On the north side of the River Ribble, Waddington was, pre-1974, in the West Riding of Yorkshire and as a border village its history is linked with the Wars of Roses between the royal houses of Lancaster and York.

After the decisive Battle of Hexham in 1464 the defeated Lancastrian King Henry VI fled south via Muncaster Castle and Bolton-by-Bowland ending up seeking refuge at Waddington Hall as a guest of Richard Tempest.

Eventually surprised by his Yorkist enemies, the fugitive king escaped via a secret passage and was pursued across the River Ribble and captured near the ‘hipping stones’ that formed the crossing of the river from Yorkshire into Lancashire. He was then imprisoned in the Tower of London.

This walk links field paths and lanes to the north and west of the village and passes through an area marked on the map as ‘King Henry’s Grove’ close to the woodland of Hollins Clough. It is, of course, best not to dwell on Yorkshire defeating Lancashire!

START: Waddington parish church. Roadside parking here or elsewhere in the village.

DISTANCE: 3¼ miles (allow two hours)

MAP: OS Explorer OL41 Forest of Bowland & Ribblesdale

(Please note some field path sections of this route will be boggy after wet weather)

1. Pass the parish church on the left and walk along the lane to the Lower Buck Inn.

Walk straight ahead behind the pub following a driveway leading to the entrance to a property, The Roost.

Do not go through the entrance but turn sharp right by the gate following a hedge side along another drive to cottages on the right.

Continue straight ahead to go through a white gate and cross a bridge over a stream. Cross a step stile and continue straight ahead with the stream on the right.

2. Enter the bottom end of a large field. Walk directly across the middle of it to cross a stile on the opposite side.

Follow a right hedge side to go through a gate and walk straight ahead through the next field aiming for woodland.

The area just north of here is marked on the OS map as King Henry’s Grove. Cross a stile in the fence and turn right along a track. The track turns sharp left across a stream and goes through a gate.

Keep to the right field edge along a fence/hedge through two fields. By the corner of the second field bear left away from the hedge to cross a footbridge.

3. Continue straight ahead through the next field to cross a stile. Follow the track in the same direction for a very short distance.

Just before it kinks left cross a stile on the right. Bear right across the next field walking parallel to a fence line and farmhouse on the right. This leads to a stile into trees.

On the far side of the woodland cross a stile and reach a lane (Cross Lane). Turn right along this and follow it for half a mile to a road junction.

4. Turn left and follow the road uphill - take care as there is no pavement - only as far as the first house on the right hand side.

Turn right here along the signed footpath in front of the house which follows a farm track - to Feeazer Farm. The track eventually swings left and drops down to woodland and crosses a stream on the right.

Follow the track uphill now with the stream down to the right. When it swings sharp left to farm buildings turn right by a field gate crossing a stone stile at a wall corner.

5. From here the route runs along the woodland edge on the right through several fields heading back downhill to Waddington village. Aim just left of the village and the path is waymarked.

Near the bottom of the hill the path runs between two walls that form the field access. Cross a stile and reach a lane. Turn right here past the almshouses to reach the village centre.

Turn left near the Higher Buck to return to the church. Waddington Hall is on the left hand side past the Waddington Arms and opposite the memorial gardens.