Access Land

In September 2004 parts of Bowland became open to walkers for the first time as the Countryside and Rights of Way Act 2000 gave general right of access to the public to ‘Access Land’ for the purposes of open-air recreation on foot.

For the most up to date information on where you can go in Bowland and what local restrictions may apply, call 0845 100 3298 or visit the Countryside Access website or Lancashire County Council’s Countryside Service website.

The Forest of Bowland AONB and Lancashire County Council Countryside Service have produced an information leaflet about Access Land, outlining your rights and responsibilities. In addition, this leaflet has six circular walks exploring the best that Bowland’s Access Land has to offer. You can download the Access Land Leaflet (PDF, 6.1mb) in PDF format, but please be aware this is a very large file and it may take a while to download.

If you plan to do any walking in Bowland it is essential to use Ordnance Survey Map OL41, ‘Forest of Bowland & Ribblesdale’. Maps after September 2004 show Access Land in yellow.

Much of the Access Land in the Forest of Bowland AONB is within a Special Protection Area (SPA). This European designation recognises the importance of the area’s upland heather moorland and blanket bog as habitat for upland birds. Bowland’s moors are home to many threatened species, including merlin, golden plover, curlew, ring ouzel and the rare hen harrier; symbol of the AONB.

Treading Carefully is a leaflet that has been produced in partnership with the RSPB, English Nature and Lancashire Countryside Service and illustrates how walkers and birdwatchers can help ground nesting birds. This leaflet also folds out into an attractive bird identification guide.

Key messages to remember:

• Be safe - plan ahead and follow the signs.
• Observe the local dog restrictions where they apply: e.g. Dogs are usually excluded all year round from grouse moors and seasonally from lambing enclosures. On all other land they must be on a 2 metre lead during the bird-nesting season (1st March to 31st July).
• Leave gates and property as you find them.
• Tread carefully - much of Bowland’s Access Land is important for ground-nesting birds, upland farming and game management.

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