Ths Forest of Bowland offers some of the finest walking in Lancashire. However some of the moorland sections can be quite boggy after rain. A good sense of direction is required certainly during the first section of this walk. Refreshments are not available during this walk so make sure you take food and water.
Calculated time: 6h25[?] 
Distance : 11.02mi
Vertical gain : 1558ft
Vertical drop : 1549ft
Highest point : 1706ft
Lowest point : 509ft 
Difficulty : Difficult
Back to starting point : Yes
Walking
Location : Claughton
Starting point : N 53.9037° / W 2.6923° (D)The start is the small car park on Delph Lane (grid ref. SD546455). After parking, exit the car park and turn left along Delph Lane for just over half a mile to reach a track on the right hand side leading to Stang Yule (grid ref. SD545465). Turn up this track and in a short way turn left at a junction. This leads to open country. Turn right onto a track heading ENE rising across the moorland. The track eventually peters out and becomes a feint path. If you lose the path then follow sheep tracks maintaining the same general direction roughly walking parallel to the northern boundary of Fell Plantation on your right aiming for the northern corner of the plantation at grid ref. SD556472).
(1)Join the track at this corner and follow it for a short way before veering off north-east to the summit of Hazelhurst Fell (grid ref. SD563480). From the summit, head just north of east to follow Calder Dyke (grid ref. SD572482) east to join a track. Stay with this track across the northern side of Winny Bank. The track continues east towards Fiensdale Head (grid ref SD589485) where you meet a path trending northeast down into Fiensdale.
(2)Cross this path maintaining an easterly direction to meet with a clearer path heading south-east. Turn right onto this and continue to a cairn at grid ref. SD597472). The path swings southwest shortly afterwards and makes a beeline for the summit of Fair Snape Fell (grid ref. SD591468). The views from here include much of the return route which crosses the countryside far below. The navigational problems are now behind you and route finding becomes much easier.
(3)From Fair Snape Fell follow the clear path along the edge in a south-easterly direction. The path swings round to head south and you soon reach the final summit of the route - Parlick (grid ref. SD595450). From this summit you have a steep descent over grass following the fence (which should be on your left) in a south-westerly direction. At the bottom of the fell, take the lower path west to Blindhurst, continuing along a track and then paths to Bleasdale School (grid ref. SD573452).
(4)Turn right up the lane to Bleasdale Church. Follow the track on the left opposite the church passing Admarsh Barn to Brooks. Continue north-west on an improving track to reach a junction (grid ref. SD561462). Keep left here and continue through Broadgate Wood to Broadgate Farm and onto Delph Lane near High Moor. Turn right up Delph Lane and the car park is a short way along on the left hand side.(A)
Waypoints :
D/A : mi 0 - alt. 650ft - Delph Lane car park
1 : mi 1.62 - alt. 1122ft - Join track north of Fell Plantation
2 : mi 3.88 - alt. 1457ft - Continue southeast at Fiensdale Head
3 : mi 5.5 - alt. 1647ft - Continue southeast at Fair Snape Fell
4 : mi 8.58 - alt. 568ft - Turn right up the lane to Bleasdale Church
D/A : mi 11.02 - alt. 659ft - Delph Lane car park
The Forest of Bowland offers many opportunities for walking and this circuit of the high ground at the western end of the area provides many excellent views, some moorland walking and the interesting hamlet of Bleasdale with its fine church. A good sense of directions is required for some sections of this walk and you need to take along the relevant OS 1:25000 Explorer series map. It is not a route recommended for inexperienced walkers. Ample food and water is also needed as there are no opportunities for refreshment during the walk.
Visorando and this author cannot be held responsible in the case of accidents or problems occuring on this walk.
Global average : 5/5
Number of opinions : 1
Description quality : 5/5
Routemap quality : 5/5
Walk interest : 5/5
Global average : 5 / 5
Date of walk
: 09/04/18
Description quality
: Very good
Routemap quality
: Very good
Walk interest
: Very good
Of you're taking your dog please be careful on this walk due to traps being set everywhere. The walk is very difficult when it's been raining, very sludgy fields which you need to navigate! The steep descent towards the end is harder than the ascent to the summit! I'd do the hike again but only after a good spell of sunny weather
7.15mi
+112ft
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3h25
Easy
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+427ft
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