Dunsop Bridge and the Centre of the Kingdom

Jim Grindle

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Opposite the car park in Dunsop Bridge is a telephone kiosk. Look inside to see the plaque which observes that Dunsop Bridge is the village closest to the centre of the British Isles as calculated by the Ordnance Survey and that you are standing in Britain's most central telephone kiosk. The grid reference is also given: SD 63770 56550. The actual spot is on land which has recently been opened up under the CROW Act and this walk takes advantage of the newly acquired freedom to visit the spot - just for the hell of it. There really is nothing there - or there wasn't until 3rd November 2004 when I and my friends in the OWLS of Southport Ramblers placed a Union Flag on the spot, using a GPS for accuracy. (OWLS = Older With Less Speed).
On 6th July 2005 we went back to see if the flag had survived the winter, but somebody had removed not only the flag but also the pole. We managed to fix a new flag to a small cairn, but can't be sure if this will last - can you bring one?

England - North England - Lancashire - Forest of Bowland

Features

Birds, Butterflies, Cafe, Church, Flowers, Food Shop, Gift Shop, Great Views, Hills or Fells, Moor, Play Area, Public Transport, River, Tea Shop, Toilets, Wildlife

6/30/2014 - Norman Brannick

Completed this walk on 30th June 2014. I was intrigued by the notion of walking to the centre of the United Kingdom, thought to myself, (just out of curiosity), got to give it a go. The majority of the walk is on a tarmac path that leads you up to Brennand Farm, then well established gravel track takes you up to the shooting hut, so although strenuous it is a really straightforward walk, the 800 metre walk from the shooting hut didn't present any problems, (walking it in the winter when the ground is waterlogged could be an issue) the ground was dry and navigable. There is nothing there that marks the spot as being the centre of the UK, but there seems to be a few theories as to where the centre of the UK is, some say it's in the village or Brennand farm, while others say it's Whitendale Hanging Stones, it doesn't really matter the one thing for sure is you are in the right area. Thank you Walking World for another great day out..