Читать книгу Walking in the Forest of Bowland and Pendle. 40 walks in Lancashire's Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty онлайн

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As the route heads northwards, so you encounter a wide farm track that will guide you towards a small wooden hut. Keep to the left of the hut, and go through a gate to follow the broad track to Afton Barn Cottage, beside which you reach the end of a surfaced lane. Now simply follow the lane, rather steeply, up into the village of Aughton (pronounced ‘Afton’).

Aughton cottage

Go through the village, following the road for Halton, still climbing, but only for a further 150m, as far as a footpath sign on the left. Here, leave the road by climbing a metal ladder-stile, and from the stile follow a grassy path to a step-stile beside a gate. From this, strike up the ensuing field, aiming roughly at the right-hand edge of a thin strip of woodland in the distance. There is no path here, but as you climb, gradually move a little more to the right to locate another stile in a fence corner.

Walk across to a footbridge ahead, and then up towards the left-hand edge of Far Highfield farm, where you will find a step-stile. From the stile start off half-left and then gradually drift towards a fence on the right, following this to a step-stile in a corner and an obsolete ladder-stile a short way further on. The route now continues alongside an established hawthorn and holly hedgerow, heading for Middle Highfield farm. Cross an intermediate stile, and then continue towards the farm buildings, a number of which have been converted to residential use.