Day 7 South Of Warrington To Forest Of Bowland

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(Posting a day later as didn't have internet yesterday). Today was mostly flat and relatively easy going for the first 3/4, then going up to the wonderful Forest of Bowland. Highlights were seeing Mohammed Al-Kahlidi for an early lunch in Horwich (Mohammed happend to be traveling nearby), passing over the Manchester ship canal (it's huge), climbing over Saddleworth Moor in the clouds (didn't see evidence of the recent fire) and finally arriving at the Forest of Bowland. I was planning to camp wild but was advised against it (they are strict about moving campers on, it is mostly a hunting estate or farms). Consequently, I had to double back up some steep climbs to a farm that allowed camping in a back field. The farm owner (Crawshaw Farm) insisted she donate the camp fees to my charities which was kind. I was the only person there and had a great view of sunset over Bowland. The Forest of Bowland was definitely one of the highlights so far, a fantastic place and great cycling country (cyclists love hills! And they're steep in Bowland but not too steep, unlike Cornwall...).

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