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WALK 5

Ward’s Stone from Littledale

Start/Finish	Roadside parking near Cragg farm (SD545617)
Distance	17km (10½ miles)
Total Ascent	582m (1909ft)
Terrain	Field paths, moorland tracks and rough moorland traverse
Maps	Explorer OL41 (Forest of Bowland and Ribblesdale)

This is a popular but demanding walk that needs a clear, settled day if you are to avoid the potential for confusion. It takes in high Bowland landscapes with far-reaching views, and visits the highest point in the Forest of Bowland.

Begin from the parking area at Little Crag above Littledale. Walk to the nearby road bend just above Cragg farm, and there leave the road for a footpath that finds an easy way across farmland to Skellow Barn, and here turn right, beside Sweet Beck, to reach the edge of Access Land and the open moors beyond.

A fairly clear path now climbs the moors, and rises to meet a broad track. Cross this and continue in the same direction, through gritstone outcrops and heather to intercept a path linking Clougha Pike to the west with Grit Fell to the east. Turn onto this and head for Grit Fell, and then basically keep going in a generally eastwards direction to reach the little rocky plateau of Ward’s Stone, unusual in having two trig pillars – that to the east is marginally the higher.

From near the easterly trig pillar, a fence sets off for High Stephen’s Head, which is the next objective, but you should only take this direct route if you enjoy floundering in peaty bogs. A better choice is to continue along the original line for just under 1km, to a fence junction.

Now turn northwards to reach High Stephen’s Head, a lovely vantage point on a fine day. From it, press on in a northwesterly direction between a fence and a wall, descending a broad moorland ridge.

When the wall takes its leave and heads off towards Mallowdale, continue beside the fence, above Ragill Beck, continuing the northwesterly direction. Briefly the fence becomes a wall, and here cross Ragill Beck to find a track that slips down the remaining moorland shoulder to a farm gate above Deep Clough.

Go down into the steep-sided clough and up a track on the other side where you intercept a public footpath. Turn left along this and descend to a ladder-stile and footbridge about 50m beyond which you reach the turning point of Walk 4, through Littledale, and now share the same route back to the start.