Forest of Bowland

Having only recently, with some surprise, discovered Clougha,

in the Forest of Bowland,

Then I find this AONB has a Mountain Rescue.

Which appears a bit odd at first as there are no mountains.

I spent the weekend under the watchful eye of the Bowland and Pennine Mountain Rescue team, on a course provided by them for the Mountain Training Association.

Having glorious weather, the former royal hunting ground was shown off at its best.

Langden Brook

Blue sky and rolling hills.

Mellor Knott

Autumnal misty mornings burning off to sublimely warm days.

Smelt Mill Clough

Away from the ice-cream vans and burger carts there were few people walking the tracks and none on the vast expanse of heathery peat bog we were navigating.

Clambering over peat bog

Vast areas devoid of features whose potential of disorientation if the mist descended demonstrated the need for a Mountain Rescue despite the relatively diminutive height.

Not quite the jagged drama of glaciated Cumbria or the picturesque white walls of the South Dales but a pleasant alternative to those areas I usually walk.

More about the weekend here

The area on map