NB. Pendle council has closed public conveniences including those at Waddington, with local businesses such as cafes and pubs being encouraged to make provision instead. The only cafe in Waddington has very limited facilities, and the pubs will not be open when we arrive, so instead, we will be travelling to Waddington along the M65 and will call in at Blackburn services for a quick comfort stop.
Today’s Walks
It seems that we may all have a muddy time today!
Strenuous Leader: Andrew Mayer Distance: approx. 11 miles
Starting from the centre of Waddington village, next to the church, we head west towards Clough Bottom farm. Following the footpaths, crossing very wet and muddy field tracks we head towards Buckstall farm, heading upwards towards the Moorcock Inn (Not in use). (Stop for lunch about half way). From the Moorcock Inn we head towards Cuttock Clough farm and then east towards West Bradford village passing the Three Rivers campsite on the descent down towards the village. From West Bradford we head back towards Waddington village. Tracks very muddy and we cross a few streams.
Moderate Leader: Selwyn Williams Distance: 8 miles
We set off, have lunch & get back, right! What? You want more – OK.
We walk down the muddy path to the River Ribble, cross over, walk upstream eastwards on the muddy bank, cross back over & enter the cursed village of Grindleton, (cursed because it’s got two pubs, neither of which you will be entering). At the top of the village, we descend a short gulley to cross a stream by a foot bridge under which a troll lives. We go up the opposite bank, through a field, along a muddy lane to skate through two well manured farmyards. Back down another gulley to a stream, no troll but no bridge either so it’s a damp river crossing. One of you is bound to get water in your boots. Then we go along the lane & round the houses to another foot bridge. Now if you’re the one with soggy socks, you might just relish the opportunity to beat the crap out of a troll. Anyway, up the muddy bank & over the top, not an enemy in sight & a gentle stroll back to base through lush green meadows. On return, you can take off your boots & wring out your socks unless of course you have already been eaten by a troll! All that now remains is to go to the pub & ponder on the question of ‘Who put the troll into strolling’.
Leisurely Leader: Sue Daniels Distance : 6.5 miles
The first part of the walk follows the same path as the Easy keeping to the pavement for the first 10 mins until reaching the path for Coplow Hill (very muddy here). We follow pathways down and over Brungerley Bridge and follow the river to Edisford Bridge. This would be a good place for a tea break as there are plenty of picnic tables with nice views over the river. From here we make our way over farmland passing Bashall Hall and Wood heading for Saddle Bridge. Depending on the weather I may take to the road until Gannies Farm where we make our way again over farmland and back down to Waddington. There are quite a few stiles on this walk and loads of mud if weather has been wet!
Easy Leader: Derek Lee Distance: 5.5 miles
We will take a footpath to Coplow Hill and Brungerley, then a track past Waddow Hall and a minor road to Shireburn and Low Moor. Here we join the Ribble Way back to Brungerley Bridge then walk through Brungerley Park, home to the Ribble Valley Sculpture Trail, and with good views across the Ribble Valley. That brings us to Horrocksford and Bradford Bridge, and a final field path back to Waddington which is likely to be very muddy.
Notes On The Area
Today we visit the pretty little village of Waddington, 2 miles (3 km) north-west of Clitheroe, within the Ribble Valley district of Lancashire, although prior to the local government re-organisation in 1974 it was just inside Yorkshire. It falls within the Forest of Bowland
It is home to both an Anglican church and a Methodist church, a social club (Waddington Club) with bowling green, a cafe, a post office, a playing field on which both cricket and football are played. Also, within the village there are three popular pubs. The village is a regular winner of the Lancashire Best Kept Village awards. Each year on the May bank holiday weekend, the village’s annual Scarecrow Festival takes place, with the Monday at the end of the weekend being the focus for activities of all ages
A Saxon chief named Wada is said to have given his name to the village, and there is mention of him in one of our oldest historical documents, the Anglo-Saxon Chronicle. The parish church of St Helen has a tower which was built at the start of the 16th century from stone quarried on nearby Waddington Fell, while the remainder of the church is largely the result of restoration and rebuilding work undertaken at the beginning of the 20th century. Inside the church there are a medieval font, a medieval glass panel containing a picture of a 16th century figure, and some 17th century pews in the Brownsholme Chapel.
Outside, in the churchyard, is the shaft of an old sundial dated 1686, which stands upon a millstone.
Waddington Old Hall is a medieval building which dates back to before 1464 when Henry VI took refuge there for about a year prior to being captured near Brungerly Bridgby by the Yorkists as he fled across the river. The original walls and windows can still be seen in the Great Hall. There is also the Monk’s Room in the oldest part of the building, which probably dates from the 11th century.