Dunsop Head, Whitendale and the Salter Fell Road, from Slaidburn (12.5 miles, strenuous)

A 12.5 mile strenuous walk.  We meet at the car park in Slaidburn.  The walk passes through the village and just over a mile along the road before starting to climb into the fells.  Passing across past Dunsop Head, we traverse some boggy moorland before descending into Whitendale.  We pass the farm, soon stopping for a well-deserved lunch break.  Renourished, we then progress along a track alongside the Whitendale River.  We then turn uphill - this is the most difficult part of the walk, passing firstly through a boggy area before ascending along narrow paths, partly hidden in places by bracken  - walking pole(s) are therefore strongly recommended - after about 2 miles, we finally reach the Roman Road (Hornby Road), following this for about 3 miles downhill, finally reaching Wood Lane.  Deviating from the tracks and roads, we pass through farmland and then woodland, reappearing on the road into Slaidburn (adjacent to the Medical Centre) before retracing our steps back to the car park.  Finally, there is the option of a refreshing drink at the Hark to Bounty in the village.