Waddington Fell Walk

Starting point  and OS Grid reference: Free roadside car park on the B6478 close to Waddington Fell Quarry (SD 719481)		Ordnance Survey Map OL41 – Forest of Bowland & Ribblesdale. Buy this map from List of OS Maps
Distance:  6 miles	Date of Walk:  27 May 2012
Ascent: Descent: See Walking Time Calculator	922ft (281m) 922ft (281m)
Traffic light rating:    (For explanation see My Walks page)
For advice on .gpx files see  My Walks page	Click the PDF logo above to give a printable version of this walk without the photos.

To view route as a dynamic Ordnance Survey map click here.

Introduction: Waddington Fell is an area of high moorland somewhat in “no man’s land” between the Forest of Bowland and the Ribble Valley. I call the walk Waddington Fell because there is an information board in the car park so headed but in reality, it meanders across Bradford Fell and Grindleton Fell too. There is little more to say about this walk other than it is a pleasant easy walk for two or three hours with good views of the Ribble Valley and Pendle Hill.

The walk starts at the car park just by the cattle grid between Newton and Waddington on the B6478, by Waddington Fell Quarry.

Start: Leave the car park by turning left to walk along the road, over the cattle grid, in the direction of Waddington.

Opposite the Waddington Fell Quarry entrance take the footpath indicated by the public footpath fingerpost and follow the obvious track across the moor. Note there is an aerial mast behind the quarry which is visible for much of the walk and is a useful reference point.

When you reach a five bar gate (SD 723480), go through it and continue to follow the track ahead (bearing slightly left) but note this spot, as the return route comes back here, alongside the wall to your right.

When the track reaches a dilapidated wall, go through the old gateposts, turning left and continue along the track with the wall on your left. Follow it and the edge of the trees until it turns a right angle. Just past here, go through the walkers’ gate on the left into the woodland area (SD 734484). A faded footpath marker confirms the route.

Proceed through the trees on the obvious main track, going straight through an old gateway where there seem to be tracks going off left and right. Ignore these.

When the main track forks, go right, descending slightly.

Pass a stone house with a round upper floor window (Pinewood - according to the OS map) and at the road, turn left (SD 747476).

The road bends to the right passing a public footpath fingerpost on the left which you ignore. A further 200 yards or so on the right, take the public bridleway indicated by the fingerpost, passing under the power lines (SD 750474). There are a couple of sheltered spots for a picnic, in the lee of walls along here, with nice views

.

Follow the bridleway as it descends gently through a five bar gate in a line of trees and follow the wall on the right. Ignore a stone stile in the wall. Go through another five bar gate and the track bears left becoming a walled lane. The town of Clitheroe can be seen in the distance.

At the end of the lane, through another gate, pass Cob House and turn right over a stile just past the drive to the house (SD 750474). Note that on the OS map, the path is shown as before the house but signs confirm it has been diverted.

Follow the boundary of the Cob House property to the end of the field where a yellow arrow confirms the way through a small gate. Go over another stile and follow the right hand boundary wall of the next field to a farm. Here, keep straight ahead passing to the left of the barn. The way is marked by yellow arrows.

Go through the farmyard and a short distance down the drive as it bends left, go over the wooden stile in the corner on the right. Follow the right hand boundary wall and then hedge of the next field. Towards the end of the field, the path goes into a sunken stretch but is easier to stay on the left upper side due to vegetation further along.

Go through the gate at the end of the field and cross the stream via the bridge. The path rises at the other side and over a stile, keep to the left hand boundary of the field.

You arrive at Lowcocks Farm (SD 745462). Here, walk past the farm to the right of the farmhouse then swing left through the farmyard and follow the farm’s drive. At the road, turn right on to the bridleway signed Bucks Farm.

At Bucks Farm, the OS map shows the path going round the back of the farm but there seems to have been an unofficial diversion and I was advised on site that most people just walk straight through the farmyard – which seems acceptable to the residents.

Keep straight ahead once through the farmyard, keeping the fence on your right. Turn right through the gate at the end of the field then left through another into the woods.

The path descend to a stream and up the other side. As the climb through the trees starts to level out, look out for a gate on the right bearing a blue arrow. Cross the field diagonally, heading for the gate you can see. Through this, continue the same line heading towards the diagonally opposite corner of the next field also.

Cross the cattle grid and at the lane, turn right (SD 731460). A sign informs that you are entering the drive for Seedalls Farm. It bends left to the farm but continue straight ahead on the stony bridleway. It passes a stone barn on the right.

Just past the barn are two gateways next to each other, take the right hand one. Continue along the bridleway climbing gently. It bends right, levels out, then bends to the left. Come to a gate straight ahead. Go through this and follow the wall on the left. The bridleway rises gently and as it bends sharply right, go through the gate straight ahead, again following the wall on the left (SD 727473). The path is now much fainter and is not shown on the OS map (this is Access land) but just continue to follow the wall. In the distance to the right, there is the plantation walked through earlier on during the walk.

Pass one gate on the left. The next is the one noted on the outward journey and Waddington Fell quarry is clearly visible. Retrace your steps to the car park.

If you need to buy any hiking equipment/clothing before your trip see the Hiking Store

All information on this site is given in good faith and no liability is accepted in respect of any damage, loss or injury which might result from acting on it.