In praise of... the Forest of Bowland | Editorial

# Geography

# Northern Ireland

# Ordnance Survey

The Forest of Bowland is one of the most enchanting landscapes of the land of which it's the (probable) centre

The claim made in last week's Guardian that Lancaster is the geographical centre of the UK has inevitably been disputed, not least by Haltwhistle, Northumberland, home of the Centre of Britain hotel. The UK, of course, is not the same as Great Britain, since it also includes Northern Ireland. Even so, the best claim to this honour in Britain is surely that of the Lancashire village of Dunsop Bridge in the Forest of Bowland, which not only has a plaque attached to its telephone box commemorating this achievement but has won the decisive endorsement of the Ordnance Survey, which says that the true location is a nearby spot called Whitendale Hanging Stones. It's well worth going to look at it. Even if you do not care in the slightest where Britain's reputed centre might be, you'll discover the Forest of Bowland, one of the most enchanting, and undercelebrated, landscapes of the land of which it's the (probable) centre.

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