I have always loved this walk from the day I was asked to open the Feardean Way some ways ago.

I do the walk at least twice a year, once in the autumn and the other in spring.

From the car park follow the footpath, keeping Colne Water on the right.

Pass a weir and a concrete bridge with ponds that were once part of the Ball Grove Tannery, which was one of the largest in Europe. It was set up by John and William Sagar in 1860 and at one time employed more than 300. Colne Water was used to provide 100,000 gallons of water each day which was stored in ponds called lodges. The tannery operated until 1970 when it went bankrupt and in 1974 work began to develop a country park.

At the top lodge cross Colne Water by means of a wooden bridge. Climb a set of steps and follow an obvious flagged path. Pass two more bridges and then on towards Laneshawbridge.

Cross the Keighley Road and find a stile on the opposite side. Cross this and follow the path alongside the stream. A look at this OS map will reveal that Colne Water now becomes Wycoller Beck. In the background is Boulsworth Hill. Cross a stile and look sharp left. In a wooded area in the distance is all that is left of Emmot Hall.

Cross two more stiles and turn left alongside a wall. Cross a stile, which will challenge those who have a little excess weight to carry, and then turn right. Two more stiles lead to a lane. Cross a bridge and turn left past Lane Ends Farm, which dates from the 17th century. Turn left into Wycoller.

Go over the Packhorse Bridge and approach Wycoller Hall. Although now a ruin, the building is still inspirational. Without doubt this was the model for Charlotte Bronte’s book Jane Eyre, which features Ferndean Manor. This is the end of the three-mile-long Feardean Way and some walkers prefer to retrace their steps from here. My walk, however, was a different return route.

The area around Wycoller Hall is the ideal base from which to explore the Country Park. Look for the old cruck barn which serves as an information point explaining the history of Wycoller at a time when it was a busy village making its living from handloom weaving and farming.

Returning from the barn, cross the Clapper Bridge. Turn right and pass through the hamlet with the tea shop on the right. Ascend the footpath to the car park.

From the car park turn left and keep to the right side of Wycoller Road. Look for the sign and follow the footpath towards Slack Farm on the right. Go over a stile through a wall to the right. Follow the edge of a field and cross a stile into another field. Head towards the farm buildings at Southeril Laith. Traverse a farmyard area and cross Keighley Road.

Cross a wall stile close to a disused quarry and go through a gate which leads to lane top. Winenall descend into winenall passing the Cotton Tree Inn on the right.

Cross the bridge over Colne Water and turn right to reach the starting point.