There is an option of dividing the walk in two at Brennand Farm by using the bus service from Dunsop Bridge to Slaidburn, which two places are also connected by the low level Ribble Valley Jubilee Trail (not reviewed here)....

Dave Taylor

It soon opens up to a lovely clear open path in meadows with views towards Abbeystead House following the Wyre Way with meadow brown butterflies flying early in the July day. However, there is no clear left path north over the Marshaw Wyre, east of Abbeystead House. So bear left at the second 'Wyre Way' marker stone to an unseen but once reached substantial footbridge followed by an unclear, slippery climb up the opposite bank to reach a stile to cross the entrance track of Abbeystead House. It is mainly clear route finding to Tower Lodge on the Trough of Bowland road. There is another climb and descent to Brennand Farm on the clear Ouster Rake track and then a less clear path....

Sue B

This turned into a fairly strenuous walk on a very hot and humid day. Part of our route today followed the beautiful river Wyre. Once coming off the top and nearing Slaidburn, we were rewarded with a walk through beautiful wildflower meadows which attracted many butterflies. For those not wanting to climb the very last hill of the day, it is possible to turn right at Brennand Farm and head for Dunsop Bridge, where there is a cafe serving drinks and food. We enjoyed the walk, despite its remoteness, lack of facilities and its strenuous nature...

Helen Lord

The route was exhausting and required all our stamina with one of our party dropping out at Brennand Farm and walking the easy route back to Dunsop Bridge and bus to Settle where we were planning to stay at an Airbnb....

Michael

The route turns right towards Lee End Farm past Shepherds Barn where we were confronted by a man with anger issues who insisted we went no further despite the public right of way and we decided, rightly or wrongly, not to push the issue and returned to Wyresdale Road for a short diversion to Long Lane where we continued our route across farmland and through farms where our online maps proved invaluable in finding the route....

Michael

Once out of the city centre, where we could walk on pavements, there was no option but to walk on the road until we arrived at the lane leading to the first farm. We decided to turn back down the lane, walk along Wyresdale road a bit further to the next right turning (Long Lane) and then pick up the footpath again. The walk finishes in Abbeystead, but there is no public transport here, so we had to walk on through Dolphinholme, walking part of the Wyresdale Way and reach the A6, where we were able to catch a bus back to Lancaster, stopping at The Fleece pub en route, for much needed refreshment....

Helen Lord

For much of the route between Conder Mill Bridge 510595 and Meeting House Farm 547553 there is no obvious path and route finding is difficult, including navigating fields of long grass, cattle trodden rutted mud, climbing over unkept, rickety, damaged stiles or through narrow steep-stepped wall stiles, all often hidden with few way-markers. Excellent navigational skills with map and compass bearings and/or GPS is essential to discuss route finding and to find alternative paths. Re-routing was necessary at one point due to a farmer having young cattle in one field as well as the path looking unmanageable and not clearly signposted....

Sue B

It is a difficult route to follow and to walk, but we made it, still in four pieces - it took our Naismith-capable group six hours from start to finish, compared with Naismith's predicted time of three and a half hours. It was a pleasant extra walk that took us two hours at Naismith pace....

Dave Taylor

As mentioned by Martinb the footbridge over the M6 has been removed and the path is diverted at Nan’s Nook, or Guys, to go underneath the M6 alongside the River Wyre to the south. After Cleveley Bridge there is a gravelled road, but this becomes private and the route follows a poorly signed footpath alongside a field, which was very overgrown, and I’m glad I wasn’t wearing shorts! After the railway bridge there is an excellent new off-road footpath, Scorton Millennium Way, alongside the river, but the route leaves the Wyre Way here to take a short cut across fields, although I would have preferred the Wyre Way route....

Mary Oz

The first five-plus miles was all across fields on footpaths that show on OS maps, but are hardly ever walked, consequently it was very difficult to see them on the ground. Overall, it was very hard slow going, and it was actually a relief to reach the road near Quernmore. The final three-plus miles, from near Quernmore, were entirely along roads....

Mary Oz

Note a motorway footbridge has been removed and still showing on OS maps - not a problem though as a nearby alternative underpass is available....

martinb