Forest of Bowland and Yorkshire Dales Loop via Gisburn

The Forest of Bowland and Yorkshire Dales Loop via Gisburn is 154.28 km long with 4,425 m of climbing, so it is usually planned as a multi-day walk rather than a single long outing. A typical schedule is around 7 to 10 days, depending on daily mileage, weather, and how comfortably steep moorland and upland sections are handled.

This route is rated medium, but the numbers make it a serious undertaking. At 154.28 km with 4,425 m of elevation gain, it suits hikers who are comfortable with repeated long days, sustained climbs, and back-to-back walking across the Forest of Bowland and the edge of the Yorkshire Dales.

The loop is based around Gisburn in Lancashire, so many hikers begin and end near the village or at Gisburn Forest depending on how they break up the route. Gisburn Forest has pay-and-display parking, and the forest hub area also has public toilets, which makes it a practical place for a loop start or finish.

Public transport is possible, but it needs planning because this is a rural part of Lancashire. Gisburn is the logical access point for the loop, and local bus links serve the wider Ribble Valley area, while some Bowland services are limited and can be infrequent, especially outside peak periods.

Dogs can be taken on much of the Forest of Bowland and Yorkshire Dales Loop via Gisburn, but control matters because this landscape includes farmland, open access land, and areas with livestock and sensitive wildlife. In the Forest of Bowland, dogs should be kept on a short lead near livestock, and on open access land they are required to be on a 2-meter lead from March 1 to July 31.

Late spring through early fall is usually the most straightforward time for this loop. Longer daylight and generally drier ground help on a 154.28 km route with 4,425 m of ascent, while winter can bring boggier moorland, colder winds on exposed sections, and slower progress across higher ground.

The route combines a long-distance loop format with the varied ground typical of Lancashire uplands and the fringe of the Yorkshire Dales. Expect a mix of moorland tracks, farm lanes, rougher upland paths, forest roads around Gisburn Forest, and exposed sections where climbing and footing can feel much harder than the medium rating first suggests.