A peaceful Sales Wheel.
Wednesday, April 14th. 6 miles. Ribchester,
A perfect Spring morning, sunshine and no wind.
Looking back I did this walk in 2019 on a similar April day https://bowlandclimber.com/2019/04/11/more-of-the-ribble-way-and-dinkley-bridge/ and on many other occasions.
We set off from the car park of the Ribchester Arms, which later today will be serving food and drink outside following the latest easing of lockdown. Some, new to us, paths lead away across fields from Stydd Lane. The signing was better than usual, a side effect of the pandemic with the farmers trying to guide all the extra walkers through their fields as safely as possible. We were intrigued by some old banking alongside Duddell Brook which seemed to have been designed to prevent flooding of some fields that would have been a natural flood plain. One wonders if this channelling of the stream goes towards the flooding that regularly occurs farther down where it meets the Ribble. Never mess with nature. I’m not sure whether the banking shows up on my photo.
An innocuous looking Duddell Brook.
The Ribble Way was joined and followed pleasantly along the river bank. There is always flood debris on this stretch but today it was mostly vegetation and wood, perhaps someone has a had done a litter pick of all the usual plastic. It is a shame that the footpath gets diverted away from the river [fishermen only!] but at least from the higher elevation there is always a panoramic view of the Ribble Valley with Pendle on guard and of course now the new Dinckley Bridge.
Mike had not visited since the new bridge was erected in 2019, hence today’s route. The previous suspension bridge was damaged beyond repair back in the floods of December 2015, Storm Frank. Its centre span was previously destroyed by flooding in 1981, but cables and parts were salvaged and the deck rebuilt. Prior to the bridges a ferry used to cross here linking Hurst Green to Dinckley and Langho. 
Old suspension bridge. Wikimedia.
Today the river was very low under the bridge and the sandy beaches farther downstream were accessible.
We were surprised there were not more people out and about enjoying the warm sunshine. In the woods the wild garlic was coming into season reminding me that I must pick some for cooking – perfect with a poached egg. The celandines, wood anemones and sorrels were all putting on a good show.
Again the path is diverted away from the river, so we just walked pleasantly along the quiet lane to cross the stately Ribchester Bridge back into the village and home for lunch. 
*****
I don’t think I’ve been over that new bridge? That square of map has a heck of a concentration of minor footpaths.
I think you must have crossed it on Wainwright’s Way between Whalley and Longridge Fell, that day I dropped you off.
Unless you swam?
PS. Check your records.
There are paths everywhere and the majority of them have been heavily used in the last year.
This one’s been on my list for a while, but I’ll leave it a bit longer and see how things calm down. Don’t want to be yet another incomer travelling from outside the area and trampling those paths to mush.
The Ribble Valley would welcome you any day, midweek. Since the shops opened there are fewer people about.
That’s very kind of you to say so! I was in the West Pennines today and noticed the same thing – I was able to park even late morning and saw virtually no one until mid-afternoon. Lot of people sitting outside the pubs though.
Just to say I’m not stood at the gate to the Ribble Valley.
I won’t be rushing into crowded and possibly unruly beer gardens in a hurry.
You are correct. I have a photo. What mislead me was not seeing that extra introduction section which sticks in my mind but nor so evident on your photo. I certainly don’t remember swimming.
I still need to see the Dinkley Suspension bridge!
Worth a potter down from Hurst Green or The Tanners, Dinckley.