Rainforest Ramble

Roeburndale, Sunday, May 7

10km / 6.3 miles / 350m ascent / 3 hours

Join us to explore the ancient woodland of Roeburndale with an experienced walk leader and expert wildlife photographer.

Discover drifts of bluebells, rare spring migrants and one of the last remaining fragments of Atlantic Temperate Rainforest in Lancashire.

This short, but challenging hike takes a deep dive into the ancient woodland of the Roeburn Valley on the northern edge of the Forest of Bowland National Landscape.

Starting in the pretty village of Wray, the route winds its way through dense deciduous woodland up the valley with a number of steep climbs and descents on narrow forest paths.

Along the way, we’ll walk through drifts of bluebells and wild garlic and look out for scarce summer migrants like redstarts, wood warblers and pied flycatchers.

We’ll learn about the great flood of 1967 and why peat restoration and woodland regeneration could be critical to manage and mitigate the risks of a repeat of this catastrophic flood at a time when climate change is increasing the likelihood of more extreme weather events.

Led by Mark Sutcliffe, author of the Cicerone Guide to Walking in Lancashire, and wildlife photographer and guide Mark Harder, the walk will last around three hours and the group size will be limited to minimise disturbance to the local wildlife and woodlands.

The walk is free to join, but we suggest a donation of £10 per person to Champion Bowland – a small local charity which works to preserve the unique heritage of the Forest of Bowland.

The group will leave at 10am prompt on Sunday, May 7, returning at around 1pm. Walking boots and waterproofs essential. Dogs on leads only.

Owing to limited numbers, we expect this walk to sell out very quickly. To reserve your place, please fill in the form below and click ‘Submit’.