Church of St Michael the Archangel at Whittington
Go down almost to the corner of the pasture and pass through a gate. Walk ahead to go through a similar gate, and then turn right to reach a signposted stile in the corner of the pasture. Turn sharp left and go through a gate beside a garage and into a narrow, waymarked track. Shortly the path appears to divide and here you take the right branch to cross a stream. Walk on along the right side of the beck – although after heavy rain you may find yourself walking up the stream bed! – eventually crossing the stream to continue a little above the water.
After a short distance the stream disappears and the path becomes dry and good to walk. The hedged way climbs steadily and is particularly pleasant in early spring. Go past several white cottages and turn right at the road. Go past Wood End farmhouse and, just before its huge green slurry tank, turn left to pass through a signposted gate.
Drop down the pasture to go through a gap stile, and then keep on going down through two metal kissing gates to the side of the A65. Cross with care, then walk right and then left to return to the car park.
WALK 6
Crook of Lune and Aughton
| Start/Finish | Crook of Lune |
| Distance | 11.4km (7 miles) |
| Time | 3–4 hours |
| Terrain | Generally easy walking; steepish road climb from the river to Aughton |
| Maps | OS Explorer OL41 |
The Lune is perhaps the finest of Lancashire’s rivers. It rises in Cumbria and then idles through its fertile valley in a series of graceful meanders. The calls of waders and ducks are familiar sounds, and the peacefulness of the river is often broken by the loud splash of a leaping salmon. Fine woodlands clothe its banks, and in spring red campion and greater stitchwort contrast pleasingly with wonderful carpets of bluebells.
One of the great bends in this meandering river is called Crook of Lune. In 1835 William Wordsworth praised its loveliness and the beauty spot was a must for all 19th-century travellers, including JMW Turner, for whom it provided the inspiration for a watercolour now hanging in the Courtauld Institute in London.
The parking area is situated above the neck of this great bend in the river, grid ref 522648. From the first car park drop down steps to the riverside and turn left to follow the waymarks for the Lune Valley Ramble. Look back to see the five-arched bridge with its splendid wrought-iron balustrade. This bridge used to carry the railway from Green Ayre in Lancaster to Wennington. Stroll on to a waymarked gate and continue beside the water.
Look across the river to see 18th-century Caton Low Mill, now converted into flats, which produced cotton until the 1970s. Carry on along the stiled and gated way, going by a cascading weir, then pass into delightful woodland where deciduous trees sweep down to the water’s edge. The path can be muddy, but it is stepped up and down at awkward places.
Emerge from the trees by a stile and walk on along the edge of the woodland to go under an aqueduct painted white with bright-red rose motifs. Press on through pleasing Applehouse Wood and then leave by steps down to a stile and out of the trees. Go ahead to the edge of the river – here the bank has been extensively repaired after being severely eroded in the winter floods of 2000. Follow the well-waymarked path as it runs beside a large, horseshoe-shaped meander of the Lune.
Bluebells and stitchwort in woodland beside the Lune
Two-thirds of the way round the great curve the waymarked path moves inland to pass to the right of Over Lune Barn and on to the stile ahead. Beyond, the way continues, half right and slightly raised, across a large pasture to come to the side of the waymarked Lune once more. Walk on to climb the next stile, which is up against the riverbank. Continue ahead along a gated track, following it as it winds round to the left to pass some gritstone cottages. Then climb a steep hedged way, its banks a floral highway in summer, to the pretty village of Aughton – and a seat where you can get your breath back.
Go on uphill in the direction of Halton and take the signposted stile on the left, a short distance along the lane. Head slightly left to the hedge corner and then, on the same diagonal, go up to a stile to the left of a gate. Beyond, climb a long pasture to take a hidden stile in the top fence. A few steps on cross a little footbridge and head up to a stile against the left wall of Far Highfield farm. Walk ahead, with the fence to your right, to a corner stile, and on to the next, with a hedge to your right. Stroll the stiled way beside the hedge to go through a gate into the farmyard of Middle Highfield.
Pause for a rest at Aughton
Go straight ahead to cross an access track and continue on to a gap stile to the right of a ruin. Carry on to the front of another ruin, turn left and then walk ahead to an easy-to-miss stile on the side of the track. At the time of writing this small collection of buildings and ruins was being developed, but the right of way was due to remain and waymarks were to be erected to direct you on your way.
Turn right and remain beside the boundary on your right. Cross a turf bridge over a small stream and go ahead beside a high sturdy wall, on your right, composed of regular blocks of gritstone. Climb a ladderstile and turn right to follow the waymark directing you a couple of steps left through the second of two metal gates.
Follow the fence down on the right and continue where it winds left to a gate in the far-left bottom corner. Beyond, follow a track that soon winds left through the outbuildings of Lower Highfield farm and comes to a signpost.
Descend through two more gates and then go on to another. Cross a turf bridge over a stream and head straight across the pasture to take an iron kissing gate into woodland. Continue on the path through the trees to emerge onto a pasture by a similar kissing gate. Stride ahead over a field to a hedge corner and pause here to enjoy the magnificent view. Continue with the hedge to your right, and remain close beside it to come to a short waymarked ‘passage’. This is bordered by a low wall that leaves the hedge on the right just before the dwellings at Hawkshead. Climb the next stile and go on ahead, slightly right, following waymarks that take you down a slope to a stile onto an access track.
Turn right and walk along a way that soon winds left and descends through more woodland. Join narrow Park Lane, turn left and walk on to pass gracious Halton Park. Continue quietly for another 800 metres (½ mile) to a bend at which you reach Low Road. Turn left and walk the pavement for 100 metres, then turn left again to go through a gate on the left and join the track designed for those of limited mobility. This returns you easily to the car park.
WALK 7
Hornby and Melling
| Start/Finish | Hornby |
| Distance | 11.4km (7 miles) |
| Time | 4 hours |
| Terrain | Easy walking all the way, but after rain expect plenty of mud |
| Maps | OS Explorer OL2 and OL41 |
Hornby’s
