By Joanne, February 2023
Our first ‘Grand Day Out’ is and around the wonderful Gisburn Forest and Stocks Reservoir – just a short drive (or bike ride) away from Peaks and Pods in the Forest of Bowland. It’s a place we go to regularly to stretch our legs, breathe in the clean air and recharge our batteries. We visit all year round, but our favourite time has to be autumn, when the forest is bursting with the most stunning fungi.
We’ve also been many times in winter and even been lucky enough (twice!) to see the natural phenomenon ‘hair ice’.
You’ll need decent walking shoes and a waterproof jacket. A map is recommended as there’s little to no phone signal and no Wifi. It’s the OS Explorer Map 41 – Forest of Bowland & Ribblesdale.
Here’s a PDF of Gisburn Forest’s walking trails – Click here. Many people visit Gisburn Forest exclusively for mountain biking, which is what it’s well-known for, but that’s for another ‘Grand Day Out’!
Here’s what we’d do on our Grand Day Out –
- Make the short (five mile) journey from Peaks and Pods to the car park at Gisburn Forest (The Hub).
- Take a flask of coffee and a slice of lemon drizzle cake to top up our blood sugar before we set off. We’d open the car boot and perch in the back.
- Choose from one of a few walks, depending on how long we wanted to walk. These could be:
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- Birch Hills Trail – Graded ‘Easy’ – almost 5 miles (not ideal for pushchairs except rugged ones, as it can be bumpy and quite muddy, but there are no stiles.). If time is short, we cut this route down by parking at Stocks Reservoir car park at the bottom of school hill and start the 1.5 mile trail around the forest from there. This cuts out any road walking too and is just a nice, short wander in the woods, passing a picnic area and bird hide. (Follow white post markers.)
- Eggberry Trail – Graded ‘Moderate’ – 2.2 miles. This route passes through mixed woodland and follows, in part, an old farmstead track known as Eggberry Road. There are views over Bottoms Beck to the ancient broadleaved woodland of Park Wood. Park at Stocks Reservoir car park and walk along the path that runs parallel to the road before shortly taking a left up a track into the forest. This leads you into the forest for a lovely walk that’s not too strenuous. You can also start this walk from the main car park at The Hub – it’s the same distance. (Follow green post markers.)
- Stocks Circular Path – Graded ‘Moderate’ – 8 miles (approx 3hr). A grand tour all the way round Stocks reservoir which climbs above the reservoir, providing expansive views of the wider Bowland landscape before descending to complete a circuit of the reservoir. (Follow blue post markers.) Park at Stocks Reservoir car park to begin your journey.
- After working up an appetite, we’d head for the Gisburn Forest Cafe for a light lunch (except if it was a Monday, as it’s closed!). There’s a great selection of ice creams, tasty food, delicious cakes and ice cream. If we were doing the Stocks Circular Path, we’d probably take a picnic too, as it’s further, or buy some food from the Fisherman’s Hut on the way past (seasonal).
- If we had time to spare before heading back, we’d drive up School Hill (the opposite direction from where we drove in) and up onto the tops at Bolland Knotts, where there’s a spectacular view of the area to stop and enjoy. This road drops down into the village of Keasden, and from there you’ll reach the A65, directly across the road from Clapham. It’s a lovely village to visit and we’d call in to Clapham Village Store, where they stock all sorts of delicious and locally sourced food and drink, gifts, newspapers and magazines. It’s an award-winning community owned shop, which also has a garden at the back, and is run almost entirely by volunteers.
- Before heading home, we’d wander up through the picturesque village, along one side of the beck as far as the church and back down the other. (If we had small children with us, we’d stop at the playground along the way.) Our next ‘Grand Day Out’ will start in Clapham – look out for it in another blog post coming soon!
There are lots of other walks around the forest too, not just the ones we mention. Some are designed with children in mind, starting at The Hub (usually themed around one of Julia Donaldson’s books.) Here’s the main website – forestryengland.uk/gisburn-forest-and-stocks
Background
Gisburn Forest, Stocks reservoir and much of the surrounding farmland is owned by United Utilities as a water catchment area. The forest is managed by the Forestry Commission for timber sales, conservation and recreation. The forest and reservoir are rich in both birdlife and local history, playing host to a “lost village”. The village of Stocks in Bowland was first recorded in 1242 and continued until the early 1930s when the valley was flooded to create the reservoir. Only the church, school and vicarage remained above the water (now all demolished). The foundations of St. James’ Church, which stood on the site of Stocks Reservoir car park, have been excavated as part of a community archaeology project.
We’ve enjoyed so many family walks in the forest, and when our big girls come home, it’s somewhere they’re always keen to return to. Here are a few of our favourite shots. Check out the hair ice!
