With spring on the way: the lanes bedecked with nodding daffodils, forget-me-nots, and grape hyacinths, a clear blue sky, a stiff March breeze and the sound of bleating lambs in the fields; a wander around the valley was always on the cards today.
Our first thought was to get the bus to Barley and walk back over Well Head, through Sabden Fold and along the valley back to Sabden. However, a quick look at the bus timetables told us that the bus from Clitheroe to Barley doesn't run on a Sunday until May (what's that all about?), so we opted to walk from the door, over to Higham, instead.
Being such a lovely day, we donned hats, scarves and sunglasses (that's just the way it is in spring in Lancashire), and set off the long way round, enjoying the walk up to Calf Hill and around Churn Clough Reservoir, before continuing along the lane to Stainscomb and over the waterlogged fields down to Dean Farm.
There was plenty to see on the way: a song thrush, blackbirds and robins singing us on our way, a pair of comorants fishing in the reservoir and the skylarks putting on an acrobatic aerial show low in the valley, not to mention the many new lambs, bleating for their mothers who already seemed bored with motherhood and were grazing by the stream.
We climbed the zig-zag path from Dean Farm up to The Heights and, almost immediately, turned right to walk down Sabden Lane into Higham. Halfway down, we caught sight of a large bird of prey perching high up on a cable running between the telegraph poles; we think it was a sparrowhawk, but couldn't be sure. Continuing into Higham, we stopped at The Four Alls for refreshment, sitting outside to enjoy the afternoon sunshine - we weren't the only ones, it was packed!
Out of Higham, we continued towards Fence, but then quickly turned off the road to follow a footpath back up to The Heights, rejoining the lane and turning left at the T-junction to descend steeply into Sabden Fold, past the beautiful, grade 2 listed, Sabden Great Hall.
Following the road round left, we then took a right, before reaching 'The Old House', to follow Lower Lane, known locally as Muddy Lane with good reason, and making our way back to Sabden down the lanes; past Wood House , New York Farm and Cockshotts Farm back to Heyhouses.
Being Sunday, it felt right to walk into the village and enjoy a fabulous Sunday Roast at The White Hart; I would highly recommend the Sunday sharer.
I would also highly recommend this walk. It took us about 3 hours but wasn't difficult, and we enjoyed lovely views along the valley and back to the village , all the way round. Two pubs en route, only elevate it to 'great walk' status, and one I think will become one of our favourites.
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