Eco Escapes
Discover Bowland have created a collection of bespoke Eco Escapes itineraries to help visitors make the most of their time in Lancashire’s outstanding natural landscapes!
Eco Escapes are all about travelling light and treading carefully in the precious but fragile rural landscapes of Lancashire. They are about leaving the car at home and taking the time to explore new places by public transport, on foot or by bike. They are about discovering the county’s wonderful natural environments and the wildlife that makes its home there.
Above all, Eco Escapes are about making connections: between town and country; between visitors and residents and between people and nature.
Read below to see their Family Friendly Adventure in the Forest of Bowland and be sure to give us a visit!
DAY 1: Arrive by Train | Ride 12 miles | Walk 3 – 5 miles
- Arrive by train at Clitheroe Station. Hourly service from Blackburn and Manchester. Timetables at www.northernrailway.co.uk
- Collect a picnic from Bowland Food Hall, just a short ride from the cycle shop then head out of town and cross the River Ribble onto quiet rural lanes for the 10-mile ride to Dunsop Bridge.
- Take a picnic Lunch Beside the stream in the Dunsop Valley. If you didn’t have time to organise a picnic, drop into Puddleducks Tea Rooms in Dunsop Bridge for coffee, cake and light snacks.
- Pop into Wood End Farm and say hello to the friendly herd of alpacas who live there. Short walks with the alpacas can be booked in advance via the website.Explore the gorgeous Dunsop Valley on foot or by bike, on a gentle 5-mile hike up the valley. This scenic riverside ramble is surrounded by the spectacular scenery of the Bowland Fells, but the route itself is easy going underfoot and gentle enough for all abilities to tackle.
- Cycle 4 miles to Bowland Wild Boar Park where you can stay in one of their camping pods, tents or luxury holiday lodges.
Total distance cycled day 1: 24 miles
DAY 2: Ride 12 miles | Walk 1 – 2 miles | Depart by Train
- Spend a fun-packed morning at Bowland Wild Boar Park, where you can enjoy tractor rides and farm tours, feeding the animals and exploring the nature walks.
- Enjoy lunch in the café at the Wild Boar Park before setting off back to Clitheroe. Stop off en route at stately Browsholme Hall (check website for opening times) for afternoon tea in the Cart Shed Tea Room or detour to the picture-postcard village of Waddington for refreshments at the Waddington Arms
- Return to Clitheroe to drop off your hire bikes and catch your train home from the station.
Total distance cycled Day 2: 24 miles
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