The Forest of Bowland

Lying directly south of The Yorkshire Dales, and west of the main Pennines range, The Forest of Bowland is a large area of hills which are low, boggy and heathery. In character the area is an extension of The Dark Peak. (The bogs differ by being green and if anything more frequent.)

Until the recent open access legislation, little of Bowland was open to the public. Thus it is much quieter and has far fewer paths. As a result it is highly suitable for bog loving maniacs seeking the 'true' Dark Peak experience denied to them by paved paths!

More than most areas the attraction of walking in Bowland is provided by the views, and the forecast should be ideally checked carefully before venturing to the area. In bad weather the combination of pathless moorland, isolation and viscous bogs is unamusing and potentially dangerous. (The south of Bowland does in fact have more footpaths than the northern area.)

In good weather Bowland can offer good, and amazingly quiet, walking.

An example is the train walk from High Bentham station to Settle via Burn Moor and Bowland Knotts. On a good day this walk yields great views of Morcambe Bay, the Yorkshire Dales and Pendle Hill in a very quiet area.