A healthy stroll over open fell in the Trough of Bowland

• Distance 17.1 kilometres 551 metres ascent
• Terrain - Farmland path to start, quite a bit of road walking, typical open moor path over Dunsop fell and some well made paths to end
• Refreshments are available from the Tea Shop in Dunsop Bridge
• Map - OS Outdoor Leisure 41 - Trough of Bowland

Click on this image to order the map for this walk direct from the Ordnance Survey

Park in the car park in Dunsop Bridge

From the car park at 661 501, walk into the the village, turning right just before the bridge over the river Hodder. This path takes you past a house on your left, then on your right - shortly after this, look out for a path going uphill on your right. Ascending this path brings you to a surfaced track which you follow for short while past the building called Beatrix. At the end of the track, follow the path downhill and cross the streams where they meet

On the other side of the stream, head uphill past the barn, and keeping to the right hand path at the fork. Go through the gate, and the path eventually becomes Back Lane - follow this to the minor road and turn left

Follow the road for quite a while, past Laythems, taking the track off to the left just before the 'bends' sign

Follow this track to the buildings , after which the path starts to climb and zigzag up the hill then turns left, so you are walking along a ridge with the valley you have just walked along on your left and a stream valley to your right. The path takes a turn to the northwest, bringing you out onto the top of Dunsop Fell. Another path comes in from the right, and shortly afterwards you cross a wall at a gate

From here the path heads of downhill, becoming rubbly and uneven in some places and peaty in others, until you join the track above Whitendale. Go through the farmyard and follow the surfaced track, which will take you all the way back to Dunsop Bridge