Walks in Broughton Moor
Route Elevation Profile from Google Earth
Appletree Worth and River Lickle Walk
Route Length: 5.33 Km
Elevation Gain: 169 Metres
Green Map Marker: Route Start
Red Map Marker: Link to Landscape Britain Locations
Appletree Worth and River Lickle Walk
There is a nice walking route that takes in several interesting spots near to The Knott and River Lickle at Broughton Moor. This walk is not too strenuous and is only a bit steep in places.
There is a free, small car park at the start of the walk (green marker on map), the walk is circular and will lead back to the car park.
Start walking along the path at the end of the car park leading through trees, heading Northeast. To your left note the steep tree covered slope, above there are the remains of a prehistoric settlement, on a small hill known as The Hawk. It is situated in a way you might imagine to be a hillfort but the Registry of Scheduled Monuments lists this as a settlement.
After a short distance the track bends to the left and on your left an impressive rock outcrop like a small cliff can be seen. There is an interesting old mine tunnel, trial or adit here - take care investigating, old mines can be dangerous. Old maps show a building on the other side of the river to your right, this may be the old colliery.
After the rock outcrop the path bends to the right to assume its original direction but soon splits. Take the right-hand of the fork and you will soon see the ruins of an old farm or village known as Appletree Worth. At the further end of the ruins a relatively modern stone bridge is found next to some old stepping stones and the remains of an old ford. Looking up the bank opposite the ruins there is a crumbling stone structure that may be the remains of a lime kiln as shown on old maps of the area.
It is possible to investigate the ruins by means of a small path but take care if you venture into the buildings for they are in great decay with danger of collapse, the floors are overgrown and covered with uneven, slippy stones.
Return to the stone bridge and head up the slope opposite the bridge and ruins (turning left from the path on which we arrived). A small track leads upwards, at first through tree cover and then continuing with trees to your left. Higher up ther is a rocky outcrop to the right which seems to have been quarried away at some point in history. Opposite here if you can see through the trees there are views out to Great Stickle and Black Combe.
Shortly, our small path joins a wider and better paved path which to the left leads back to the road and on to the car park. You should head right and around a gently bend leading between the trees of a small wood and towards River Lickle. Here River Lickle is below us down a steep slope to the left, it is difficult to see but decent sounding waterfalls can be heard, and glimpsed at times. Looking left to the other side of the valley the rocky tops of the Dunnerdale fells can be seen where there are many old quarries, mines and shafts.
Our path heads in a straight line, upwards along the East side of the River Lickle towards the large pointed peak of White Pike, until a path is seen descending to the left towards an old stone bridge across River Lickle. The bridge is of an ancient type where simple stone slabs are placed across the stream. This type of bridge is known as a “Clapper” and some examples in other areas are reckoned to be prehistoric in origin.
After crossing the bridge head up the slope to the path along the West side of River Lickle and turn left, back down the valley we have just ascended. Keep an eye on the rocks that form the bed of the path for in many places the deep ruts of old carts can be seen cutting into the rock itself. There are old quarries further up in the moors and even higher up this path is marked as ‘Slate Road’ on old maps. Perhaps heavy carts loaded with stone wore the ruts into the rocks here years ago.
Continue along the path as it follows the river and then bears right away from the river and through a gateway. There are good views out towards the sea estuary near Millom and on clear days windmills can be seen out to sea. As the path bends away to the right towards Stephenson Ground and a farm house, an old lime kiln can be seen.
Keep to the left of the farm house and head down to the road. Turn left and follow the road downhill, there is no proper footpath but the road is relatively pleasant. Walkers should take car on small roads and walk towards oncoming traffic where possible. That is on the right hand side. The road is quiet so you probably won’t encounter any vehicles.
Continue down the road until a left-hand bend leads to a bridge over River Lickle, just before which another old lime kiln can be seen on the left of the road. After the bridge continue following the road past an area to your right that is evocatively known as ‘Fairy Ark’. You will soon find the road returns you to the car park and the start of our journey.
If you have the time you could head up to The Hawk to examine the ancient settlement but the easy access provided by the car park means a second visit might be an easy solution.
