This is a lovely stroll especially in the spring when curlews and lapwings call from the moors with chiff chafs and willow warblers sing from the trees to celebrate their arrival in East Lancashire from their African wintering grounds.

1 On a very lovely morning I left my car in Barley village centre and turned right to reach Barley bridge.

Turn left and pass the village hall on the right. Start to climb the steep hill towards Newchurch- in- Pendle and look out for a substantial track on the left.

2 Turn sharp left and ascend gently onto Heys Lane passing some old cottages on the right.

You are now on one of the most historic roads in the whole of Lancashire and was once directly on the route linking East Lancashire with the county town of Lancaster.

I decided to enjoy this walk before Easter of 2011.

This is the best time of the year to follow the witches trail. I will be doing this walk again on Good Friday 2012 which will be the 400th anniversary of these poor old women's arrest.

3 Continue along Heys Lane which cuts through Boothman Park.

There is a conifer wood on the right which is being felled and replaced by native deciduous trees.

On the left is a carp fishery. This is the place to pause and listen to the bird song. And with a little bit of luck you may see horses passing along the bridle path. Pass a farm on the right and at this time of year there are lots of lambs in the fields.

4 Approach the main Roughlee to Barley Road and see Thorneyholme Square on the right. These cottages were built to house cotton workers.

Turn left and ascend the steep hill with extensive fields to the right.

5 Turn right and descend to the river at Whitehough, turn sharp left and follow the course of Pendle water which is on the left.

This is a wonderful place to watch birds which love water including heron, grey wagtail, dipper and the occasional kingfisher.

It will be interesting to see how the herons and the kingfishers especially have coped with the very harsh winters of 2010-2011.

6 Approach and pass through narrowgates. This like Thorneyholme was a mill hamlet which operated for almost 200 years from 1750 onwards.

The mill house and chimney are still there and the workers cottages are in splendid repair.

Narrowgates began its life as a water powered spinning mill and the remnants of its early history can still be found.

This area should not be rushed. After a long look at Narrowgates return to the car park.

How to get there: Barky is about three miles from Nelson.

From the A628 reached from Junction 13 of the M65 go through Barrowford and turn left at the White Bear Pub to Roughlee.

Turn left at Roughlee bridge and then right again at a cross roads signed Barley, Look for the car park, café and picnic site on the right.

There is a parking fee and the area can also be reached from Downham.

Distance: About four easy miles