As Autumn begins to take over from summer (what summer?) trips into countryside do need a little more planning.

One place which never disappoints is Barley.

There is excellent parking, toilets, picnic tables, a lovely little stream, an excellent tea shop and a pub.

From the car park there are footpaths leading out in all directions, a riverside stroll to Roughlee, a choice of three reservoir strolls and for the more energetic there is Pendle itself!

The wildlife never disappoints especially in the colder months of the year where ducks and geese abound.

From the end of September onwards the birds have completed their moult and their plumage is seen at its best.

Not only are there ducks such as tufted, pochard, wigeon and goldeneye but these are also great crested grebes, dabchicks, coot, moorhen and heron. Autumn is the time when populations are at the highest levels as the breeding season has just ended and the winter pressures have yet to be felt.

Several visits to Pendleside will never disappoint the walker, stroller or naturalist.