THIS is a lovely circular walk taking in the wonderful and often dramatic countryside of the Ribble Valley.

It starts and finishes at Dunsop Bridge, where there is ample and inexpensive parking, a post office and cafe.

It starts off with a very easy and accessible three miles along a surfaced, but very quiet road, leading to United Utilities buildings, before getting more wild and woolly.

Much of it follows bridleways and part is also very accessible to cyclists, but by no means all - it does include some very boggy ground, for both the most sure-footed of horses and bravest of cyclists.

Step by step

1. From Dunsop Bridge, with the post office on your right, cross over the road bridge and take the first right, along the United Utilities road, passing houses and crossing over cattle grids. (You can actually take the alternative footpath behind Puddleducks Cafe, which will link up with the track).

2. Continue along narrow access road, with river on right and Beatrix Fell off to the right, for about three miles until you eventually come across United Utilities buildings, where you will see a variety of buildings and concrete weirs. Cross over bridge, and onto the road, through a gate and bear left, following the road up a steep hill.

3. At the T-junction, you will see Brennand Farm to the left and Whitendale Farm to the right. Take the middle track and follow it to a stile, signposted Whitendale bridleway. Sharp right in field here, keeping the wall close to your right. Pass through gate at far end of field, cross wooden footbridge and follow track across the fell, pass through a gate, and drop sharply down into valley.

4. Cross over wooden footbridge. Whitendale is ahead of you,. Follow signpost to Dunsop to the right. Continue along the surfaced track, with river to your left.

5. You will eventually meet the fork in the road where you turned left earlier. Continue along, retracing your steps back to Dunsop Bridge.

Fact file:

Start: Dunsop Bridge car park

Allow: Three hours

Refreshments: Dunsop Bridge