THE damson is a cultivated variety of the plum. Westmorland damsons grow in and around the Winster and Lyth Valleys on many types of soil except heavy clay or peat. The are believed to come from an area around Damascus and it is thought that they may have been brought to England as stones by the Crusaders.

Park in the large layby beyond (east) the post office and village shop at Bowland Bridge (GR418897).

  • 1/ Walk back past the post office and turn left along a narrow lane. After a few paces, climb a stepped stile, on the left, and walk ahead to go over the next stile across a meeting of walls. Go on through a wall gap and then ascend a ladderstile onto hillocky ground, with rocky outcrops and gorse. Wind slightly left and then go ahead towards a barn. Keep to the right of it and go on to climb a double stile onto a narrow lane.
  • 2/ Cross, and go through an awkward gate to the left of the signpost. Walk ahead, go over gated Arndale Beck and carry on the steadily rising distinct track through a gate gap and on up through the next difficult-to-open gate. Beyond, head on through the next gate and walk the access track to reach Broad Oak farm. If the new right of way, which takes you, right, and round the outside of the farm buildings, is not in place, go ahead through three yard gates, where there may be cows, to join the access lane beyond.
  • 3/ Wind left and soon take a stile on the right. Go on past young trees on the left and a fence to the right to take a stile through the hedge onto a narrow lane. Walk right for a few paces to turn, left, into the signposted reinforced track, which climbs through the sloping pastures to pass to the right side of Fell Edge. Follow the waymarks directing you up a wide grassy area, between two walls to a stile in the wall.
  • 4/ Beyond, turn right and walk with Whitbarrow's steep scarp to the left and fence to your right. Follow the path as it leaves the valley and climbs steadily through the fine deciduous woodland to a stone-stile over the fell wall on top of Whitbarrow. Head on over the gently rising, superb limestone pasture. Go over the ridge and walk on a short way to a cross of grassy tracks. Here turn left and walk the wide grassy swathe that runs just below the ridge. Go past solitary larch trees and many outcrops of rock. Carry on where the track winds half right and then descend to a gate. Beyond, follow the track to pass through a signposted gate in the right corner onto a wide reinforced track.
  • 5/ Stride left, soon passing through deciduous woodland - full of birdsong at this time of year. At the edge of the trees a gate gives access to open pasture and here you might find cowslips flowering in the side of the now grassy way. Follow the track as it begins to descend. After a level stretch follow the track as it curves sharp right. Near the foot of the track, a small diversion, left, leads to the fenced top of a limekiln. Return to the main track and wind round to the foot of the magnificent tower-like kiln. Beside it is a sheltered seat.
  • 6/ Join the lane and walk on, left, to take the stile through the hedge on the right, taken earlier, and retrace your outward route to Bowland Bridge, by passing through or around Broad Oak farm. Once along the track, beyond the farm, you reach two gates - don't forget to take the right hand one and then it's ahead all the way back.

Information Distance: 6 miles Time: 3-4hours Terrain: Good paths and tracks. Woodland path could be muddy after rain Map: OS Explorer OL 7 NB: Restrictions on space mean that this article provides a general summary of the route. It is advisable for anyone who plans to follow the walk to take a copy of the relevant Ordnance Survey map.