River Calder

The River Calder winds for 21 kilometres through the Forest of Bowland in Lancashire. It begins near Fiendsdale Head and flows west then south past small villages such as Oakenclough and Calder Vale. The river passes under the M6 motorway, the West Coast Main Line railway and the Calder Aqueduct on the Lancaster Canal. Near Garstang it meets the River Wyre at Catterall, marking the boundary between two parishes. The Calder shares its name with another Lancashire river that flows into the Ribble. The Calder’s flow is managed by several structures along its course. A siphon near the M6 takes water into the Lancaster Canal, sometimes removing the entire river flow downstream. Barnacre and Grizedale Lea Reservoirs, built in the 19th century west of Oakenclough, can also capture the upper Calder’s water during dry spells. These controls help supply canals and villages but leave the lower river vulnerable when rainfall is low. The river’s name comes from old words meaning ‘hard and violent water’. Visitors follow quiet lanes and footpaths beside the Calder through rolling countryside. The riverbank paths pass stone bridges and old farm buildings near Oakenclough and Calder Vale. Near Catterall the river widens as it approaches its meeting with the Wyre. Anglers and walkers use the gentle trails, while the canal aqueduct offers a viewpoint over the water. The landscape is peaceful, with moorland views and scattered woodland along the valley.