THIS is an interesting walk that starts and finishes in Paythorne in the Ribble Valley and crosses over from Lancashire into North Yorkshire and back again.

It crosses Paythorne Moor, which can be pretty bleak and boggy, and much of it is on the Pennine Bridleway.

Much of it is on farmers' fields, so, walkers with dogs, should beware of livestock and keep pets under control.

And, because much of it is intended for horses, access gates are excellent and there are few tricky stiles to negotiate.

Do take care though, footpath signs are not the best, and taking a map along may be advisable.

Step by step

1. From Paythorne, take the Pennine Bridleway (signposted) opposite the Buck Inn and follow the track, passing Manor House Farm. Just before a cattle grid, take the left path marked PB Halton West, one and three-quarter miles. Continue along the path through a succession of gates and after half a mile (you will see Ribble Way marker over stile to right) keep to BP and you will come to gate opening out onto Paythorne Moor (also signed BP and Ribble Way).

2. Cross over Paythorne Moor, keeping to the obvious path, crossing over a footbridge,oddly placed in the middle of the moor. Continue along path to where it comes out onto a road, bear right along road - you are still following Pennine Bridleway. After a short way on road, follow the BW sign as it goes off road to right and crosses a field, marked Halton West, one mile. Head for the blue BP waymaker post and then, sharp left, keeping the line of trees on your right to the road. Turn right to Halton West.

3. Just before Town End Farm, go left, following the BP sign to Long Preston and continue along the track as it opens out into a track across fields on both sides.

4. Just before a farm at end of track, where the BP goes off to the left (you will come back along it later), take the marked footpath off track to the right. Follow FP signs, and not Ribble Way sign. Head diagonally across field to footbridge and then bear left to kissing gate, following footpath along edge of field and crossing another field to junction of paths at metal gate, where you will see once again Pennine BW sign. At this point, rejoin the BP, marked Halton West. There are clear BP waymakers, with the route looping back eventually to the farm off the track you left earlier.

5. Retrace your steps back to Paythorne. You will see a footpath sign to Paythorne off the road just after you leave Halton West, but be wary of taking it - the signs disappear and it is easy to get lost on Paythorne Moor, and you could find yourself up to your knees in bog.