A walk along the river White Hough Water in Barley village
It was a nice walk to the Barley, an award winning village in Pendle Witch country of Lancashire. It looks very charming and quiet. My walk started along the river White Hough Water with destination to Pendle Sculpture Trail. The river itself is set in woodlands with pleasant pathway, stone walls and small water streams.
The river flow quickly there and I can hear the great sounds of birds and tone of the water. The addition to this delightful view are blooming yellow and wild daffodils.
When passing the bridge you can see this stream flowing along the green stones covered in the moss. Some of them even look similar to the creepy and mysterious thing. Some of the trees roots spread far beneath the ground, looking for water. They help make the river cleaner by holding onto the soil which could wash into the stream.
It is still to early to see insects buzzing near the river but this place is a popular of the birds. They like to hide here between the trees branches, twigs and hedges. I could see a few birds hovered above the branches and the river. Most of them are beautifuly chirping black birds and sparrows.
Along the walk path is many passersby with dogs and kids. Some people stop for a while to admire the cherry and apple trees grew and the yellow daffodils.
Barley is full of tourists and visitors, and many of them walk to the river. That day I was able to see many, including the local community running from the hill through the village and the Pendle Way path to the river valley. I'm not sure if this run was for a fundraiser or some other supporting cause, but seeing this huge crowd of people together was great and impressive.
I can take a deep breath and look up for the trees along the river. There is a lot of trees, mainly the ancient oaks. Many of them are covered in lichens and moss which mean that the air is very clean, as the whole Barley village.
Heading to the Pendle Sculpture
Literally I get lost in the so many footpath criss-cross the area of the village.
When you pass all these picturesque and charming small cottages along the village, the next is the Black Moss reservoir and Lower Black Moss reservoir. Both are in the Forest of Bowland area of outstanding natural beauty. They keep local streams like Pendle Water topped up. This type of the reservoir is called a compensation reservoir, because the water it puts back into the environment compensates for what we need to take out to drink. A lot of the land drains into Black Moss. It`s called its catchment land and it is a natural filter. The land helps make the water cleaner. The Black Moss was probably named after a local bog.
I can see the first signs of the spring and water rushes sticking out of the water around the reservoir. Around are the young orchards between the pastures, farmhouses, and vibrant wild daffodils and primoses that flourish in the grass. I can imagine how amazing this place is in the late spring, full of blossom blanket of wild flowers and rows of apple and cherry trees.
You can`t drive your car here which is good for you. Walking and seeing abundance of birds hovering above the pathway is spectacular. This pathway has own stories. Some things lost by passers-by were left on a wall covered with soft and satin moss. Maybe they come back here again :)
The pathway wind finally to the Aitken Wood and Pendle Sculpture Trail.
With the local artists was build impressive witch - inspired sculpture trail along paths in Aitken Wood. If you walk the track along the side of the upper reservoir and a few distance you`ll see the start of it on your right.
I started my walk to the forest which is part of the most beautiful countryside with moors and valleys in the North West, UK.
The local map in Barley inform that the path sculpture trail is about 45 minuts walk from the village and allow at least 2 hours round trip. But if you are such enthusiast of walk, as I am it will be last much longer. The trails is set up in very athmospheric scenery of the forest trees- spruces and pines and with lichens and moss at the foreground.
Here you can see the small water streams and intriguing range of sculptures. Some of them are made from wood and the other are artificial. All of them are inspired by the history of the Pendle Witches of 1612. The village and the area are famous for their links to The Pendle Witch Trials events which took place in the 17 th century. For visitors apart form the sculpture trail, there is nothing remaining from the olden days to look at.
The sculpture trail is an artist vision of art, history surrounded by incredible nature. Among those sculpture is Roger Nowell, the Magistrate responsible for trying the witches, wooden sculptures, unicorn, Black Dog - part of Incredible Creations 2018, mythical Fairy and steel sculpture of the witches.
Above - Art Sculptures in The Pendle Sculpture Trail, Copyright Agnes R ©, April 2023
The walk is rated as a moderate, but you need prepare well as there is a lot of moody terrain.
I saw a little girl go to see a Unicorn sculpture wearing a new skirt and boots. It seemed like something magical had happened, and as she approached the sculpture, she suddenly did a 'swirl and twirl' and fell dazed straight into the mud. This make my day and I couldn't stop laughing and still have a smile on my face.
My next walk to Barley will be into the hardest walk, features the steps and to the Pendle Hill. But about this... I`ll tell you next time.