Drive & Stroll, with Ron Freethy - ancient routes through the East Lancs hills and valleys

YEARS ago, when the top 20 was compiled from 78 rpm discs, there was a hit called The Happy Wanderer, sung by a children's choir.

The lyrics went: "I love to go a wandering, along the mountain track. I love to go a wandering, my knapsack on my back."

This song suggests the Austrian Alps but old records of a different kind prove that the ancient track from Clitheroe to Haslingden could rival any mountain track in Europe.

It rises almost due south from Clitheroe up to Pendleton and then ascends to the Nick o' Pendle. Down it goes to Sabden and then sweeps upwards again to Padiham Heights.

From Padiham, the track descends again to the River Calder at Altham where there is now a bridge but at one time a ford linked the road to Huncoat.

This village was sliced in two by the old highway which then climbs once more over Hambledon Hill, Black Moss, Cribden, Clough (meaning wooded valley) End to Haslingden.

It is known that this road was documented in the 12th century but it is obviously much older than this and some historians have suggested it is pre-Roman.

The written evidence comes from the monks of Kirkstall Abbey, near Leeds, who had substantial tracts of farmland (called Granges) in the Accrington area. There is plenty of evidence to support the fact that both Huncoat and Haslingden were on the Roman road and there is also evidence that a major Roman road linked Manchester to Ribchester via Prestwich, Bury, Affetside and Musbury before crossing the top of Haslingden Grane to Oswaldtwistle (it still retains the name of Roman Road at Guide) and then to Blackamoor, Blackburn and Ribchester.

Many of these old roads can still be walked because they were literally High Roads, away from the damp and initially undrained valley bottoms.

Before modern roads the valley routes often used to bring cattle to market were subject to massive erosion.

They were therefore called Holloway Ways, which is the origin of London's Holloway Road.

Until the late 18th century Lancashire's roads were in a terrible state but, unless travel was essential, very few people were worried.

Then came the Industrial Revolution and at this time masters and workers all needed to travel.

Roads were built but they cost lots of money.

Turnpike Trusts were formed and tolls charged. These new roads (as in Bacup's New Line) were pushed through the valley bottoms, which were drained, often at great expense. As I have mentioned in previous articles, many of the toll houses have survived and are part of our history.

The new roads left the old tracks high and dry (often literally) and they still make for exciting walking, with spectacular natural history for company.

You do not have to walk this ancient track all in one go but you could enjoy strolls around Pendleton, over Pendle to Sabden, Padiham Heights, Altham, Huncoat, Hambledon, Grane and Haslingden.

I'll tell you what - you take the low roads and I'll take the high roads.

I don't care if you do get there before me because I am not going to rush through this glorious upland scenery.

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