The Nicky Nook Walk is a fantastic short circular walk in the Forest of Bowland Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB). Located next to the town of Scorton, Nicky Nook Fell is a small fell that’s easy and fun to explore. Additionally, a visit to Nicky Nook isn’t just about the awesome walk. Starting near Wyresdale Park, the rural estate and working farm features some excellent places to visit such as the charming Applestore Cafe. In this guide, we’re going to tell you everything you need to know about the Nicky Nook Walk and visiting Wyresdale Park afterwards.
Anyway, before you read this guide, feel free to watch our Forest of Bowland hiking video (coming soon).
We hope you find this guide helpful. For other Forest of Bowland walking routes, read our guides about the Pendle Hill Walk, Trough of Bowland Walk and the Beacon Fell Walk. Feel free to also read our Forest of Bowland Walking Guide and our huge Forest of Bowland Visitor’s Guide.
Table of Contents
What Is Nicky Nook?
Nicky Nook is a small fell that’s 214 metres above sea level. When it comes to Forest of Bowland fells, Nicky Nook is one of the easiest to reach. Certainly, many fells in the Forest of Bowland are higher, sometimes providing even more spectacular views. But, many of these fells are harder to reach and require patience and hard work to navigate boggy terrain.
To that end, Nicky Nook is simple and quick to reach. Even after heavy spells of rain, in the midst of winter, the Nicky Nook Walk doesn’t become too much of a boggy quagmire. With this in mind, the Nicky Nook Walk is one of the few walks in the Forest of Bowland that we’d call an all-seasons or year-round walk.
So, where exactly is Nicky Nook located?
Where Is Nicky Nook?
Nicky Nook is located on the western side of the Forest of Bowland AONB, near Scorton and Garstang. To access Nicky Nook, you’ll need to drive through the quaint village of Scorton. You’ll then arrive at Wyresdale Park, where you’ll find the lovely Applestore Cafe. In terms of Nicky Nook parking, there are a few options that we’ll cover later in the How to Get to Scorton and Where to Park section.
Nicky Nook Walk: Route Information
- Type: Loop
- Distance: 5.5km (3.4 miles)
- Time: 1.5–2 hours
- Accumulated elevation gain: 210m
- Difficulty: Easy
- Nicky Nook Walk postcode: PR3 1BA
- Trailhead: Wyresdale Park or Higher Lane
- Nicky Nook Walk Map: AllTrails
Nicky Nook Walk: Trail Description
The Nicky Nook Walk starts next to the village of Scorton at Wyresdale Park near Applestore Cafe. Although, you can pass by Applestore Cafe and Wyresdale Park and park right next to the trailhead on Church Lane.
Either way, on Church Lane, you’ll find a gate, where you’ll start an immediate steep ascent towards Nicky Nook. Certainly, the steep start will get your heart racing. Don’t forget to turn around to admire the increasingly nice views of Scorton and Wyresdale Park. Soon, you’ll pass by a splendid tarn, before continuing a more gentle ascent to the Nicky Nook trig point. On a clear day, you can enjoy views as far as the Lake District fells and Morecambe Bay.
After admiring the views from the modest summit of Nicky Nook, you’ll continue the walk towards Grizedale Reservoir. You’ll find a stepped path leading down to the reservoir. Basically, at the end of the trail, you’ll cross a stile, turn right, and walk along a wide lane located next to the reservoir. You’ll enjoy a quaint forest setting as you walk adjacent to the river.
Personally, Beck and I did the Nicky Nook Walk in early May. So, you know what that means – bluebell season! Indeed, you’ll find patches of bluebells and other wildflowers alongside the reservoir. Eventually, the trail leads away from the reservoir, towards Higher Lane. This is where we found long stretches of pretty bluebells.
After passing many bluebells, we then arrived at Higher Lane. To return to Wyresdale Park, you’ll turn right, following Higher Lane, until reaching the trailhead. This signals the end of the Nicky Nook Walk. Now, it’s time to explore more of Wyresdale Park and head to Applestore Cafe.
Wyresdale Park
Wyresdale Park is a working farm and country estate, which also functions as a wedding venue. At Wyresdale Park, you’ll also find shops, a lake and a glamping area. Below, we’ll focus on our two favourite things we did at Wyresdale Park that we recommend doing after finishing the Nicky Nook Walk.
Wyresdale Park: Woodland Garden Walk
The Woodland Garden Walk is a short forest trail between Applestore Cafe and Paul Williams Woodcraft house. It also connects the Applestore overflow parking area with Applestore Cafe. In reality, the Woodland Garden Walk is only a short trail that’s not overly extraordinary. But, it’s a great way to experience more natural surroundings in the area. And, it’s the logical trail to adjoin the Nicky Nook Walk with the Applestore Cafe.
Applestore Cafe
The Applestore Cafe is undoubtedly one of the nicest eateries in Scorton. The cafe is nestled in a peaceful forest and garden, offering a brilliant natural ambience. Certainly, we recommend visiting Applestore Cafe after doing the Nicky Nook Walk.
How to Get to Scorton and Where to Park
The simplest and quickest way to get to Wyresdale Park for the Nicky Nook Walk is to drive there yourself.
As mentioned, there are a few options for parking. Officially, there isn’t a Nicky Nook Walk Car Park as such. There is parking opposite Applestore Cafe and a cafe overflow car park located here. Strictly speaking, parking at either of these locations is only meant for visitors to Applestore Cafe. But, many people use the overflow car park for the Nicky Nook Walk as it’s located near the trailhead. Both of these parking options are free. Personally, Beck and I parked at the overflow car park for Applestore Cafe as we visited the cafe after doing the walk. Well, that was our justification anyway!
Otherwise, you can find free street parking on Higher Lane, near the trailhead for the Nicky Nook Walk. We found many people parked there that were doing the walk. Parking here seemed to have no affiliation with Wyresdale Park.
If you don’t have your own set of wheels, we recommend hiring a car using Rentalcars.com. You’ll find a wide variety of cars on Rental Cars for good prices. The website is user-friendly and booking online is super easy.
It’s possible to get to Wyresdale Park using public transport. You can get a train to Preston and then a bus to Scorton. From Scorton, you’re looking at an approx. 2.5km walk to get to Wyresdale Park to start the Nicky Nook Walk described above. Feel free to check the train times and prices here. We recommend using Trainline and Google Maps to help plan your journey.
Despite public transport being an option, we recommend driving (if that’s possible) as it’s much less time-consuming.
Other Walks in the Forest of Bowland
Other than the Nicky Nook Walk, there are many other excellent Forest of Bowland walks to consider. Below, you’ll find a list of the best walks in the Forest of Bowland.
- Pendle Hill Walk: the most popular walk in the Forest of Bowland.
- Trough of Bowland Walk: experience the tremendous Trough of Bowland by doing this exceptional circular walk.
- Stocks Reservoir Walk: located near Gisburn Forest, Stocks Reservoir is a lovely reservoir worth walking around.
- Bowland Knotts: a superb place to visit for sunrise.
- Clougha Pike Walk: one of our favourite walks in the Forest of Bowland.
- Parlick Fell Circular Walk: a great walk that takes in Parlick Fell and Fair Snape Fell.
- Beacon Fell Walk: another popular Bowland fell to explore.
- Longridge Fell Walk: a worthwhile short fell walk.
- Wolfhole Crag and Wards Stone Walk: a challenging walk in a remote part of the Forest of Bowland.
FAQs
Below, you’ll find the most frequently asked questions about the Nicky Nook Walk.
Where Does the Nicky Nook Walk Start?
This depends on where you park for the Nicky Nook Walk. We’ve explained all of the parking options here.
How Long Is the Nicky Nook Walk?
The walk is approx. 5.5km (3.4 miles) long, which takes around two hours to complete.
How High Is Nicky Nook?
It’s 214 metres above sea level.
Hiking Essentials
These are our five hiking gear essentials for the Nicky Nook Walk.
- Merrell Moab Mid Gore-Tex Hiking Boots: these hiking boots are super comfortable and lightweight.
- The North Face Venture Jacket: a fantastic windproof/waterproof jacket.
- Osprey Skarab 30L Day Backpack: a great backpack for hiking, which has plenty of space to store your gear.
- The North Face TKA Glacier Fleece Jacket: an excellent warmth:weight ratio fleece jacket that’ll help keep you warm.
- Columbia Convertible Trousers: a value for money pair of water-resistant convertible trousers.
Make sure to also pack plenty of water, snacks, sunscreen and a hat! For a longer hiking gear list, check out our 66 Travel Items You Must Travel With. For a general list of everything else you’d need for travelling, read our Packing Checklist.
Bonus Tips
- Visit Scorton village: after doing the walk and visiting Applestore Cafe, you should then visit the gorgeous village of Scorton. In particular, The Barn at Scorton has a great reputation and serves up sensational ice cream.
- Explore more of Lancashire: there are plenty of other fantastic walks in the county of Lancashire. In particular, the West Pennine Moors have many underrated trails such as Rivington Pike.
- See other national parks in the northwest of England: don’t just explore the Forest of Bowland and Lancashire. Make sure to also check out the Lake District, Peak District and Yorkshire Dales (you should definitely do the Ingleton Falls Trail – guide coming soon).
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