Dean Wood

Dean Wood and Ashurst's Beacon -

DEAN WOOD AND ASHURST'S BEACON

Start: Car park opposite Ashurst's Beacon Inn - Distance: 7.5 miles.

Ashhurst's Beacon is the highest point of the Upholland ridge, on a clear day it is possible to see four National Parks from the top; Snowdonia, The Lakes, The Peak District and the Yorkshire Dales. This walk explores the north and eastern slopes of the Beacon and visits Dean Wood, an ancient beech and oak wood rich in wildlife. It returns by way of the attractive stretch of the Leeds-Liverpool Canal between Gathurst and Appley Bridge.

The car park looks out over Beacon Park and there is a magnificent view over the Lancashire plain. Many less adventurous souls drive there and sit for hours soaking up the sight but you are made of sterner stuff, gird up your loins! From the car park walk up the hill past the Beacon Inn and take the first left down Long Heys Lane. About 100yds. down the lane a footpath sign directs you right along a track past the Stopforth's Barn car park; to the right is Dalton cricket ground. The track peters out but a footpath continues beside the hedge on your left. Shortly the path crosses through a gateway to the other side of the hedge but continues in the same direction.

The view opens up ahead and to your left on a good day situated between the familiar sight of Winter Hill and the Bowland Fells you should be able to pick out the steep sided bulk of Pendle Hill and far ahead a distant prospect of the Peak District.

The path follows the hedge down to a rough road where you turn left. Walk to the junction with an ash tree in the middle, the route goes right but before taking it go forward to take a closer look at Stone House, a fine old building There is said to be a cupped stone incorporated into the wall, a similar stone is to be found at Lathom Chapel this was supposedly used for casting cannon balls. Back at the junction walk along the road, ignoring the farm driveway on the left, to where it reaches a minor road, turn right there up the hill. Where the road bends sharp right you will find a footpath sign beside a stile on your left; the signpost shows two footpaths starting from here, neither of which is obvious. Stand by the stile and look ahead, slightly left over the golf course you will see a clump of trees, your route lies straight ahead towards the trees to the right of the gap. As you near the trees turn right along the developing path; the path goes between the wood and a line of smaller trees.

The path makes for a gap leading to a large field, do not pass through the gap but turn right to keep just in the woods with a hedge on your left. The path leaves the woods and follows the hedge on your left, shortly meeting a rough track: the area to your right is an old quarry which has been filled, it is a riot of wildflowers in spring and summer. The track continues through the woods. To your left through the trees you will see the extensive buildings and grounds of St. Joseph's College, this was once a seminary but is now a College of Theology. Turn left at the cross track, walk through the buildings of Walthew Park Farm then continue down the roadway past the magnificent conifers lining the college grounds and turn left down the main road.

Across the road and just beyond the last bungalow on your right, look out for a footpath sign directing you to the right over the fields. The path follows field boundaries and a line of telegraph poles to a minor road, turn right here and follow it past Jollies Dean Farm. The farm seems to support a wide variety of birds and animals to judge by the specimens over the hedge on your right.

Turn left through the gate by the farm pond up the driveway of Dean Wood Farm and follow the rough track past the stables to where the fence on your right ends. A signpost directs you along the fence on your right towards Dean Wood. As you near the trees an obvious path drops down a series of natural stone ledges to the stream.

Dean Wood, now owned by the Local Authority, is a beautiful mature wood, the haunt of woodpeckers and rich in wildlife. There are many paths through the wood, the one you want follows the stream down, crosses the metal footbridge, then climbs the bank on the far side. Keep left where the path forks to walk high along the valley side. In spring when I was there the ground was carpeted with bluebells, celandine, wood sorrel and wood anemone, these contrasted beautifully with the fresh green of the beech leaves and the sparkling water. The path rises and falls along the hillside, eventually dropping down again to cross the stream over some rough stones then continues close beside the water. This stretch is shared with the horse riding fraternity and the ground can get rather cut up and muddy but you can usually find a firm footing close to the stream. Cross the green footbridge on your right and reluctantly, leave the woods to walk on a cinder track alongside the River Douglas.

It is quite a crossing of the ways here, some 70 feet overhead traffic roars past on the M6 motorway, the railway, the canal and the river complete the picture. All you can do is to hasten past and to think of the peace that lies ahead eventually. Turn left where the track meets the main road at Gathurst; there is an opportunity for refreshment either at the Station Inn, or at the Navigation The route back starts from where the road crosses the canal, turn left onto the towpath on the near side of the bridge and walk back towards the noise and bustle of the motorway safe in the knowledge that things will get better eventually.

Beyond the motorway crossing you pass the only lock on this stretch of the canal; like the one at Appley Bridge this is a double lock and indicates the density of traffc that must have once plied these waters. The towpath beyond the lock contours round the hillside amongst some most attractive scenery with good views of Parbold Hill ahead and of Ashurst's Beacon to your left. The land across the canal, sandwiched as it is between the canal and the railway, is largely free from human intrusion and contains a wealth of wildlife.

On reaching Appley Bridge leave the towpath and turn left over the river bridge. Take the signed footpath on the right that runs between the river and the houses and follow the bank for about 500yds. then, beside a broken stile, turn half left to cross the field and head for a tall willow tree in the opposite hedge. There is a bridge over the stream here, cross it and turn left to walk upstream. The path wanders through the woodland to emerge onto Lees Lane beside a barn conversion, turn left then almost immediately right up the signed track.

You are now about to pay the penalty for starting your walk at the top of the hill, the way back is up, up and up. Do not despair however, you could not hope for a more gentle climb. Follow the track as it winds up to where it divides three ways. Your route should be the narrow middle path but the first few yards of it are usually impassably muddy; again the consequence of horse traffic. An easier option is to turn right for a matter of yards and, immediately before the start of the fence, to take the path left down the bank to rejoin the correct route beyond the worst mud. The path crosses a stream then continues up on natural stone paving to emerge onto a lane, where you turn right then follow round to the left up the hill.

The lane climbs easily, after about half a mile you will pass a stone built farmhouse and barn conversion, Catterall's Farm. 100yds. beyond this a footpath sign in the left hedge points the way off to your right up the bank. The path follows the field edge forward then turns left round the far end to follow a narrow wooded valley up the hillside. After about 200yds the path drops down to the right to cross a wooden footbridge, climbs to a stile and continues up the hill along the field edge on the opposite side of the clough. The path turns right beside the wood at the top of the field to reach a stile beside a gate. Beyond the stile any of the paths uphill will take you to the Beacon; the most direct way is to go straight ahead into the trees with the fence on your right and to take the first path up on your left. Pause for breath by the monument at the top of the Beacon and soak up the view. Wasn't it worth the effort?

The remains of Ashurst's Hall, a gatehouse and a columbarium, might just be visible to the right of Dalton Church below. Your way back to the car park is down the broad track on your left and across the roadway below.