Map by kind permission of the Johnston Press
and Puddleducks Post Office and café on the right.
Cross over the eponymous bridge and walk up the brow pass the war memorial
to turn right onto a water utility service road. Follow this for a little under half a mile and then at the farmstead of Closes Barn
turn left on a bridleway (unsignposted) that crosses pastureland
to the Trough of Bowland road. Turn right.
Keep on the road for a little under half a mile and then turn left onto a farm road leading into the substantial farm complex at Hareden. Follow the drive as it bends right to cross Hareden Brook and then in front of a farm house bends left to re-cross it.
a short distance from Hareden Brook. The way is up. The bridleway climbs steeply to another ladder stile and then continues just as steeply keeping parallel to the wall on the right until it reaches a ladder stile next to a metal gate at a corner. Cross this onto the open fellside with the summit of Mellor Knoll to the left. (climb it if you want to but return to this point). After a further gentler and short climb to the brow turn right to cross the broad saddle
below Totridge to a ladder stile. Turn left over this and follow the wall to a wooded corner.
Cross a stile or go through a gate and continue through mixed woodland to climb a stony track
leading up to the edge of a conifer plantation. (Harvesting operations were taking place at the time of writing so it may be this plantation will be much reduced by the time you walk it).
Follow the track and after negotiating an area of wind-blown trees
which will test your flexibility exit the plantation at a wooden gate.
Keep ahead to reach a farm road.
Turn left. Follow this as it leads round below limestone outcrops to Tunstall Ing
and continues to a lane. Turn left.
close to old quarry workings. Keep on this as it leads downhill to New Laund Farm.
When you reach its drive (at a cheese press)
turn right pass through the farm
and continue through sloping pasture to arrive on the banks of the Hodder. The way ahead is obvious - a set of 56 stepping stones (we know this because Max Mitchell counted them!)
take you across the river. This is a particularly beautiful reach of the river so take time to admire it. On the far side the path takes you into the rear car park of the ancient Inn at Whitewell.
As you reach the main hotel pick up a concessionary path leading from the patio area to the right of the main building.
This takes you through woodland parallel to the road. After crossing a footbridge
it enters fields. Keep close to the right on a path that will bring you to a stile putting you on the road a short distance from Burholme Bridge.
At the bridge turn right onto a farm track
leading to Burholme Farm.
Pass through the farm and cross a brook by a footbridge. Keep ahead to reach fields
and follow the path with Hodder on your left
all the way back to Dunsop Bridge. As you reach Thorneyholme Hall turn left over a bridge to reach the village.
