NATURE never ceases to amaze me. Look at how it has healed the wounds created by the Insurtial revolution.

A great example of this is the country park at Ball Grove near Colne, which was once one of the largest tanneries in Europe and is now a naturalist’s paradise.

This route takes in two country parks: Wycoller and Ball Grove.

Follow the paths through the car park. Pass a weir and a concrete bridge on the right and keep to the left bank of one of the old tannery lakes.

Approach the top lodge then cross Colne Water by means of a substantial wooden bridge.

Climb a set of steps and follow an obvious flagged path before passing two more bridges and then on to Carriers Run and Laneshawbridge.

Cross the Keighley road and find a stile on the opposite side. Cross this and follow the path with a strean alongside.

On the way to the footpaths called the Ferndean Way and the 45-mile long Pendle Way, the two converge. At this point Colne Water becomes Wycoller Beck. In the background is Boulsworth Hall.

Cross a stile and look left. In a wooded area in the distance is all that is left of Emmot Hall.

Cross two more stiles and turn left. Cross a third stile which to those who, like me, carry a little extra padding might prove a little challenge. Two further stiles lead on to a lane.

Cross a bridge and then turn left past Lane Ends Farm which dates from the 17th century. Turn left into Wycoller.

Cross the packhorse bridge and approach Wycoller Hall which although now ruined remains imposing. There is little doubt it formed the model for Charlotte Bronte’s Ferndean Manor in her novel Jane Eyre.

This is the end of the three-mile Ferndean Way and some walkers may prefer to retrace their steps from here.

However there is also a different return route and Wycoller Hall is an ideal base from which to explore the country park. The old crook barn houses many interesting artefacts.

Returning from the bar, cross the clapper bridge.

Turn right and pass through the village before bearing left up the hill to the car park.

At the car park, turn left and keep to the right side of Wycoller Road. Follow a signed footpath to Slack Farm on the right. Cross the stile in a wall to the right and follow the edge of the field before crossing another stile into a field.

Head towards the farm buildings at Solteril Laith crossing first a farmyard area and then the Keighley road.

Cross a wall stile close to a disused quarry and go through a gate which leads to Lane Top and Winewall.

Descend into the hamlet of Winewall passing the Cotton tree on the right and cross the bridge over Colne Water. At the river turn right and follow the riverbank to your starting point.

How to get there: From the end of the M65 (junction 14) follow the A6068 along North Valley Road. Go past the Morris Dancers pub on the left and Colne Cricket Club on the right. Just after a roundabout turn right to Trawden on the B6250. Look for a sign to the left indicating the Ball Grove picnic site. Just before the Cotton Tree pub there is a car park on the left.

Distance: Six miles