tarnbrook Wyre is a pleasant babbling brook.

This sheep photobombed my picture of an oystercatcher in her field! Can you see the oystercatcher?

After leaving the brook, I’m soon heading uphill and beyond Lee Plantation. Here’s the view back down, with the plantation on the left.

The track is a well constructed gravel track, presumably funded by the grouse shooting fraternity. Not sure what I think about that, but it makes a great surface to walk on. Today, there were no guns, and in fact, no people at all.

Skylarks were plentiful; this is the best picture I managed to get.

I was feeling quite energetic, and so I decided to make the detour up to Ward’s Stone, and the trig point, adding half an hour and 330 feet, 100metres to of ascent to my route.

I was well rewarded, as the anemometer station preceded the classic white pillar.

It was so quiet as I took a short 360 degree video across this remote landscape. The air quality was poor, so no views out to Morecambe Bay, up to The Lakes, or down to Blackpool. Ward’s Stone is seen in the first couple of seconds.

Ward’s Stone to Tarnbrook

Downhill all the way. The sky made an interesting backdrop.

Continuing down, I get my best red grouse picture of the day.

Halfway down is this mysterious aqueduct. It must carry water, but from where, to where, and for what reason I don’t know.

Tarnbrook Wyre, is quite a small stream here at Tarnbrook, compared to its appearance at the outset of my walk, downstream from here.

By the farmyard, this friendly bunny was enjoying the weather, and the grass.

Tarnbrook to Marshaw On The Wyre Way

I now set off along the banks of another brook, in the next valley.

My route was going to take me up over Hind Hill to Marshaw. I was now beginning to regret adding that climb to Ward’s Stone! However, I took it slow, stopping for a photo opportunity back down the valley.

I was then stopped in my tracks as I disturbed a beautiful hare, which bolted away across the field, through a wall and into the safety of the adjacent moorland marsh grass.

At the top I meet a group of very timid sheep, who kept a very wary on me, until I was out of their field.

Now, I left the moors behind and it was downhill all the way!

At the bottom of the track, the river by the road is lovely, and the “No Litter” signs make it clear that this is a busy tourist spot in the summer….. but not today I’m glad to find.

At Marshaw, these Wyre Way stones are built into the dry stone wall.

Marshaw To Abbeystead

The path continues down the pretty river valley, but the road has gone, and the tourists don’t come here, as evidenced by the absence of a well-defined pathway.

It’s a lovely river.

Eventually, the river disappears behind a boundary fence. This is the grounds of Abbeystead House. Across the water are manicured gardens and a tennis court. The house and estate are owned by the Duke of Westminster. I suppose if you get bored with Eaton Hall, his Deeside mansion at Chester, this is a nice enough alternative country pile.

I get a view of the house as I make my way back to the hamlet.

Returning to Abbeystead, I enjoy a final view from the bridge over Tarnbrook Wyre.

This is the longest walk I’ve completed since I retired. It was excellent, and I felt pleased to have climbed over 2000 feet during the journey.

But it can’t be done in half a day!

And Finally….

I recently became acquainted with Sea Power. I like them! Very easy and relaxing to listen to.

Having said that, this is perhaps a bit more bouncy than much of their work on the album Everything Was Forever, and is called Doppelganger.