Strenuous Leader : Carole Distance : 9 miles
From Chipping we make our way to the base of Parlick passing the Mill Pond and crossing Chipping Brook and fields en route. Then we climb Parlick (1417ft/432m) and carry on up to the summit of Fair Snape Fell (1673ft/510m) for hopefully cracking views. That’s the climbing done. From here we turn west and cross Wolf Fell (this is the muddy bit….) and descend Saddle Fell to Saddle End Farm. Returning to Chipping via Birchen Lee, Chipping Lawn and Leagram Hall Farm.
Moderate Leader: David Distance : 8 ish miles
We leave carpark and head to Saddle End Farm and the move on to Saddle Fell its about 1500 that we ascend across fields and that’s at beginning of the walk. We then make are way to the stone shelter at Snape Fell West, one of the greatest viewpoints in England. With the Yorkshire Big Three, the Lake District fells, the Isle of Man, the northern Peak District and much, much more to see in the 360 degree panorama, let’s hope the visibility is good. Lunch will be taken here weather permitting. We then make are way back to chipping On our return we pass Saddle End Farm and head to Wolfen Mill then back into Chipping. Sticks would be useful for the steep descent to Fell Foot. The return to Chipping is via quiet country lanes which are reasonably flat
Easy Leader: Peter Distance: 4.5 miles
We are going on a circular walk on the outskirts of the village. I had a recce but it was very muddy so we are going to alter are walk to keep out of the mud so more roads than I had planned sorry to mud lovers.
NOTES ON THE AREA
The ancient fell-side market town of Chipping has origins that go back beyond recorded history it was mentioned in the Doomsday book as Chippenden. It is a village in the Ribble Valley within the Forest of Bowland Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty and has won a number of Best Kept Village competitions and has won the village section of the Royal Horticultural Society Britain in Bloom award picking up tourist awards in the process.
Chipping acquired its status as a market centre during the Roman period. Wheat, being one of the primary staples of the Roman Army, was first cultivated in the newly cleared Vale of the Loud. This brought an age of prosperity to the district and a trading centre was soon established – with horses, salt, lime, wheat and other grains being the major commodities exchanged. With the demise of Roman influence, the fields fell into decay and only moss-land and the place-name ‘Wheatley’ attest to Chipping’s former ‘Golden Wealth’.
It thrived again in the Industrial Revolution when there were seven mills along Chipping Brook. Kirk Mill became famous for making chairs but sadly went into administration in 2010, an early victim of the recent recession.
There are three pubs in the area, the Sun Inn, the Tillitson’s Arms and the Gibbon Bridge Hotel.
A church was established in Chipping before 1230, but little is known of the early foundation. For the most part the present fabric of St Bartholomew’s represents the major restoration of 1873, but a few interesting pieces remain from former ages. The oldest of these is the cross base which stands next to a 16th century chest of Belgian origin. The base lost its position and shaft sometime after 1610. The font is by far the church’s finest piece. It dates from 1520, supposedly the gift from Bradley of Bradley Hall whose initials appear on one of the shields. In the churchyard stands a sundial upon stone steps with the date 1708 and the initials of the churchwardens of that time.
Parlick Pike is first mentioned in 1228 as ‘Pirloc’, a name which could have a Scandinavian derivation. Parlick, in the past, has been a rallying point for local Catholics, especially during the Jacobite Rebellions of the 18th century. Tales are told of lights burning on the summit at the very dead of night, where men would set out their plans against the Hanoverians. Today the Pike is a rallying point for hand-gliding enthusiasts who play on the thermals that rise up from the valley below.
Chipping Craft Centre has the honour of being a building used as a shop for the longest time in the UK. These days it has a newsagent’s, a tea shop, craft centre and a part time Post Office. There has been a well-known agricultural and horticultural show here since 1920, and since 1998 Chipping Steam Fair takes place over the Spring Bank holiday.