Worsthorne - Extwistle Moor – Thursden Valley Circular

Walter M Waide

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This walk begins in the church square of the small village of Worsthorne and then heads east through Pennine foothills and wild moorland along a bridleway so new it is not yet on any OS Map! The bridleway meanders over Extwistle Moor in a generally northerly direction, climbs over Ben Edge, descends to Swinden Water, climbs again to the top of the moor and zigzags down past Rieve Edge into the Thursden Valley.

A short road stretch follows as the descent continues to where the Thursden Brook is forded. A little further along, the walk takes you along the same brook, over a sturdy footbridge and another climb through the woods of New Plantation, then contours the hillside through Park Wood. The rest of the walk is along good tracks, another short road section and a descent through meadows to Netherwood. A tree-lined walk follows to Rowley Hall, which is then bypassed by a grassy lane and over fields, eventually to emerge on the road a few hundred yards from the start.

This walk is best undertaken in fine weather but certainly not after heavy rain, as the water meadows along the Thursden Brook tend to flood easily. Other than that, it is a moderate walk with mostly good conditions underfoot. The new bridleway seems, as yet, undiscovered and a real sense of loneliness can be experienced when crossing the moor.

England - North England - Lancashire - Pennines

Features

Birds, Butterflies, Great Views, Hills or Fells, Moor, Public Transport, River, Wildlife, Woodland

11/19/2022 - Graham Moss

Walked 19/11/22 Good walk and easy to navigate, At WP 2 the Bridle Path is shown on the OS Explorer map. It is marked as the Pennine Bridle Way and there is a finger sign post by the stile, WP10 The cattle grid has been filled in but the low stone walls are still in place. WP10 Rowley Hall (shown as Rowley Farm on the map). No sign of a stile but there is a large metal gate you can use for access as you approach the Hall/Farm. WP12 After exiting onto Brownside Road an alternative to following the busy and noisey road back to the start point a few yards after turning left you will see a footpath sign on your right. Cross the stone stile into a field. Walk across the field (approx SSE) for approx 200 yds and look for a stile in the fence on your left marked as a 'Permitted Path' Cross the stile and follow the enclosed path till you exit onto a road. Turn left down to the main road and turn left again and follow the road a short distance back to the start point.

4/3/2021 - Brian Smith

Did this walk today. A dry clear day and we have not had rain all week. The section just after WP 5 was still boggy. Probably a real problem after heavy rain. WP8 the path is almost straight on which then bends to the left. Don't take the path to the left that runs by the house. The walk was really enjoyable and the paths easy to follow. The description is very good and a credit to the author. Loved it, great day out.