{"id":1005990,"date":"2022-08-04T20:11:55","date_gmt":"2022-08-04T19:11:55","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.half-daywalker.com\/?p=1005990"},"modified":"2022-11-04T11:50:36","modified_gmt":"2022-11-04T11:50:36","slug":"ribchester-and-the-river-ribble","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.half-daywalker.com\/?p=1005990","title":{"rendered":"Ribchester And The River Ribble"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Introduction<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

For the first time in quite a while, I decided to venture further afield today. Scouring the maps, I thought Ribchester looked interesting, and an area I’d never been to before, so planned this walk. I was not disappointed!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

It is an hour\u2019s drive from Cheadle Hulme.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The walk is just over 6 miles, and has some steady gradients, but nothing very taxing. Unusually for me, I started from the high point of the walk, but this wasn’t a problem, and meant I reached the benches on the riverbank at Ribchester for a perfect lunch stop.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

It took almost3 hours to complete, plus 30 minutes for a very leisurely lunch.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Like last week, much of the walk is over grazing land, so not great for off lead dog walking.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The weather was fantastic for walking. Warm, but not hot, mostly sunny, with a cool north-westerly breeze. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The walk is on OS Explorer Map 287.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

I parked at the roadside near the junction of Gallows Lane and the B6243. The nearest postcode is PR3 3XX which is a little way down Gallows Lane from the junction. Near the top of Gallows Lane there is a pull in for several cars.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Duddel Wood<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Wow! What a place this is.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

First you have to find it. At the top of Gallows Lane turn left along a straight section of road. Halfway along that section is a gate into a field. There is no signpost for a path, but the gate is not locked. I enter the field. There are a quite a lot of rams in it, but they are harmless!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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After following the edge of the wood, the path enters it via a stile.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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It’s immediately gorgeous, in a rather gorge-like way. I’ve found it impossible to pick less than nine photographs to show the serene, and green, beauty of Duddel Wood and Brook. When I first reached the brook, a crossing was necessary, and there was no bridge here. I found a narrow point to jump across (near pictures 4, 5 and 6 below), but I imagine this is pretty impassable for much of the year. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

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But this was my favourite picture. It felt like a secret Lancashire jungle!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Ribchester<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Eventually, the path emerges from the wood to reveal a spectacular sky. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

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I crossed fields and a road, and a pretty, grassy track.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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After Boyce’s Farm, a sharp left turn brought the village of Ribchester into view.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Another grassy track ran behind some well built modern stone houses, and emerged in the village.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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And a pretty village it is too. There are narrow streets and alleys, lots of stone properties, and I saw 3 pubs. One imagines The Black Bull and The White Bull to be cross village rivals!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

These cottages near The White Bull, are typical of the place.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Then, at the bottom of the road, I was met by the almost unexpected, and dramatic sight of the magnificent 70-metre wide river. Where better to stop for a packed lunch.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Upstream<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
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Downstream<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Just round the corner is the site and remains of the Roman Bath House. A couple of Information Boards give plenty of historical insight.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Back at the main road I loved this frontage to a building which is no longer a hotel. It looked like stone, but perhaps it was concrete? The village’s third pub, The Ribchester Arms is next door.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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The River Ribble<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

From here, it would have been easy just to walk along Blackburn Road to the Ribchester Bridge. However, I took the quieter route around some farmland, meeting these two fine horses along the way.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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I emerged from the fields at the bridge, and followed the magnificent river up to Haugh Wood.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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It’s that time of year when the domineering Himalayan Balsam puts on a show in places like this. It swamps native species, but is attractive, and loved by insects.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Haugh Wood isn’t as spectacular as Duddel Wood, but is still very pleasant.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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The path leaves the wood, and rises over a hillock, giving a final view of the river upstream to the Trough House footbridge, with the unmistakeable profile of Pendle Hill in the distance.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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From here, it was an attractive uphill walk along farm tracks with Clough Bank Wood and Starling Brook to one side. There was one last view down into the valley.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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I was soon back at the car.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

A short drive eastwards brought me to Hurst Green. I was thirsty.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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“Bowland Brewery – Hen Harrier”<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

All in all, an exceptionally enjoyable walk, highlighted by Duddel Wood, The River Ribble, and a pint of Hen Harrier!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

And Finally….<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

This week, we went to see Joe Jackson at The Albert Hall in Manchester. I missed the chance to see him 43 years ago, so this was a long time coming! He played all the classics from his debut album, “Look Sharp”, and he has still got great talent for writing and musicianship. His most recent album is “Fools” . This track is “Fabulously Absolute”, a great track, full of punky energy. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

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