River Brock

The River Brock rises on Fair Snape Fell in the Forest of Bowland. It flows south past ancient stone circles and quiet villages such as Claughton and Bilsborrow. Near St Michael’s on Wyre the river meets the River Wyre after a journey of about twenty kilometres. Along its middle course it marks the northern edge of Preston. The landscape around the Brock is mostly farmland and moorland with scattered farmsteads. Several smaller streams feed the Brock, including Dean Brook and Swill Brook from the east and Bull Brook from the west. These tributaries add water from the surrounding hills and fields. The river’s name appears in old land records dating back to the 17th century. Local mills once harnessed its steady flow for grinding corn and fulling cloth. Visitors can walk parts of the riverbank where paths follow the water through open countryside. The route passes old packhorse bridges and stone walls built by 18th-century farmers. From higher ground there are views across the valley towards the Bowland fells. The sound of water and birdsong replaces the noise of towns. The Brock remains a quiet waterway, little changed by modern development.