11th January 2025 - Boulsworth Hill
Walk Details
Distance walked: 8.9 miles
Total ascent: 1747 ft
OS map used: OL21 - South Pennines
Time taken: 6 hrs
Route description: Trawden Recreation Ground, Keighley Road, Trawden-Stunstead House-Higher Stunstead-Bracken Hill Farm-Wycoller-Wycoller Hall-Pennine Bridleway-Boulsworth Hill-Abbot Stone-Pennine Bridleway-Alder Hurst Head-Oaken Bank-Pasture Springs Farm-Lanehouse, Trawden-Trawden Brook-Far Wanless Farm-Near Wanless Farm-Higher Stunstead-Stunstead House- Trawden Recreation Ground, Keighley Road, Trawden
After yesterday's fantastic walk in the snow up Ingleborough I was keen to head out for another walk in it. It's going to turn milder at the end of this weekend, and who knows if there'll be any more snow this winter. Somewhere much closer to home today though, Boulsworth Hill from Trawden, via a route that I used the last time I went up it in the snow in January 2023. To make things easier for myself I took the popular path up rather than going up via Pot Brinks Moor to Great Saucer Stones. The forecast is for a fine winter's day with plenty of sunshine for most of it and light winds, but with cloud starting to move in from the west during the afternoon. It was bitterly cold when I set from Trawden in the morning and it stayed cold all day, but with the sunshine and light winds it didn't feel too bad. The hard work of walking through the knee-deep snow on the northern slopes of Boulsworth Hill certainly warmed me up. Worth it for the views from the summit.
From the car park of the Recreation Ground on Keighley Road in Trawden I crossed the road and took the footpath opposite across a field to Stunstead House at the end of Stunstead Road. I went through the gate at the end of the road, took the track to Higher Stunstead, then the footpath east across fields to Bracken Hill Farm and down to the road into Wycoller. I walked down into and through the hamlet and across the packhorse bridge, then took the Pennine Bridleway east along the track by Wycoller Beck and above Smithy Clough. I kept on the Pennine Bridleway when it turned right and made its way southwest to cross Turnhole Clough, then run above Saucer Hill Clough and below the slopes of Boulsworth Hill until it reached the concessionary footpath by the waterworks building up Boulsworth Hill. This footpath was followed up to the trig point on the summit of Boulsworth Hill. After a stop for lunch and to take in the view I made my way down by the path past the Abbot Stone and back to the Pennine Bridleway, which I briefly walked west along to reach a footpath on the right after crossing the ford over Will Moor Clough. I followed this footpath north to Alder Hurst Head, then down to Oaken Bank, from where I took a track up to Pasture Springs Farm, and a footpath on the right down through fields to Lanehouse in Trawden. I crossed the road at a bus stop, briefly walked down a cobbled lane, then took a footpath on the right down to and across Trawden Brook, then up to Far Wanless Farm. From Far Wanless Farm I followed the footpath north to Near Wanless Farm, then the track to Higher Stunstead, from where I retraced my steps to the Recreation Ground on Keighley Road.
Total ascent: 1747 ft
OS map used: OL21 - South Pennines
Time taken: 6 hrs
Route description: Trawden Recreation Ground, Keighley Road, Trawden-Stunstead House-Higher Stunstead-Bracken Hill Farm-Wycoller-Wycoller Hall-Pennine Bridleway-Boulsworth Hill-Abbot Stone-Pennine Bridleway-Alder Hurst Head-Oaken Bank-Pasture Springs Farm-Lanehouse, Trawden-Trawden Brook-Far Wanless Farm-Near Wanless Farm-Higher Stunstead-Stunstead House- Trawden Recreation Ground, Keighley Road, Trawden
After yesterday's fantastic walk in the snow up Ingleborough I was keen to head out for another walk in it. It's going to turn milder at the end of this weekend, and who knows if there'll be any more snow this winter. Somewhere much closer to home today though, Boulsworth Hill from Trawden, via a route that I used the last time I went up it in the snow in January 2023. To make things easier for myself I took the popular path up rather than going up via Pot Brinks Moor to Great Saucer Stones. The forecast is for a fine winter's day with plenty of sunshine for most of it and light winds, but with cloud starting to move in from the west during the afternoon. It was bitterly cold when I set from Trawden in the morning and it stayed cold all day, but with the sunshine and light winds it didn't feel too bad. The hard work of walking through the knee-deep snow on the northern slopes of Boulsworth Hill certainly warmed me up. Worth it for the views from the summit.
From the car park of the Recreation Ground on Keighley Road in Trawden I crossed the road and took the footpath opposite across a field to Stunstead House at the end of Stunstead Road. I went through the gate at the end of the road, took the track to Higher Stunstead, then the footpath east across fields to Bracken Hill Farm and down to the road into Wycoller. I walked down into and through the hamlet and across the packhorse bridge, then took the Pennine Bridleway east along the track by Wycoller Beck and above Smithy Clough. I kept on the Pennine Bridleway when it turned right and made its way southwest to cross Turnhole Clough, then run above Saucer Hill Clough and below the slopes of Boulsworth Hill until it reached the concessionary footpath by the waterworks building up Boulsworth Hill. This footpath was followed up to the trig point on the summit of Boulsworth Hill. After a stop for lunch and to take in the view I made my way down by the path past the Abbot Stone and back to the Pennine Bridleway, which I briefly walked west along to reach a footpath on the right after crossing the ford over Will Moor Clough. I followed this footpath north to Alder Hurst Head, then down to Oaken Bank, from where I took a track up to Pasture Springs Farm, and a footpath on the right down through fields to Lanehouse in Trawden. I crossed the road at a bus stop, briefly walked down a cobbled lane, then took a footpath on the right down to and across Trawden Brook, then up to Far Wanless Farm. From Far Wanless Farm I followed the footpath north to Near Wanless Farm, then the track to Higher Stunstead, from where I retraced my steps to the Recreation Ground on Keighley Road.
Route map
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I take the footpath opposite the Recreation Ground towards Stunstead House
Looking across the snow covered roofs of Trawden
From the end of Stunstead Road I take a footpath east across fields towards Wycoller
To my right, snowy slopes rise to Boulsworth Hill..
..and behind me, Pendle Hill in the distance
Crossing fields to Bracken Hill Farm
Great Edge, Piked Edge, and Knarrs Hill to the north
Down to Bracken Hill Farm
The hillside of Foster's Leap ahead as I follow the footpath down to Wycoller
Making my way through the hamlet of Wycoller
Wycoller Beck, and the packhorse bridge over it
The ruins of Wycoller Hall
From Wycoller I follow the Pennine Bridleway up Smithy Clough..
A waterfall on the beck beside me
Nearing the top of Smithy Clough..
..and looking back to see Pendle Hill in the distance
On the Pennine Bridleway west to Turnhole Clough
The Pennine Bridleway heads down to and across Turnhole Clough
and then west above Saucer Hill Clough..
I usually make my way up Pot Brinks Moor to Great Saucer Stones to ascend Boulsworth Hill, but today I'm taking the shortest route up via the concessionary path from a waterworks building. It leaves the bridleway just before reaching the line of trees on the left.
Looking back down towards Trawden as I start the climb up Boulsworth Hill..
..and across the northern slopes of Boulsworth Hill to Wolf Stones in the distance
As I gain height I have an increasingly extensive view across the nearby moors to the Yorkshire Dales, and to Pendle Hill..
Penyghent, Fountains Fell, Buckden Pike, and Great Whernside in the distance beyond the moors around Lothersdale
I can clearly make out Ingleborough and Penyghent in the distance to the north
Pendle Hill, Twiston Moor, Burn Moor, and White Moor in the distance, with Trawden and Colne below
Approaching Weather Stones. It's been hard work walking up here in the knee-deep snow.
At the Weather Stones as I make my way to the summit
Wolf Stones and Crow Hill to the east from Weather Stones
The moors around Calderdale to the south
The final approach to the summit, and none too soon. It looks like I won't be in sunshine much longer.
At the trig point on Boulsworth Hill with Pendle Hill in the distance to the northwest
Looking north across the Forest of Trawden to Colne, White Moor, Kelbrook Moor, and to Ingleborough and Penyghent in the distance
Wolf Stones and Crow Hill to the east
Stanbury Moor and Oxenhope Moor to the southeast
Looking south across across the moors around Hebden Bridge and Calderdale
Dove Stones, Heptonstall Moor, and Hoof Stones Height
Hoof Stones Height and Thieveley Pike to the southwest
Leaving the trig point behind
I follow the footpath north down the moor and past the Abbot Stone to the Pennine Bridleway....
A brief walk west along the Pennine Bridleway
I leave the Pennine Bridleway and take the footpath to Alder Hurst Head..
Bright sunshine as I look back to Boulsworth Hill
I leave Oaken Bank via a track up to Pasture Springs Farm
Looking back to Oaken Bank and Boulsworth Hill as I walk up the track to Pasture Springs Farm..
Following the track and just past Pasture Springs Farm I'll take a footpath on the right down to Trawden..
The sun disappears behind the cloud for good
Following the footpath down through fields to Trawden
Boulsworth Hill in the distance from the footpath down to Trawden Brook
On the footpath to Near Wanless Farm
From Near Wanless Farm I take the track to Higher Stunstead
and from Stunstead House I take the footpath back towards the Recreation Ground
Gloomy skies over Trawden. Quite a contrast to this morning.