Walk that starts and ends with Assheton Arms in Downham

This route, published by Visit Ribble Valley, starts and ends at the Assheton Arms in Downham, offers a blend of natural beauty and historic charm.

The Assheton Arms is famed for its views of Pendle Hill and its extensive menu, which includes fresh seafood and classic pub dishes.

This pub is a favourite with both locals and visitors, has won several awards, including Lancashire Life Dining Pub of the Year and Ribble Valley Tourism Team of the Year.

The walk itself begins from the frontage of the Assheton Arms.

Walkers turn left and head downhill through the village of Downham, taking the left fork at the bridge, then right across a footbridge to the footpath at the end of the lane.

The route continues through a kissing gate, following the path beside the brook, then right to another kissing gate in the top corner of the field.

Walkers are advised to ignore the stile to the left.

Once through the gate, walkers head right along the field boundary, continuing to climb alongside the fence, with the brook on their left, and over a footbridge.

At the farm track, walkers continue straight over, then along the field boundary and over a stone stile to Lane Head barn.

There are a couple of well-placed benches here where walkers can catch their breath and admire the view back towards Downham.

The path then heads left across the brook and goes straight over the fields.

Here, the views open up over the Ribble Valley and into the limestone country of the Yorkshire Dales.

Ingleborough and Pen-y-ghent can be seen to the northeast, with the Bowland Fells appearing to the north.

Keeping the post markers across the field on their left, walkers cross the stone stile, continuing straight over the track and along the field boundary, then over the stile in the corner of the field, heading for farm buildings on the skyline.

The route skirts around to the right, above the farm, following the boundary wall to a narrow stone stile.

Over the stile, it continues straight on over the track, following the marker stone to another narrow stile, then along the field boundary to skirt the farmhouse on the left, then left to follow the track right up the hill for 75 metres before descending half-left along the field boundary down to a kissing gate into the wooded ghyll.

The path continues over the footbridge and up the other side of the ghyll, through a kissing gate, then climbing steeply across the field, passing to the left of the barn and over a footbridge.

At the cottage, the path turns left, then over a stile beside the gate and follows the fence along the right-hand side of the field boundary.

It continues through a gate, then over a squeeze stile, and follows the hedge on the left to a stile in the bottom corner of the field.

The route offers views back to Pendle and reveals some limestone outcrops, a hint of the changing geology as the millstone grit of East Lancashire gives way to the limestone of The Dales.

The walk ends at the Assheton Arms, where walkers can enjoy a well-deserved rest.

Full route:

• Leave the Assheton Arms and walk downhill through Downham. Take the left fork at the bridge, then cross the footbridge on the right to the footpath.
• Go through the kissing gate. Follow the beck and turn right to another kissing gate in the field corner.
• Go through the gate and follow the field boundary uphill, keeping the beck on your left. Cross the footbridge.
• Cross the farm track and continue to Lane Head Barn via the stone stile. Pause here to enjoy the views over Downham.
• Cross the beck and continue straight across the fields.
• Follow the marker posts and field boundaries. Cross the track and stiles, heading towards the farm buildings on the skyline.
• Pass to the right of the farm. Follow the wall and cross several stiles. Continue past the farmhouse and uphill on the track before descending to a kissing gate into the wooded ghyll.
• Cross the footbridge and climb out of the ghyll. Go through the kissing gate, pass left of the barn, and cross another footbridge.
• At the cottage, turn left. Follow the field boundaries, gates and stiles across several fields, keeping the hedge mainly on your left, until you reach the farm.
• Enjoy panoramic views of Pendle Hill and the limestone landscape ahead.
• Follow the field edge to a gate. Descend into the ghyll, pass the outbarn, ignore the footbridge on the left, and continue to a kissing gate. Follow the stream and turn right onto a quiet lane.
• Walk along the lane for 150m. Take the footpath on the left before the farm buildings and follow the beck downstream through kissing gates and over a footbridge.
• Follow the wall to a cottage. Pass between the buildings, cross the stile, and continue over Woolly Hill, crossing the next stile and heading towards the buildings ahead.
• Cross the track and continue along the field edges beside the woodland. After about 400m, take the left footpath, then turn right on the lane to return to the Assheton Arms.