This amazing walk at just under 4 miles feels longer, and passes through a delightful old wood, really temperate rain forest. In mid May the bluebells are spectacular in Outhwaite Wood. The northward part is all on concessionary paths, the return on Public footpaths and road. Park just off the road north of Barkin Bridge, 3 miles south of Hornby. A stile/gate lead into a field on the opposite side. Go up the bank to a further stile and follow the fence on the R till a signed gate on the R. This leads on above the bank and trees to a further gate, where a track leads down into a marshy field. At the far end look out for a bridge to cross the Roeburn, and follow the path in the wood till a sign leads up a steep bank into the open again. Follow signs and markers basically along the top of the woods, up and down, in and out, but watch for an unsigned way across a stream in a gully on the L just after a stile, as the entry into the woods again is just after this gully, via a stile. The path is now delightful through the ancient woods. Through a dense band of hollies take the left path at a sign, which descends around a recent landslip down to the river plain. Keep R at a junction, which stays in the woods to emerge in a sparse orchard, at the far end of which another bridge crosses the burn again. you are now on a public path. It is now 50 years since this river, swelled by 2.5 inches of rain in less than an hour, hurtled down the valley and destroyed a farmhouse then several houses in Wray. The track leads up, you go L at a signpost through the tiny Community of Middlewood, where we have never seen anyone in 20 years, and keep R to a stile into the woods shortly after. This path needs repair, so be careful as you ascend. The signed path then leads up to the L of farm buildings not on some maps, then L across a deep gully by a bridge. Marker posts show the way. At Back farm join the track to the road and head back to your transport with a good view of the lonely Bowland Fells ahead.
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