10th February 2024 - Pendle Hill
Walk Details
Distance walked: 12.9 miles
Total ascent: 1991 ft
OS map used: OL41 - Forest of Bowland & Ribblesdale and 287 - West Pennine Moors
Time taken: 7.5 hrs
Route description: Pendleton-Pendleton Road-Wiswell Eaves Farm-Wiswell Moor-Wiswell Moor Houses-The Rough-Nick of Pendle-Pendleton Moor-Deerstones-Ogden Clough-Pendle Hill-Downham Moor-Worston Moor-Mearley Moor-Pendleton Moor-Nick of Pendle-Wymondhouses-Pendleton
I've decided to stay local for my walks this weekend, the weather just isn't good enough to make the effort to drive further afield. Today it's Pendle Hill, and I'm setting off from Pendleton, which I've done a few times now for a walk up Pendle Hill. With it being just off the A59 it's easy for me to get to, and gives me the option of just taking in Pendle Hill or adding to it by taking in the moorland above Wiswell and to the south of the Nick of Pendle, which makes the route long enough to be a proper full day's walk, as it did today. The forecast was for a fine winter's day, but I was hoping for more sunshine then I got. Cloud that was meant to clear during the day hung around instead, and it was only during the middle of the afternoon when the sun was starting to set that the skies finally began to clear. The low winter sun on the moors was worth the wait. Patches and drifts of snow from a snowfall during the week were still hanging on.
After parking in Pendleton I walked along Pendleton Road towards Wiswell, before leaving it for a footpath on the left up the track to Wiswell Eaves Farm. I followed the footpath through the farmyard, up onto and across Wiswell Moor, and down to the bridleway past Wiswell Moor Houses. I followed this to the northeast, passing Wilkin Heys Farm, before leaving it to head up onto access land and a crossing of the moor to the trig point on The Rough. After a stop for lunch and to take in the view I followed the path northeast to the Nick of Pendle, crossed the road, and then made my way up across Pendleton Moor, making a short diversion to Deerstones before returning to the path to Ogden Clough. I then took the path up Ogden Clough, and the flagged path up to the trig point on the summit. From the trig point I walked north to cross the wall onto Downham Moor, then followed the path west across Downham Moor, then southwest to the Scout Cairn on Worston Moor, and then southwest across Mearley Moor to the Clayton-le-Moors Harriers cairn. I left Mearley Moor by taking a path southeast across Howcroft Brook and onto Pendleton Moor, and I then made my way down Pendleton Moor to the Nick of Pendle, where I took the path down to Wymondhouses once I'd crossed the road. Approaching Wymondhouses I took a footpath on the right that bypasses the farm and then followed it down through fields and back to Pendleton.
Total ascent: 1991 ft
OS map used: OL41 - Forest of Bowland & Ribblesdale and 287 - West Pennine Moors
Time taken: 7.5 hrs
Route description: Pendleton-Pendleton Road-Wiswell Eaves Farm-Wiswell Moor-Wiswell Moor Houses-The Rough-Nick of Pendle-Pendleton Moor-Deerstones-Ogden Clough-Pendle Hill-Downham Moor-Worston Moor-Mearley Moor-Pendleton Moor-Nick of Pendle-Wymondhouses-Pendleton
I've decided to stay local for my walks this weekend, the weather just isn't good enough to make the effort to drive further afield. Today it's Pendle Hill, and I'm setting off from Pendleton, which I've done a few times now for a walk up Pendle Hill. With it being just off the A59 it's easy for me to get to, and gives me the option of just taking in Pendle Hill or adding to it by taking in the moorland above Wiswell and to the south of the Nick of Pendle, which makes the route long enough to be a proper full day's walk, as it did today. The forecast was for a fine winter's day, but I was hoping for more sunshine then I got. Cloud that was meant to clear during the day hung around instead, and it was only during the middle of the afternoon when the sun was starting to set that the skies finally began to clear. The low winter sun on the moors was worth the wait. Patches and drifts of snow from a snowfall during the week were still hanging on.
After parking in Pendleton I walked along Pendleton Road towards Wiswell, before leaving it for a footpath on the left up the track to Wiswell Eaves Farm. I followed the footpath through the farmyard, up onto and across Wiswell Moor, and down to the bridleway past Wiswell Moor Houses. I followed this to the northeast, passing Wilkin Heys Farm, before leaving it to head up onto access land and a crossing of the moor to the trig point on The Rough. After a stop for lunch and to take in the view I followed the path northeast to the Nick of Pendle, crossed the road, and then made my way up across Pendleton Moor, making a short diversion to Deerstones before returning to the path to Ogden Clough. I then took the path up Ogden Clough, and the flagged path up to the trig point on the summit. From the trig point I walked north to cross the wall onto Downham Moor, then followed the path west across Downham Moor, then southwest to the Scout Cairn on Worston Moor, and then southwest across Mearley Moor to the Clayton-le-Moors Harriers cairn. I left Mearley Moor by taking a path southeast across Howcroft Brook and onto Pendleton Moor, and I then made my way down Pendleton Moor to the Nick of Pendle, where I took the path down to Wymondhouses once I'd crossed the road. Approaching Wymondhouses I took a footpath on the right that bypasses the farm and then followed it down through fields and back to Pendleton.
Route map
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It's a fine winter's morning in Pendleton
Leaving Pendleton and I walk south along Pendleton Road towards Wiswell
Looking across the Ribble Valley to the top of Longridge Fell poking up above the fog
The road is left behind for the footpath up to Wiswell Eaves Farm
Above Wiswell Eaves Farm
A view across the Ribble Valley to Waddington Fell in the Forest of Bowland as I head up and over Wiswell Moor
Great Hameldon in the distance as I head down to the bridleway at Wiswell Moor Houses
Making my way along the bridleway towards the Nick of Pendle..
Sabden and Black Hill to my right
Passing Wilkin Heys Farm
After a pathless ascent I arrive at the trig point on The Rough. Mist and fog in the Ribble Valley below.
The West Pennine Moors in the distance to the south
Pendle Hill and Spence Moor to the northeast
and finally, looking up the Ribble Valley to the Yorkshire Dales, which I can just make out above the top of the fog
Heading for the Nick of Pendle
Across the Nick of Pendle and on Pendleton Moor
Looking across the Ribble Valley to Longridge Fell, Parlick, Fair Snape Fell, Totridge, and Waddington Fell from Pendleton Moor
and back to the Nick of Pendle and The Rough
Before heading for Ogden Clough I've made a short detour to Deerstones. Churn Clough Reservoir, Sabden and the wooded Black Hill below, with the West Pennine Moors in the distance.
Looking across Pendleton Moor to the Forest of Bowland
The summit of Pendle Hill ahead as I approach Ogden Clough
Making my way along the path up Ogden Clough
Looking back down Ogden Clough
On my way up the flagged path to the summit
Looking back to the Ribble Valley in the distance
and across Downham Moor to the Forest of Bowland
On the summit of Pendle Hill. I can make out the Yorkshire Dales in the distance to the north, although there's some mist and patches of low cloud restricting the visibility.
The view east from Pendle Hill with the Black Moss Reservoirs, Barley, and Lower Ogden Reservoir below, and Boulsworth Hill in the distance
Twiston Moor, Rimington Moor, and Weets Hill to the northeast
Looking across Downham Moor to the Forest of Bowland
and again, having passed through the gate onto Downham Moor
Looking northeast across Twiston Moor to Weets Hill
Heading across Downham Moor
To my right, views across to the Forest of Bowland and the Yorkshire Dales, although the mist and patches of low cloud are getting in the way somewhat
Looking back to the summit of Pendle Hill, which is now in cloud
The pool on Downham Moor makes a good subject for a photo..
Heading for the gate onto Worston Moor
I can make out the distinctive profile of Ingleborough in the Yorkshire Dales as I look up the Ribble Valley from the edge of Worston Moor
Heading across Worston Moor I'll pass the circular shelter, and then it's onwards to the Scout Cairn
Looking across Clitheroe to the Forest of Bowland
Crossing Worston Moor to the Scout Cairn. Could I get some sunshine before the day is done? If those breaks in the cloud hang around then the sun should drop into them as it starts to set.
At the Scout Cairn, with Mearley Moor behind it
Looking across the Ribble Valley to the Forest of Bowland
The Ribble Valley below as I cross the top of Mearley Brook
On Mearley Moor. Looking back to the Scout Cairn and it's almost obscured by the low cloud that's now covering the top of Pendle Hill.
At the western end of Mearley Moor. Looking across Clitheroe and the Ribble Valley to the Forest of Bowland.
and across Pendleton Moor to the West Pennine Moors in the distance
Leaving the Clayton-le-Moors Harriers cairn behind
The sun breaks through and bathes the moor in a golden light..
Across Howcroft Brook and heading for Pendleton Moor
Looking back to Mearley Moor
I've got the best weather of the day as I head down Pendleton Moor to the Nick of Pendle
To my right, the view across the Ribble Valley to the Forest of Bowland..
Looking back across Pendleton Moor
Having crossed the road at the Nick of Pendle, following the path down to Wymondhouses Farm
Sunshine on Mearley Moor and Pendleton Moor
Wymondhouses Farm below as the sun starts to set
Making my way down through fields back to Pendleton