Sitting on the cusp of both Padiham and Burnley, the Gawthorpe Hall Circular walk has been a personal favourite of mine ever since I first came here as a young lad.
Having you venture beside the flowing waters of the River Calder, through the ancient woodland of Hagg Wood and into the historic grounds of Gawthorpe Hall; this 4 mile trail undoubtedly has plenty to offer.
Plus, the walk is easy to follow and relatively flat throughout, making it perfect for families or those simply wanting a relaxing countryside ramble.
Gawthorpe Hall Circular Walk Route Info
Route Difficulty: Easy
Distance: 6.4km (4 miles)
Elevation Gain: 51 metres
Route Time: 1 hour 30 minutes – 2 hours
Start and Finish Point: Gawthorpe Hall Parking, Burnley, Burnley BB12 8UA
While the common starting point for the ramble is either from Gawthorpe Hall or the nearby Padiham Town Centre, I’ve always actually began the walk from Hagg Wood, heading down via Ighten Hill Park Lane.
Nothing is set in stone, so feel free to start from whichever point is more convenient for you!
While an easy walk to complete, some of the paths through the woodland can get pretty rough and mucky, so best to wear the appropriate clothing and some proper walking footwear!
Points of interest on the walk
Hagg Wood
Hagg Wood – also known locally as Bluebell Wood – is one of Lancashire’s rare ancient woodlands.
A hotspot for wildlife and flora, the area got its nickname because of the large volume of bluebells which sprout here and paint the woodland with their bluish-purple flowers each spring.
For animal lovers, the grounds are home to a wide variety of bird breeds and mammals – if you’re lucky you may even get to spot roe deer!
Gawthorpe Hall
Built at the start of the 17th Century and redesigned in the 1850s by Sir Charles Berry – architect of the Houses of Parliament – this Elizabethan country house is nowadays run by the National Trust and Lancashire County Council.
One of the county’s treasured historic structures, the house was previously inhabited by the Kay-Shuttleworth family who lived in the hall for over 400 years.
Handed over to the National Trust in the 1970s and now looked after by the Lancashire Museums Service, the spectacular grounds are open for the general public to enjoy and visits into hall are available via appointment.
Gawthorpe Hall is also host to a quaint café which can be a convenient stopping point during your hike. The opening times are Wednesday-Saturday 12-5pm.
River Calder
The River Calder is a major tributary of the River Ribble in Lancashire and is roughly 20 miles in length.
Interestingly, the name ‘Calder’ is said to have originated from the ancient British language.
The first part of the name may share ties with the Welsh word ‘caled’ (hard), while the latter half may come from ‘dubron’ (water).
From this, some speculate that Calder may translate to ‘rapid river’.
The river has certainly lived up to this title in recent times, with heavy rainfall in 2015 causing Calder to overflow and flood a great portion of Padiham and Whalley.
The walk along the river offers glorious views of the surrounding countryside as you pass lush moorlands, olden woodlands and even Burnley Football Club’s official team training ground.
For more info on great walks in the surrounding area, be sure to check out our post on ‘The Very Best Walks In Burnley’.
Happy walking 🚶🚶