13th October 2024 - Twiston Moor and Pendle Hill
Walk Details
Distance walked: 14.1 miles
Total ascent: 2340 ft
OS map used: OL41 - Forest of Bowland & Ribblesdale
Time taken: 8 hrs
Route description: Downham-Twiston-Smithy Fold-Twiston Moor-Black Moss Road-Lower Black Moss Reservoir-Barley-Barley Fold-Newchurch in Pendle-Pendle Way-Saddlers Height-Driver Height-Spence Moor-Deerstones-Ogden Clough-Pendle Hill-Downham Moor-Worston Moor-Burst Clough-West Lane-Downham
For my walk this weekend I've decided to stay local and make the short drive across to the village of Downham. I first walked from Downham across Twiston Moor to Barley and then back across Pendle Hill last year, in fact I did it twice. Having really enjoyed it the first time, I made the route a little bit longer for the second occasion to make the most of the good weather that day, and stay up on the moors as much as possible. That's the route that I decided to do today, or a variation of it with a change to how I got to the top of Pendle Hill and then back to Downham. The forecast was for a fine autumn day, although I wasn't expecting wall-to-wall blue skies and sunshine. It turned out to be quite grey at times with a lot of high and medium level cloud making any sunshine hazy, although I was lucky to get some bright sunshine as I was crossing Twiston Moor to Barley in the morning. This meant that I had some great views across to the Forest of Bowland and the Yorkshire Dales.
From the car park in Downham I made my way to Pendle Road and then along Town End Road to take a footpath east across fields to Twiston Beck, then up to Hill Foot Farm and the hamlet of Twiston. After a brief walk south along the road through Twiston I turned left and took the lane to Smithy Fold, then from the end of the lane a track up onto Twiston Moor. I then made my way south across Twiston Moor using a footpath to a stile in the wall at the southern end of the moor, which after crossing I turned right and followed the footpath to Black Moss Road. There was then a brief walk west along Black Moss Road to take a permissive path on the left down to Lower Black Moss Reservoir, and from there I walked down a track from the reservoir to the village of Barley. After a break for lunch in Barley I briefly walked south up Cross Lane to take a bridleway on the left at Bridge End, then a footpath on the right up a field to Barley Fold and along a track to Cross Lane, which I walked down into Newchurch-in-Pendle. I left Newchurch-in-Pendle by taking the Pendle Way west up onto Saddlers Height, but the trail was soon left as I kept to the moorland by following the footpath west across Driver Height, up and across Spence Moor, and to Deerstones. Once I'd taken in the view from Deerstones I made my way north into and up Ogden Clough, and then up the flagged path to the trig point on the summit. From the trig point I made my way north to the gate in the wall onto Downham Moor, and then west across the moor to a gate which I went through onto Worston Moor. I walked southwest across the moor past the circular shelter to reach the Scout Cairn, which was my cue to head down. A path traverses the side of the hill and down by Burst Clough to reach the road end by Angram Green. I then walked north and east along West Lane back to Downham.
Total ascent: 2340 ft
OS map used: OL41 - Forest of Bowland & Ribblesdale
Time taken: 8 hrs
Route description: Downham-Twiston-Smithy Fold-Twiston Moor-Black Moss Road-Lower Black Moss Reservoir-Barley-Barley Fold-Newchurch in Pendle-Pendle Way-Saddlers Height-Driver Height-Spence Moor-Deerstones-Ogden Clough-Pendle Hill-Downham Moor-Worston Moor-Burst Clough-West Lane-Downham
For my walk this weekend I've decided to stay local and make the short drive across to the village of Downham. I first walked from Downham across Twiston Moor to Barley and then back across Pendle Hill last year, in fact I did it twice. Having really enjoyed it the first time, I made the route a little bit longer for the second occasion to make the most of the good weather that day, and stay up on the moors as much as possible. That's the route that I decided to do today, or a variation of it with a change to how I got to the top of Pendle Hill and then back to Downham. The forecast was for a fine autumn day, although I wasn't expecting wall-to-wall blue skies and sunshine. It turned out to be quite grey at times with a lot of high and medium level cloud making any sunshine hazy, although I was lucky to get some bright sunshine as I was crossing Twiston Moor to Barley in the morning. This meant that I had some great views across to the Forest of Bowland and the Yorkshire Dales.
From the car park in Downham I made my way to Pendle Road and then along Town End Road to take a footpath east across fields to Twiston Beck, then up to Hill Foot Farm and the hamlet of Twiston. After a brief walk south along the road through Twiston I turned left and took the lane to Smithy Fold, then from the end of the lane a track up onto Twiston Moor. I then made my way south across Twiston Moor using a footpath to a stile in the wall at the southern end of the moor, which after crossing I turned right and followed the footpath to Black Moss Road. There was then a brief walk west along Black Moss Road to take a permissive path on the left down to Lower Black Moss Reservoir, and from there I walked down a track from the reservoir to the village of Barley. After a break for lunch in Barley I briefly walked south up Cross Lane to take a bridleway on the left at Bridge End, then a footpath on the right up a field to Barley Fold and along a track to Cross Lane, which I walked down into Newchurch-in-Pendle. I left Newchurch-in-Pendle by taking the Pendle Way west up onto Saddlers Height, but the trail was soon left as I kept to the moorland by following the footpath west across Driver Height, up and across Spence Moor, and to Deerstones. Once I'd taken in the view from Deerstones I made my way north into and up Ogden Clough, and then up the flagged path to the trig point on the summit. From the trig point I made my way north to the gate in the wall onto Downham Moor, and then west across the moor to a gate which I went through onto Worston Moor. I walked southwest across the moor past the circular shelter to reach the Scout Cairn, which was my cue to head down. A path traverses the side of the hill and down by Burst Clough to reach the road end by Angram Green. I then walked north and east along West Lane back to Downham.
Route map
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It's a fine autumnal morning as I set off from the village of Downham
Leaving Downham beside Downham Beck
Pendle Hill rises to my right
Heading east across fields towards Twiston
To my left, Easington Fell on the other side of the Ribble Valley
On the footpath down to and across Twiston Beck, then up to Twiston..
Looking south across the valley of Twiston Beck to Pendle Hill
In the hamlet of Twiston
From Twiston I walk along the lane to Smithy Fold
I have a view across the Ribble Valley to Ingleborough and Penyghent from it
and across to Ingleborough as I look back from up the footpath onto Twiston Moor
Pendle Hill ahead as I follow the track up onto the moor
There's a fantastic view across to the Forest of Bowland and the Yorkshire Dales from it this morning...
Pendle Hill as I reach Twiston Moor
Looking across the Ribble Valley to Ingleborough
Following the footpath south across Twiston Moor
Pendle Hill looms large to my right
After a short walk west along Black Moss Road I take a footpath on the left..
..and then a track down to Lower Black Moss Reservoir
Pendle Hill from Lower Black Moss Reservoir. Light winds mean some great reflections.
Autumnal colours at the picnic site in Barley
After a stop for lunch in Barley, I'm on the track up from Bridge End, which has a good view across to Pendle Hill.
I take the footpath up to Barley Fold
Pendle Hill from Barley Fold
Newchurch-in-Pendle as I leave it behind by taking the Pendle Way
Heading west across Saddlers Height
A bit further on and Ogden Clough comes into view
Onto the rough moorland of Driver Height
and to my right, the eastern face of Pendle Hill
Views to the south to Great Hameldon above Accrington
Looking back to Saddlers Height from Driver Height
Across the stile onto Spence Moor
Looking southeast to Boulsworth Hill, Hoof Stones Height, and Thieveley Pike, above Colne, Nelson, and Burnley
Crossing Spence Moor and the Forest of Bowland appears ahead
A short diversion to Deerstones to take in the view of Churn Clough Reservoir, Black Hill and Sabden, with the West Pennine Moors in the distance
The Rough, Pendleton Moor, and the Ribble Valley
The view across Pendleton Moor to the Forest of Bowland
Heading for Ogden Clough
Ogden Clough as I follow the path upstream
On the flagged path to the summit from Ogden Clough
Looking back to Ogden Clough with the Ribble Valley in the distance
At the trig point on the summit of Pendle Hill
The view to the east to Boulsworth Hill in the distance, with the Black Moss Reservoirs, Barley, and Lower Ogden Reservoir below
Twiston Moor and Rimington Moor below, with the moors above Wharfedale and Airedale in the distance
The Forest of Bowland in the distance beyond Downham Moor
Twiston Moor, Rimington Moor, and Weets Hill from the eastern end of Downham Moor
Heading west across Downham Moor
Taking in the view across to the Forest of Bowland and the Yorkshire Dales..
Looking back to the summit from Downham Moor
The pool on Downham Moor provides a foreground for a view to Ingleborough and Penyghent in the distance
and across the Ribble Valley to the Forest of Bowland
Looking across Spence Moor to the West Pennine Moors in the distance
Heading across Worston Moor to the circular shelter
Views from the edge of Worston Moor across the Ribble Valley and Clitheroe to the Forest of Bowland..
..and to Ingleborough and Penyghent in the Yorkshire Dales
Making my way across Worston Moor to the Scout Cairn
Mearley Moor from the Scout Cairn
and the fells of the Forest of Bowland on the other side of the Ribble Valley
From the Scout Cairn I take the path down Worston Moor and by Burst Clough...
The limestone knoll of Worsaw Hill below
The northern slopes of Pendle Hill from West Lane
Walking along West Lane to Downham
Back in Downham