Dark Skies Workshop at Stirk House Gisburn March 12th

Event will be at Stirk House

The North of England has some of the countries darkest skies. In a light polluted country they are also an economic asset which translates into a unique selling proposition for the tourism sector. Just as people have long been attracted by the our wildlife, landscapes and historic sites, now the stars offer another compelling reason to visit.

This workshop will help bed and breakfast, campsite and self-catering owners, inn and hotel managers, tour guides and anyone working in the visitor economy gear up to provide an unforgettable dark sky experience for customers

You will get tips on making your business more dark sky-friendly, marketing stargazing opportunities, learn how others are tapping into the astro-tourism market and get practical advice on buying equipment. You will also be shown how to use telescopes and binoculars and, weather permitting, be able to view amazing stars, galaxies and planets with a mini star party.

This event is supported by the Forest of Bowland AONB, members of the business Network receive a reduced rate.

Winter skies above Roeburndale

Winter sun

Louise's photo captures the frosty morning sun on the conifers with a glimpse of the cottage.

Green Tourism

The cottage has been recently accredited with the gold rating. Thank you to Forest of Bowland AONB for help and advice, Treshnish farm, Mull for inspiration and Green Tourism for the award.

New sign carved by Adam

Walk the Roeburndale West to the Salter Road

On a good day the walk up the Roeburndale West road offers some lovely views to the Three Peaks and the fells to the north. If you walk to High Salter (Salter is the name for a deer entrance to a park in  medieval times ) you can get onto the old road to Slaidburn, a charming village with a pub, Hark to Bounty, to refresh the weary walkers. The walk from High Salter SD608625 to Slaidburn takes 4 hours one way. You will be very lucky if you see the now rare Hen Harrier as the latest fledgings were killed by unknown persons as the tags disappeared.  Parts of this road called the Old Hornby road are marked as Roman and if you decide to do this walk you can veer off to the left where the Roman road goes north towards Lowgill instead of going on to Slaidburn.

the Roeburndale West road towards Barking Bridge

the steep hill down to the bridge with Mallowdale fells in the background

the gate that leaves the tarmac at High Salter farm goes on to the old track

the track leading to Slaidburn

views on a clear day to the Lake District mountains

the Three Peaks from the track

onwards to Slaidburn

you could go towards Winder, Littledale and the top of Roeburndale

towards the north

on the way back you can choose to go back on the public footpath through the woods and fields

tree canopy showing the density of trees of Roeburndale

Roeburndale woods

gnarled trees and old stone walls are common in these parts

you can go down the footpath through Backsbottom

and continue down towards the Roeburn and footbridge.

Walk around Cowdber , Overtown and Burrow

On this short walk we found glimpses of the course of the Roman road which in part can be walked along (Professor Alan R. Wellburn's booklet "Leck, Cowan Bridge and the Brontes")

After leaving Woodman's Lane SD 620751 go towards Cowdber Farm --ber is Old English for hill -and continue on the public footpath .

After Cowdber ,although the public footpath goes straight on where it crosses the course of the Roman road, you can turn left onto the Roman road course and follow it all the way to Overtown . The raised ground "agger"in the photo may be the remains

Although not marked as public the footpath looks well used and

you will pass a small holding with goats, ducks and chickens

the view here is a glimpse to the northeast of Ingleborough from the track

still visible here, the old track leads eventually to Overtown where there is a parish boundary stone on the inside verge just by the corner of the road between Garghylle Dyke farm and Overtown which is an original Roman milestone, much reduced in height and hidden beneath much ivy on the right after leaving the track and getting onto the tarmac,

depression in field possibly part of the course

Before the ford/bridge at Overtown SD629763 there is a stile into a manicured garden but it is still a public footpath and this goes to Cowan Bridge

Cross the bridge over the Leck and then turn left onto the public footpath through fields towards Burrow Hall

looking back towards the fells

you might see a donkey

Towards Burrow Hall there are many stone wall remnants and archaeological remains like this above . Burrow Hall has the remains of a Roman fort (Calacvm) in it's grounds ,unfortunately not accessible, but you can glimpse the small ravine above Leck Beck to the left of the track where the east wall was.

Iron implement wheels on the wall of Burrow Hall farm which you will pass before turning left onto the tarmac of the A683

Burrow bridge over the Leck

Back onto turf after turning left onto the footpath along the Leck towards Woodman's Lane--the Roman remains would be to the left of the photo.