Leader - Brian Braithwaite-Exley
In spring weather a large group assembled on the green in Austwick. We left Austwick down Pant Lane across the slate bridges crossing the Pant. Walking south-west down Geldardsley Lane (which used to be the main road from Austwick to Lawkland) we branched off to link up with the footpath leading to Harden Bridge Garage. Mr Morphet the farmer and owner of the field kindly allowed us to take a short cut to the stile. After crossing the A65 we went some 50 yards down the lane leading to the Austwick sewage works, and took the stile on the left on to the old footpath to Middlesber leading to Eldroth and Lawkland. (Again we were granted permission to cut off a corner over land owned by Mr Ogden). Near Middlesber we met with the officer in charge of the Bowland Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty. He explained his responsibilities for the Countryside Stewardship schemes which were taking place in the immediate area.
We crossed the Parish Boundary from Austwick into Lawkland and branched left down to Lawkland Moss. Luckily the water level had dropped so we were able to cross the moss quite easily. We continued up to Bark Head and across the Austwick/Lawkland road. We took the footpath close to Chapel House to Wardsgarth. Past the Falconry we took a short diversion courtesy of Mr Hird to Rawlinshaw to the Feizor road and then left down Stinking Beck Lane past Meldingscales Barn to Wood House Farm. Then left over the stile across the field to Wood Lane and Austwick Bridge and so back to where we started, completing an afternoon which turned out to be slightly more than a ramble!