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| Cuckoo |
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Date : 18th April 2010
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Leader : David Hughes |
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Report by : Phil Bedson |
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Photos © : Phil Bedson |
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| The track down to Stocks | |
Slaidburn at the Southern edge of the Forest of Bowland was the destination for David Hughes’ first walk as a leader for Hyndburn Ramblers. The nine walkers who accompanied him were in for an eleven mile walk that would encircle Stocks Reservoir and skirt the Western edge of Gisburn Forest.
Leaving the car park and going along the main road to the War Memorial the group turned right along a narrow lane to take a wall stile off to the left. Going uphill to another wall stile into a field with a superb view of Dunsop Fell the path continued on towards Shay House. The lambs were in a playful mood and gambolled about or just stood and watched as we passed by. Upon reaching the farm track we turned towards the lane we’d left earlier and made our way uphill to take a gate off onto the edge of some Access Land. Here a break was called for the removal of layers and a drink.
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left:
Ascending out of Slaidburn |
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right: The view to Dunsop Fell |
The track followed the boundary of the Access Land and upon reaching another gate we struck off to the left along the clear footpath leading across the moor. Crossing a plank bridge in a gully we continued on to a ruin where the reservoir was giving us tantalising glimpses of the waters within. The path was dropping downhill towards until it eventually joined on to a track which was a remnant from when the reservoir was built after Fylde Water Board obtained permission in 1925 to flood the valley. The village of Stocks-in-Bowland was lost to the waters after completion and during hot summers when the water is low the lanes and some buildings can be seen emerging from the depths. The track followed round to pass some spoil heap mounds and after passing through a couple of gates we were once again back on the lane. A good track led off to the right and down past the idyllically located Kenibus before continuing over the River Hodder and up past Parks Clough where, at a junction of tracks, we stopped for lunch with a superb view of the Bowland Fells.
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left:
Along the reservoir construction track |
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right: Kenibus |
Resuming the walk along a track we soon arrived at New House although one could not help but think after quite a number of years the word ‘new’ was definitely out of date. With the track dropping away before us we were afforded a grand vista over the reservoir ahead and a good pace was to be had. As we entered Gisburn Forest the path was a wobbly white line through the trees and very easy to follow. A cuckoo suddenly made itself known and everyone stopped to listen. As we approached the information point and picnic site we became aware of just how popular a spot Stocks and the Forest are with both adults and children engaged in various activities. Our way was now via a roadside path to the causeway which was duly crossed pausing only to watch the fly fishermen casting away.
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New House |
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right: Fly fishing... |
A similar path on the other side took us on to the little Dalehead Church. The present building is just a chapel built on the site of the former St James Church, Stocks-in-Bowland although the present site itself isn’t where it was originally. It was of course moved with the construction of the reservoir even though the original site is still above the water level due to it being in the water catchment area and all remains were also repatriated into this new graveyard. The loss of the village and subsequent vacation of further farms within the catchment area meant the church quickly became a non-viable parish and within 10 years of moving the parish was dissolved between other surrounding parishes. As some people still wished to buried here though Fylde Water demolished the Church and built the present church as a Mortuary Chapel using the old Church materials so funeral services could still take place. Of course we all called in to see it and discovered that the chapel underwent renovation in 2006.
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Dalehead Chapel... |
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right: ...and it's stained glass window |
A track on the corner of the road led us round towards Black House but before reaching the building we veered off to the right to enter a wood. Some felling had been taking place and piles of logs were on both sides of the path. We emerged at a gate overlooking the tower of the reservoir and stopped to look at the extent of the valley that had been flooded to make it. Joining a track towards Hammerton Hall we left Stocks behind us as we went downhill and upon reaching the farm we turned left along another lane which would virtually take us all the way back to Slaidburn. Upon reaching the War Memorial we took a small detour to the Hark to Bounty Inn where everyone enjoyed a well deserved drink and thanked Dave for an excellent start to his leading prowess.
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| Future cocktail sticks! | |
CLICK HERE FOR MORE PICTURES IN THE GALLERY
| OUTDOOR LEISURE 41 |
FOREST OF BOWLAND |
START POINT |
SD 713 523 |
| WALK LENGTH |
11.4 mls / 18.3 km |
TIME |
4 hrs 45m |
| MAX HEIGHT |
262 mtrs |
MIN HEIGHT |
137 mtrs |
| HEIGHT ASCENDED |
422.5 mtrs |
HEIGHT DESCENDED |
422.5 mtrs |
This map is for reference only and MUST NOT be used to do the walk.
Please use the correct OS map for all these walks.
Click on an image to enlarge, click again to reduce
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