Bowland & Pendle Walks
Hodder Bank Fell
Date: 21st April 2014
Distance: 4.6 miles
Ascent: 560 feet
Time: 3 hours 10 mins
With: Tim and Jack
Start Grid Ref: SD661501
Walk Summary:
A nice little ramble from Dunsop Bridge over the miniature Hodder Bank Fell and featuring some lovely riverside walking by the River Hodder.
Route Summary: Dunsop Bridge - Thorneyholme Hall - Mossthwaite - Giddy Bridge - Hodder Bank Fell - Fielding Clough - Burholme - Thorneyholme Hall - Dunsop Bridge
Photos: Click on the photos below to enlarge.
Video:
Walk Detail: This short ramble in the Forest of Bowland was my first walk with Tim and Jack from Bowland Walks since January's climb onto Ingleborough and Simon Fell. Unfortunately Tim hadn't been able to get out much in the intervening period so we deliberately chose a shortish walk to help ease him back in.
The walk started at Dunsop Bridge, a small village in the heart of Bowland and, according to some, the nearest village to the centre of Britain. The village has a phone box commemorating this whilst also having the added distinction of being the 100,000th phone box in the country.
It actually took us about half an hour or so to get going as we spent some time taking photos and video shots of the River Dunsop as it bends around Dunsop Bridge's pleasant green. Once we did get going it was actually another river, the Hodder, that was to dominate the beginning and end of the walk.
The walk itself was supremely easy and could have been accomplished far quicker than we managed. On the other hand surely it is far better to amble about and enjoy your surroundings than rush around as quickly as possible.
Although it was a bright and sunny day it was also rather hazy so the views once we got up on to the modest height of Hodder Bank Fell were not as clear as they could have been. Near the top of the right of way that passes over Hodder Bank Fell we detoured up to a wall in the heather which I crossed so that I could reach the 'summit' of the fell. Were it not for the haze the view down the Langden valley would have been excellent.
Unsurprisingly the top of the fell was unmarked though not far away I came across a large goose nest containing six eggs. I quickly took a couple of pictures before moving on as the mother goose was watching nervously from the nearby heather.
After a pleasant descent alongside Fielding Clough to Burholme it was then a simple walk back along the Hodder to Dunsop Bridge, passing along the way the points where Langden Brook and then the River Dunsop join the Hodder.
Although short this was a very pleasant little walk and in addition to the fine riverside walking it was also nice to get a different view of some of the higher Bowland fells.
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