Members gathered on the car park at Dunsop Bridge as a coach and a lovely pair of greys were being tacked up ready to take a bride to her wedding. Dunsop Bridge claims to be the centre of the Kingdom, a claim backed up by engraved glass panels on the telephone booth. This is Dutchy land.
Taking the Bridge over the River Dunsop our group made their way across the fields to the banks of the Hodder which we crossed by way of an iron footbridge which also carried a large pipeline. The upper reaches of the Hodder are a big water catchment area.
All sorts of bird life were seen by the river, including a dipper feeding a juvenile. Following the river south brought us to Burholme Bridge where the river was recrossed, and coffee taken before the ascent began.
After a short walk up a quiet country lane we entered fields again to take a footpath up the hillside.This is limestone country and reef knolls were passed and a cuckoo heard but not seen. The path then traverses the hillside and woodland was entered at Whitemore and lunch taken. The path continues north towards Mellor Knoll through mixed woodland and quite large slopes were covered in bluebells, a lovely sight. Less attractive was an area of woodland where the ground had been cut up by trials bikes. There are some wonderful views across the Hodder Valley from the path.The public footpath doesn’t actually go to the top of the Knoll but descends quite quickly through fields to Hareden Farm in the Trough of Bowland, rough moorland to our left and sheep pasture underfoot and of to our right. Hares were seen and lots more bluebells.
There was a short stretch of road work before we re-entered fields to make a short loop to return to Dunsop Bridge by the Whitendale path from the north.
We sat down in the cafe to enjoy some refreshments just in time to see the bride and groom come by in their carriage.

View over Trough of Bowland from Mellor Knoll

River Hodder from Burholme Bridge
Text: Jim Hutchinson, Images, Phyllida Oates