We love the big skies; the peace and tranquility; the open roads, the lack of traffic in rural France... We could go on and on extolling its virtues..
Where we used to live in the northwest of England is the opposite in so many ways but it, too, has its wide open spaces - though with a difference.
To the north of the region is the Lake District National Park, and a bit closer to home is the wilderness of the Forest of Bowland, designated an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB) in 1964.
One of our favourite walks within the Forest, is a circuit from Stocks Reservoir, situated at the head of the Hodder Valley.
We have done the walk in all weathers....
.......When snow covers the ground it is a magical place!
The Forest is bounded by the towns of (clockwise from the north) Bentham, Settle, Clitheroe (Colin's home town!), Longridge, Garstang and Lancaster.
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| Clitheroe Castle dominates the town's skyline |
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| Pendle from the Clitheroe side |
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| Bridge over the River Ribble |
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| Travelling south on the High Bentham to Slaidburn road, with Stocks Reservoir in the distance |
This Sunday my son, David, is taking part in a 100k cycle ride which takes in the hills of the Forest of Bowland, in aid of the Northwest Air Ambulance, The air ambulance performs a vital service particularly on these fells, as much of the land is not easily reached by road.
Fingers crossed the weather is kind on Sunday. And rather him than me on the long drag up those fells! I certainly think it would be a good deal easier to cycle 100k on the roads and with the gentler climate here in Indre-et-Loire.
That's when the difference really shows. Or maybe I'm getting soft in my old age...
