THIS is a wonderful, eight mile long, circular walk in the beautiful, dramatic and quiet Forest of Bowland Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty.

It really has something for all tastes - quiet tracks, riverside paths, moorland, dramatic scenery and picture book villages, Newton in Bowland, and Dunsop Bridge.

One word of warning for those taking a dog or two along, be prepared to help less nimble dogs over some stiles, and there are two bridges, which although high spots of the walk, are not particularly dog friendly.

I had to carry both dogs over the Victorian iron bridge, built by the Blackburn Corporation in 1882, and although they coped with the suspension bridge, they were far from happy. Walkers of a nervous disposition may also be a tad wary of the suspension bridge, but for most, it will be a delight.

It sets off and finishes in Dunsop Bridge, where the car park has toilets and costs under £2 to park for eight hours - more than enough time to do the walk, and stop off for something to eat and drink in Puddleducks Cafe.

Step by back

1. From the car park in Dunsop Bridge, turn left and then take the right footpath, along the drive to Thorneyholme Hall. Cross over the bridge, and follow the footpath immediately after the bridge to the left, following the riverbank.

2. You will leave the river, which goes off to the left, and cross into a field, follow the track off to the left, crossing a small beck and more fields. You will pick up a concessionary path which takes you onto to the well trodden route to Mossthwaite Farm.

3. Pass through the farm and keep on the track, and you will pass grand Knowlmere Manor on your left. Continue along to Giddy Bridge, cross over it and bear left, up the hill along the Tarmac road.

4. The road passes through a clump of trees, and a short distance afterwards, you will see a stile on the left, into the field. Take the track and head for the suspension bridge at the far side. Cross over the bridge, go into the field, and cross it, up hill and bearing to the left, keeping the knoll on your left. Continue along the path for some way until you reach a road.

5. Cross over the stile onto the road and turn right for a short way until you see a stile on the opposite side of the road. Cross over stile and cross field, heading for the stream on the other side. Pass through a metal gate, and keeping to the left of the field, follow the track uphill to a ladder stile. Cross over into another field and continue along the track until you reach a road.

6. Cross the narrow road and over the stile to the footpath almost immediately opposite. Continue along the path as it goes downhill and crosses a footbridge before making its way up again. Bear off to the right and follow the track downhill, passing an old barn to your left, crossing over stiles and down into Newton-in-Bowland.

7. Cross over the road and take the road passing the Parkers Arms Pub on your right. Continue over the bridge, and take the right signposted footpath.

8. Head across the field, keeping the river to your right. Bear off to the left before the field ends and cross a stile, bear to the left and head for a gate in the distant fence. Keep ahead, bearing to the left to a barn conversion. Just before the barn, there is a stile into the road.

9 Turn right along the quiet road and after a short way, take the private road off to the right. Continue along, crossing a bridge and Knowlmere Manor again on your right. Continue along to Giddy Bridge, but this time take the left footpath immediately after the bridge, heading up the hill, continue along path, crossing a couple of stiles.

10. Continue ahead, following the track and heading towards a stile in the fence line. Walk up a steep hill and at the top, you will see a gate in the stone wall.

11. Pass through the gate into Hodder Bank Fell and follow the path in more or less a straight line for just under a mile.

12. You will go downhill to a ladder stile, cross over and into deep foliage, taking you gradually down hill to a stile and into a field. Continue along the path to a stream and farm on your left.

13. Take a right by the farm and join a track, crossing the field, heading towards a stile on the far side, continue along the path, crossing more stiles, meeting up with the river on your left.

14. Keeping the river on your left, continue to the Victorian Iron bridge.

15. Cross over the bridge and keeping the river on your right, continue along the edge of the field, and then to the left and over a stile.

16. Continue along the path crossing stiles and kissing gates, passing buildings on your left and on your right.

17. Join the drive to Root Farm, and turn left to the main road, go right, and cross over the bridge back into Dunsop Bridge.