The B6478 runs through the heart of the Forest of Bowland on the boundary of Lancashire and Yorkshire. The road was originally unclassified but gained its number in the mid-1930s.
The road starts at a roundabout on the northern side of Clitheroe town centre, where it meets the A671 and B6243. It heads west along Well Terrace and crosses another roundabout. Soon a low railway bridge (on the rarely used line from Clitheroe to Hellifield) is seen; the road bears round to the left into the town centre but the B6478 TOTSOs right to go under the railway and presently leaves town. It then crosses a narrow bridge over the River Ribble.
After skirting the grounds of Waddow Hall we go through the village of Waddington, where a stream (which we cross twice) runs alongside the road, meaning the buildings on that side are set back somewhat. We soon get back to open fields, after which the road starts to climb steeply onto the fells. At the top of the hill we cross a cattle grid and descend over the open moorland before another cattle grid is reached as the surroundings become more field-like. The road continues to descend and presently crosses the River Hodder to enter Newton-in-Bowland where we reach a T-junction. The unclassified road to the left crosses the Trough of Bowland and eventually ends up in Lancaster but we TOTSO right.
After leaving the village we climb out of the valley then follow the Hodder upstream. The road descends back into the valley and narrows to enter Slaidburn. It squeezes past the churchyard before following Church Street into the village centre. By the pub, post office and youth hostel there's a sharp, blind right-hand bend signposted Settle. We pass the war memorial and the village car park before crossing the Hodder again.
The road becomes S2 once more as it climbs out of the valley via a hairpin and returns to the open fields. We then cross a steep, narrow valley and go through the village of Tosside. A couple more miles of descent - and more bends - later we reach the next village, Wrigglesworth. The road narrows on leaving the village and reaches Ribblesdale, soon crossing the river, which has taken a more easterly course similar to the shorter Class I route between our road's two end points. The road becomes S2 again on the far side and crosses the flood plain. We zigzag over the Long Preston Beck before going over the Leeds to Lancaster/Carlisle railway line above Long Preston station. The road now becomes lined with buildings and narrows to end at a T-junction on the A65 in the village centre.
_Anthony_Parkes_-_Geograph_-_3492263.jpg)
