Northwest Walks, a short walk around Whitewell

This short and easy walk starts and finishes at the Inn at Whitewell in the Hodder valley, it shouldn’t take longer than 2 hours and, although it can be a bit muddy at a couple of spots, is fairly easy going. It’s a popular place in the summer so can be very busy on sunny days, as can the Inn itself.

Stepping Stones

Starting at the car park behind St Michael’s Church, follow the signposted footpath down to the stepping stones over the river Hodder.

Cross (carefully!) over the stepping stones and walk up the field beyond, making sure to keep close to the edge of the wood on your left, higher up it’s worth turning round to admire the views over the valley.

Next you’ll come to to New Laund Farm, walk through the farmyard and when you reach the old cheese press head right to pass Reed Barn Cottage.

Burholme Bridge

After a short while you’ll reach a narrow road, turn right down this and continue downhill to the road junction by Burholme Bridge. This is a really good spot to look out for Dippers whizzing up and down the river.

Cross over the bridge and follow the main road for about a mile, watch out for traffic though as people race along this stretch!

Eventually you’ll see a signpost on your right marked ‘concessionary path’, this skirts around the edge of the field until you reach a fence.

Here there is a footbridge over a small brook which leads to a narrow path beneath the old Beech trees.

If you look to your right you can see a stone parapet on the opposite bank of the Hodder, this is all that remains of a suspension bridge that once crossed the river at this point, it collapsed one summer many years ago after too many people attempted to use it at once, thankfully nobody was hurt.

This path finishes at the Inn at Whitewell, once a lodge for the Forest of Bowland’s keepers and now a world-renowned hotel and country Inn, famous for its views towards the distant rolling fells.

A B-H

(April 2025)