A breathtaking village, only 90 minutes from Liverpool, which was once full of life and energy, with a flourishing community at its heart, now sits almost entirely deserted — and the story behind its decline is truly heartbreaking.
What was formerly a bustling settlement, packed with homes and residents, has been reduced to little more than a flooded hollow, an ancient monument, and a walking trail.
Stocks-in-Bowland is a forsaken village in Lancashire that met a devastating end. Nestled in the Dalehead Valley within the Forest of Bowland, Stocks was once home to a lively and close-knit community.
Today, the hollow amid the rich, verdant landscape is submerged beneath the waters of Stocks Reservoir, which sits at the head of the Hodder Valley.
The striking Stocks Reservoir now supplies water predominantly to the Fylde Coast and Blackpool, while also serving as a haven for fly fishing clubs, weekend walkers, and mountain bikers, its picturesque surroundings serving as a constant reminder of what once stood there.
Lost and Abandoned Village
The village of Stocks was deserted in 1932, several years after construction began on the Stocks Reservoir in 1923, which was commissioned by the Fylde Water Board to deliver water to the Fylde Coast.
The scheme, which involved building a dam across the upper Hodder, resulted in the desertion of numerous farms and the displacement of local residents, with the hamlet of Stocks bearing the brunt of the consequences. The construction and subsequent effort to get the reservoir operational involved flooding the village of Stocks in 1932.
Vast portions of the surrounding farmland were entirely wiped out, and in 1938, St James' Church became the sole structure in the village to be taken apart and reconstructed at its present site. Those buried in the original churchyard were exhumed and reinterred in the current graveyard.
This historic church remains visible to this day at the back of the car park where the well-known Stocks Circular Path originates.
With approximately 344 acres of the valley submerged in total, there is scarcely any trace of the once-thriving village of Stocks-in-Bowland, the verdant green valley making it easy to forget the hamlet ever existed.
Stocks Reservoir Circular Walk
While the loss of the village was a significant blow to the county of Lancashire, there is a silver lining to be found amid the poignant circumstances.
A breathtaking circular hiking trail now exists where the village of Stocks-in-Bowland once stood, immersing walkers in the heart of nature and offering spectacular vistas.
The remarkable circular walking route encompassing Stocks Reservoir starts from Gisburn Forest — which is, perhaps surprisingly, a genuine woodland within the Forest of Bowland — and lies very close to the abandoned and long-lost village of Stocks.
Stretching approximately eight miles (or 13 kilometres), the Stocks Reservoir Circular Path takes between 4 to 4.5 hours to complete and is regarded as a moderate-level hiking trail.
The trail is regarded as one of Lancashire's finest locations for birdwatching, with an abundance of waders and wildfowl visible across the water, while also drawing an impressive variety of species to the woodland habitats situated along the route.
The walk showcases some of Lancashire's most beautiful and picturesque paths, providing an ideal combination of terrains and spectacular scenery, and will guide you on a complete circuit of the Stocks Reservoir.
The 8-mile loop around the reservoir is remarkably straightforward, and it's also considered one of the finest walks for dogs. The dry summer months are the ideal time to tackle this magnificent trail, as certain sections are prone to becoming extremely muddy, so the drier conditions the better. Walkers are recommended to wear suitable footwear for this route.
The trail itself is well signposted with white arrows on a light blue backdrop, making the walk relatively easy overall, albeit with two notable inclines.
The circular route comprises a combination of grass and stone tracks and paths traversing fields and passing through woodland. Walkers will come across steps, footbridges, a handful of stiles, gates, and kissing gates during this ramble, and those fortunate enough might even catch sight of grazing cattle and sheep.
The reservoir itself serves as a highly significant habitat for wildlife, particularly birds, with its waters representing one of the most crucial sites in North West England for wildfowl.
During winter, the reservoir becomes a hub of activity, with more than 30 species of birds recorded in the vicinity, including uncommon species such as the Whooper Swan, Ring-Necked and Long-Tailed Ducks, Red Throated Diver, and Gadwall.
Large numbers of Wigeon, Tufted Duck and Canada Geese, Mallard, Teal, and Pochard are consistently observed.
A Hiker's Dream
Boasting an impressive 4.4 out of 5 rating on AllTrails, the Stocks Reservoir Circular Path is a walker's dream, with one reviewer commenting: "Lovely walk and easy to park, we saw horses, cows, donkeys, an alpaca and a pheasant. There were quite a few places where you had to walk through fields of cows and also cross a railway."
Another rambler said about the route: "Very nice trail, lots of variations in terrain and scenery. Dog friendly, although you do pass livestock so will need to put your dog on a lead at points. Expected more elevation, but only hit 190m following the trail."
While one delighted walker commented: "Lovely walk. Beautifully varied countryside, breathtaking views. There were a LOT of calves and cows today, some of which were very active and I admit I was scared to go on a couple of the footpaths because of them. Luckily, I was able to work out a detour back to where I had parked."
