Outstanding natural beauty beyond the National Parks
Today just under one-tenth of the Forest of Bowland Area Natural Landscape is in the present day county of North Yorkshire, but around half the area was a part of the West Riding of Yorkshire before local government boundary changes in 1974.
Only very small areas are what we would now consider a forest landscape. The Forest of Bowland is mostly made up of areas of peat and heather moorland, beneath which is rolling pasture land and river valleys. In the distant past the moors would have had more woodland, but the name reflects the historic use of the area as a hunting ground.
Today the Forest of Bowland has an abundance of wildlife, in particular many rare species of upland birds. Its lack of towns and large villages also keeps the skies dark and a haven for star gazers.
A detached area of the Forest of Bowland National Landscape, just across the Ribble Valley from the old West Riding, contains Pendle Hill. Although a Lancashire hill, the summit offers stunning views across both the red rose and white rose counties with historic Yorkshire in sight for more than half of the 360° panorama.
Town and villages
Yorkshire places within or at the edge of the Forest of Bowland National Landscape are: Just outside are:
Visiting by train
For those wishing to reach the Forest of Bowland National Landscape by public transport from Yorkshire, the railway station at Clapham is at its edge, while Bentham, Giggleswick and Settle stations are only about a mile outside its boundary. 
Visiting by bus
A few bus services run to the edges of the Forest of Bowland area, but planning your journey and checking timetables current for the day of your visit is a must. There are very few services on some routes. One of the more regular services is the 
Other websites
Forest of Bowland National Landscape Forest of Bowland National Landscape website
Also in Yorkshire.guide