IN contrast to the stark sombre mass of Pendle Hill, which is always on the horizon in this walk, the gentler countryside around Downham is one of limestone knolls, rolling meadows and little streams.

The village is one of the prettiest in Lancashire and has attracted film crews over the years, notably for the BBC series Born and Bred and the classic 1960’s film Whistle Down The Wind, starring Hayley Mills and Alan Bates.

The actual farm and barn used in this film are passed along the route of the walk.

This easy ramble skirts around the limestone outcrop of Worsaw Hill, linking Downham with the equally pretty hamlet of Worston, hidden in the shadow of the busy A59 bypass but known for the Calf’s Head inn — the ideal stopping off point halfway along the walk.

If parked on the road below the church and Assheton Arms, walk downhill and follow the lane turning right across the beck passing a small triangular shaped green on the left.

This passes the entrance to the village car park and toilets on the right. Leave the lane (to Worston) by joining the signed footpath straight ahead on the right hand side of the lane.

This begins as an access track alongside houses.

Go through a squeeze stile next to a gate and follow the right field boundary of several fields. When the field boundary turns right leave it and head diagonally across a large field heading for the left hand side of the prominent Worsaw Hill straight ahead. Go through gates keeping above a barn and walk along a wall side running around the side of the hill to a path junction above Worsaw End Farm. The barn and the farm over to the left were used in the film Whistle Down the Wind, which included many local school children as extras.

To continue the walk, ignore the path bearing right around the hillside, but go straight ahead along the waymarked path which enters a large field.

Keep Worston Brook over to the left and simply walk parallel to it across pasture land heading to nearby Worston.

Cross a footbridge and join a track which bears left and leads to the lane into the hamlet.

The Calf’s Head is almost facing you on the left. Opposite the inn, if you want a good view of the Ribble Valley take the signed footpath on the right of the lane which leads to the top of Crow Hill, another limestone knoll.

To continue the walk, turn left along the lane in Worston.

The quiet lane, West Lane, meanders back towards Downham through farmland.

You can follow this back lane all the way back into Downham for approximately two miles.

Alternatively, after about one mile, after passing the driveway to Radbrook on the right, take the signed path on the left which leads uphill passing a barn on the right.

Above the barn you rejoin the field path linking Downham and Worston.

Turn right and retrace your steps across the fields to Downham village.