- Tracks and paths, paths occasionally not well defined.
- Mostly downhill; a gradual ascent at start, and a short climb from the reservoir.
OS Explorer
- OL41
'Forest of Bowland and Ribblesdale'
Walk Description
Note: In Gisburn Forest, the route does not follow the rights of way as indicated by the OS map, but the trails marked by the Forestry Commission.
- From Tosside follow the road towards Slaidburn on the Lancashire side of the village, and take the track which meets the road on the corner at the edge of the village. Follow the track for 1.3 km, past the sawmill and the Gisburn Forest sign and turn left at the junction.
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Follow this track as it descends gradually, following the red/purple/green bike trails then left (still on the bike trails) at the next junction, on a track with a vehicle barrier.
- Just before a coverted barn - Stephen Park, take the signposted path on the left which goes round the perimeter of a bog and rejoins the track. Follow the track for another 450m, then take the track right, guarded by a green vehicle barrier.
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This track passes a barn (Bottom Laithe) then a waymark post at the next junction indicates the trail continuing on a path straight ahead. The surfaced path goes over a small hillock before descending more steeply to approach the road.
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At a wooden barrier, leave the surfaced path to turn left onto the road, following it back for around 300m to the corner. Take the path over the stile on the right, marked as the Stocks Reservoir Circular Walk. The path runs along the side of a hillock before going through a tall gate as Stocks Reservoir appears below. Follow the path as it goes through a wood and parallel to the reservoir shore.
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When Black House Farm appears ahead, turn right at the waymark post as the path dips; take the left fork above the next waymark post to regain height and continue just to the right of a conifer plantation. The path continues near the plantation, and just before the dam wall turn left up a stony track.
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At the top, take the right fork and go through the next gate on the left. Go straight ahead following the boundary of the wood then right onto the track. The track peters out here, so but continue in the same direction parallel to the stone wall. Descend to the farm, joining another track after a gate.
- Take the next left to follow an enclosed track which descends to a small bridge. Cross the bridge and turn right. Follow the stony track as it crosses the river via an stone arch bridge then take the footpath left waymarked by wooden post in front of a stone wall.
- After the next gate peel off the track towards the right to follow the stream up to a bridge by a house. Go through the kissing gate and over the bridge into Slaidburn village. At the memorial turn left and go downhill for the car park at the bottom of the village.
About this walk
The walk starts in the hamlet of Tosside which straddles the Lancashire / Yorkshire border on a hillside watershed. The route takes the Forestry Comission tracks through Gisburn Forest, before descending to Stocks Reservoir and the path above its south eastern shore, before dropping down to the River Hodder and Slaidburn village.
Gisburn Forest
Gisburn Forest is the largest wooded area in Lancashire. Created in 1948, the meadowland and pastures were planted with conifers, tolerant of the wet acidic soil conditions, as it was decided not to improve the drainage (and so risk silting of the reservoir). In more recent years, more native British species such as alder, ash beech and oak have been planted to replace the felled trees.
Stocks Reservoir
Built in 1932 to supply the Fylde, the reservoir holds approximately 13.6 million m³ of water with a maximum depth of 31m (103ft). The reservoir is visited by wildfowl and wading birds and a hide for bird watchers is provided at the site of Dalehead church.
Slaidburn
Nestling in the upper Hodder Valley, Slaidburn is a picturesque stone built village, notable for Parish church of St. Andrew dating back to 950 AD, with a Norman period font. Stock and cattle fairs have been held in the village since 1294, and the village once had a smith, tannery, wheelright, corn mill, hat manufacturing shoe and dress making. The famous Hark to Bounty pub has a medieval courtroom with the original benches. The old grammar school, Brennand's Endowed School, is now a primary school for the village and surrounding area. Slaidburn hosts an excellent café frequented by walkers and cyclists, as well as a youth hostel.
