Despite a very good first hour and generally good rural countryside this walk was spoiled by recurring poorly signed and stiled paths through a number of unwelcoming farms and farmsteads. It is a longish walk but can be broken by using the bus route that calls in at Cross Trees....

Dave Taylor

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

The issue looked as if it was temporary but to avoid it stay on the minor road after the climb from Butter Fields to circumnavigate the buildings northerly and rejoin the route at 775546 on the footpath to New Laithe. This was difficult, unpleasant walking with some route-finding issues around the Hamerton buildings and it was a relief to reach the B road at Wigglesworth. We contemplated keeping to the B road over Cow Bridge before taking the minor right turn along Flat Lane for a break from route finding and rough walking....

Sue B

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

Our walk started at 9:30 in the morning, having caught a bus from Settle, where we'd stayed overnight. Slaidburn is the largest village on the river Hodder, its name possibly deriving from Anglo Saxon, meaning "sheep field overlooking a river". We crossed over the Hodder on Slaidburn Bridge to start the walk. Overall, a perfectly doable walk with lovely open views all around and many flowers and butterflies to spot....

Helen Lord

Not my favourite type of walk with a lot of farmland walking, missing or deteriorated stiles, overgrown paths and difficult route finding....

Michael

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 first part of the route broadly follows the peaceful and scenic River Hodder valley, apart from bypassing the village of Dunsop Bridge to traverse Hodder Bank Fell. The route leaves the Hodder Valley at Doeford Bridge and the route from here to Gibbon Bridge involves a potentially difficult stream crossing and parts of the footpath are impassable due to vegetation....

Burnroyd