Long Preston to Scaleber Force

Tim writes: Today I met up with Matt O’Brien who runs www.mypennines.co.uk and he selected a good 8 mile route, which actually finished at nearer to 10 miles after a couple of detours.

The starting point is in Long Preston where Ribblesdale opens up into the Ribble Valley.  The River Ribble meanders through the back of the village and can be seen at various points throughout this walk.

Even the full route has nothing particularly challenging, making for an excellent and easy walk, which is great for dogs and can be done in 3 about hours at a good pace.

1. Facing the Maypole Inn and with your back to the Rohan shop, head right towards the Boars Head pub on the A65.  Then take a left on Church Street towards St. Mary’s Church.  Go left again by the church onto Back Lane and take an immediate right onto New House Lane.
2. Continue up this track for about 400m and there is a fingerpost sign directing you left after Holme Bridge.  You’re now following Long Preston Beck upstream.
3. The route along the beck is reasonably easy to follow and there is a thinly trodden track as you continue along the beck, passing over a few stiles and through gates.  Note there is also a footbridge to cross before the route takes you away from the beck.
4. Head up to Langber Lane above Bookhil Gill Beck (which should be on your right).  Just before you reach the lane you will cross over the stream and pass a sheep enclosure and through a gate.
5. Turn left (north) onto Langber Lane and head up here for nearly 2 miles.
6. Turn left onto High Hill Lane at Scaleber Bridge and after about 100m is the entrance to Scaleber Force waterfall.  There is a steep edge here so if your dogs are prone to running off the lead it might be best to keep them close or bypass this detour.If you do go down to the falls the views are spectacular, especially after rainfall.  You will then need to climb back up to the road and turn left along High Hill Lane.
7. Follow the Pennine Bridleway (Lambert Lane).
8. There should be a sign keeping you on the Pennine Bridleway back to Long Preston.
9. We took a detour through the heather to admire the views of the three peaks.
10. We took another detour here to reach the trig point on Hunter Bark.
11. Simply follow the Pennine Bridleway (called Edge Lane here) back into Long Preston and admire the views of the Ribble Valley and River Ribble meandering through the back of Long Preston.