Guided Walks in the Forest of Bowland

Hikes, rides and wildlife in the Ribble Valley and Forest of Bowland in beautiful rural Lancashire

Covering more than 500 square miles of rolling countryside, woodlands, river valleys and uplands, the Forest of Bowland and Ribble Valley are a walkers’ paradise just waiting to be explored. Welcome to our back yard…

Wild Bowland Walks runs guided walks throughout the year, specialising in small family and friends’ groups who want to enjoy the views and the landscape without worrying about navigation in unfamiliar terrain.

Quieter than the Yorkshire Dales, less commercialised than the Peak District and more compact than the Lake District, the Forest of Bowland is an oasis of tranquility where you’ll find room to breathe and space to think.

Spanned by just two single track roads, mobile phone reception remains patchy and during the week you’ll have 300 square miles of remote uplands and secluded valleys pretty much to yourself. If you really want to get away from it all – this is the perfect destination.

It’s a place to lose yourself up on the expansive moors before descending for a hearty meal at a village inn and then maybe stepping outside to admire the inky blank night skies of a designated Dark Sky Discovery Site.

We can cater for all abilities, but we specialise in taking visitors into the heart of the Forest of Bowland on paths less travelled – heading off piste into access land to reach the hidden gems.

Along the way, we’ll show you the remarkable wildlife that makes its home in the Forest – including roe deer, brown hares, upland waders, merlin, peregrine and, of course, the iconic hen harrier – symbol of the area.