Ducks were dozing beside the weir as we came down to the River Calder at Whalley. It's that sort of place and while famed for the church and ancient abbey there's delight in treading the packhorse way that climbs steeply over Whalley Nab before descending again to wander beside the tranquil river. If time permits you can pop into the pub or the cafe, where you can sit beside the river before climbing gently away across fields to pass the site of the Civil War Battle of Sabden Brook.
LOCATION: Whalley, five miles north of Accrington
START: Spring Wood Picnic Site, off A671 toilets
Grid ref: SD742360 Postcode: BB7 9DP
DISTANCE: 5.5 miles
GRADE: Moderate
TIME: 3 hours
MAP: Explorer - West Pennine Moors Landranger 103
REFRESHMENTS: Gamecock Inn & Read Garden Centre
EN ROUTE: Dean Brook, Read
This walk was originally published by
The Manchester Evening News