Alfred Wainwright sketched Dunsop Bridge in the early 1980s for his ‘Bowland Sketchbook,’ but it was not his first visit to the village, which in pre-1974 terms is part of Yorkshire’s West Riding.

Between the two world wars, Wainwright, as an employee of Blackburn Corporation treasurer’s department, delivered wages to the Blackburn Waterworks staff working in the Dunsop Valley.

Industrial Blackburn had been diverting water from the upper reaches of the River Dunsop since Victorian times and this walk crosses a section of the pipeline that linked the wet Bowland Fells with the Fishmoor Reservoir in the heart of Blackburn.

The short walk also takes in the peaceful St Hubert’s RC Church at the foot of the Trough Road. This Victorian church was built by the Towneley family, the lords of the Bowland estate, who also owned Thorneyholme Hall.

Inside the church is a painting of the Towneleys’ racehorse Kettledrum, which won the Derby in 1861; its race winnings are said to have funded the church building.

Turn left out of the car park along the lane and when it soon bends left leave it on the right along the tarmac drive to Thorneyholme Hall. The magnificent tree-lined drive keeps the River Dunsop over to the right near the point where it joins the River Hodder. Cross the River Hodder at the bridge and immediately turn right between the buildings and the riverside. Simply keep the river on the immediate right and follow the riverside path straight ahead along the edge of a large pasture. At the far end a stile and stream is crossed and the path leads to the ornate footbridge over the river on the right.

Climb the steps and cross this footbridge back over the River Hodder. A permissive path crosses the bridge and under it is the water pipeline running south from Bowland to Blackburn.

On the side of the bridge is a plaque recording the name of WB Bryan, Blackburn’s Borough Engineer and the date of 1882 when the pipeline was constructed. Enter the field on the far side of the bridge and keep to the riverside in the first field, heading back in the direction of Dunsop Bridge.

Follow the path waymarkers which lead you left away from the river, crossing stiles through a couple of small fields and heading in the direction of the nearby farms. Cross a stile in the wall between the two farm buildings of Root Hill and Root Farm. Walk between the two farms and join the farm track. Turn right along this and it bends left heading back to the lane at Dunsop Bridge.

To visit St Hubert’s Church turn left along the lane uphill, look out for the village war memorial on the right. The lane leads to the junction with the Trough Road. Turn right along this past new houses and after ¼ mile the church is reached on the left. After visiting this simply retrace your steps along the lane back to the bridge over the River Dunsop. Go straight ahead along the lane past the cafe to return to the car park.

Look out on your right for the village phone box, which is the BT phone box closest to the centre of Great Britain. It has a plaque inside recording this, which was unveiled by the explorer Ranulph Fiennes.