1. The walk starts at Scorton Picnic site (SD50422 50395). Cross the River Wyre using Cleveley Bridge, then immediately take the footpath (Wyre Way) heading upstream (north) along the riverbank, it’s signposted ‘Wyre Way’ to Nan’s Nook (SD50318 50416). It’s a lovely walk through the woodland, the path leaves the riverbank emerging from woodland to a pasture via two small stiles & a boardwalk (SD50549 51043). Cross the pasture & ascend the easy slope in the corner of the field adjacent the M6 to a footbridge over the motorway (SD50675 51396).
2. After crossing the M6, descend through two small fields keeping Nan’s Nook on your R, leave the field by the stile, then turn R down the narrow road through the entrance to Guys Farm Activity Centre (SD50914 51585). Enter the yard then immediately after the building, turn L, the footpath leaves the car park (SD50992 51555) through a novel archway in the building. Continue along the path, over a stile, ahead is the Sunnyside caravan park. Cross the brook on the small bridge then into the caravan park using a stile (SD51119 51924). Turn L & walk through the caravan park, follow the signs for the Wyre Way eventually leaving Sunnyside (SD51269 52056) to reach the banks of the river on the R. Continue along the Wyre riverbank to Street Bridge (SD51878 52205) and the road.
3. OPTIONAL - a short detour of 1.5km can be taken to visit Corless Mill and its waterwheel. Cross the road & take the footpath along the west bank of the Wyre, passing the weir and a stone bridge, the large Hall on the hill to the R is Wyresdale Hall. The path eventually accesses woodland before joining the access road to Corless Mill (SD51800 52813), passing Keepers Cottage. Return to Street Bridge.
4. From the Wyre Way at Street Bridge, cross the river & walk along the road for about 150m, a footpath (SD51942 52103) starts on the R. Cross the small wooden bridge over Street Brook & follow the FP signs heading S, alongside the mere. Through the pasture, a stile leads to an interesting path on raised earthworks above the wetlands and marshy ground. Eventually the path joins a stone covered single track road (SD51702 51342) leading to Salisbury Farm. Turn R along the road for about 50m.
5. A footpath (SD51650 51398) leaves the road on the L (south) & heads back into woodland, passing close to the mere. Continue through the woodland, crossing the brook by a good footbridge before reaching the corner of a field & a stile (SD51537 51240). Cross the stile & walk through the field along the edge of the woodland heading for Foxhouses Farm Cottage, the summit of Nicky Nook is in view with Jubilee Cairn & the trees guarding The Tarn on the skyline. Cross the stile near the stone dwelling (SD51261 51024) following the obvious path between the buildings. Continue along the driveway to the public road (SD51131 50293).
6. Turn L along the road & continue to the bend & road junction (SD51201 50244), take the metalled road to the R. Continue S towards Sands Bottom & Wyresdale Park passing through a gate where the track is stone covered. Continue through Wyresdale Park to the entrance on Snowhill Lane (SD51149 49676). Follow Snowhill Lane over the M6 and into Scorton village.
7. In Scorton village, follow the main road N, it is signposted Scorton Picnic Site and Trough of Bowland. After a ‘tunnel of trees’, there is a footpath on the L (SD50307 49300) signposted ‘Wyre Way and Cleveley Bridge’. Follow the path on the edge of woodland before crossing pasture land & a stile. Turn R along a stone covered road to finish at Scorton Picnic Site.
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male bullfinch, Scorton picnic site
alongside the River Wyre
Basic map: Around the meres and lakes of the River Wyre, Scorton