Sunday, 14th June 2026
| Walk: | Middle Hare Head, Hare Head Side, Broad Park Bridge, Barden Tower, Barden Bridge, riverside path, wooden bridge, Cavendish Memorial, remains of Bolton Priory, waterfall bridge | ||
| Start Point: | Bolton Abbey car park | Grid Reference: | SE 070 538 |
| Distance: | 9 mls | Ascent: | 1,000 ft |
| Time: | 4.5 hrs | ||
| Weather: | Mild with sunny spells | ||
| Comments: | A long gradual ascent took us to Middle Hare Head which had only a few stones to mark the summit. The plan had been to take a footpath off the main track down to Barden Road but this could not be found and the ground was too rough and overgrown to head in that direction. From Barden Bridge I chose to walk on the north-east side of the river but the opposite side would be better as it stays closer to the river and The Strid. | ||
Zooming in on Bolton Priory ruin to be visited later
The final ascent to . . .
Middle Hare Head . . .
with Black Hill in the distance . . .
Lower Barden Reservoir . . .
Good job it's not on my route as dogs aren't allowed
Long road walk due to having to change the route . . .
with views of Simon's Seat
Ruins of Barden Tower, a 12th century forest lodge . . .
where two soldiers stand guard
It was rebuilt by Henry Clifford 1485 - 1523 . . .
and Lady Ann Clifford 1658 - 1659
Barden Bridge where you can see the new Bolton Abbey car park
Parked here many years ago but you have to get there early!
Barden Bridge
Marked on the map as 'wooden bridge'
The Cavendish memorial fountain erected in 1886 as a memorial to Lord Frederick Cavendish
Priory Church . . .
and Ruins of an Augustinian Priory
Stepping stones - being crossed by mother with baby and toddler
but much easier crossing the bridge
Luna - flat out when we got home!