14th June 2020 - Bowland Knotts and Catlow Fell
Walk Details
Distance walked: 12.7 miles
Total ascent: 1964 ft
OS map used: OL41 - Forest of Bowland & Ribblesdale
Time taken: 6.5 hrs
Route description: School Lane, Gisburn Forest-New House-Pike Side-Bowland Knotts-Cold Stone-Catlow Fell-Cross of Greet-Lythe Fell Road-Cross of Greet Bridge-Lythe Fell Road-Copped Hill Clough-New House-School Lane, Gisburn Forest
I haven't down much walking in the Forest of Bowland during the past couple of years, so when working out where to go this weekend it found itself at the top of the list. The northeastern corner of the AONB around Bowland Knotts is one of my favourite places and with a forecast of fine summer weather I should have a great day on the fells. In fact, it was a fantastic day for a walk on the fells with lots of blue skies and warm sunshine, and with great visibility I had fantastic views, ranging from the Lake District fells and the Yorkshire Dales, to Pendle Hill and the South Pennines. Walking in the Forest of Bowland can be a challenge at times with the amount of boggy ground to negotiate, but with the dry spring and recent warm weather I had firm ground underfoot for most of the time. I couldn't park in the main car park for Stocks Reservoir as it was full, so I ended up parking in a small parking area up School Lane. I've never seen it so busy!
From the parking area on School Lane I walked down School Lane to the main car park at the bottom of the hill and took the footpath north along the track through the woodland of Gisburn Forest, across Hasgill Beck and up to the barn of New House. From New House I took a footpath up onto the hillside of Pike Side, then a track across Old Moss to reach Keasden Road and Bowland Knotts. After a break for lunch I made my way west along Bowland Knotts to the trig point, then down and up to Cold Stone, and then up onto and across Catlow Fell. When I reached the wall corner and fence junction at Crowd Stones I followed the fence down to the Lythe Fell Road and the Cross of Greet. I then had a long walk down the Lythe Fell Road ahead of me, to the Cross of Greet Bridge, and to the track at the top of Copped Hill Clough. I took this track, and then a footpath down by Copped Hill Clough to a footbridge over the River Hodder, and the path from there up to the barn of New House. I then retraced the steps of my outbound route back to where I was parked.
Total ascent: 1964 ft
OS map used: OL41 - Forest of Bowland & Ribblesdale
Time taken: 6.5 hrs
Route description: School Lane, Gisburn Forest-New House-Pike Side-Bowland Knotts-Cold Stone-Catlow Fell-Cross of Greet-Lythe Fell Road-Cross of Greet Bridge-Lythe Fell Road-Copped Hill Clough-New House-School Lane, Gisburn Forest
I haven't down much walking in the Forest of Bowland during the past couple of years, so when working out where to go this weekend it found itself at the top of the list. The northeastern corner of the AONB around Bowland Knotts is one of my favourite places and with a forecast of fine summer weather I should have a great day on the fells. In fact, it was a fantastic day for a walk on the fells with lots of blue skies and warm sunshine, and with great visibility I had fantastic views, ranging from the Lake District fells and the Yorkshire Dales, to Pendle Hill and the South Pennines. Walking in the Forest of Bowland can be a challenge at times with the amount of boggy ground to negotiate, but with the dry spring and recent warm weather I had firm ground underfoot for most of the time. I couldn't park in the main car park for Stocks Reservoir as it was full, so I ended up parking in a small parking area up School Lane. I've never seen it so busy!
From the parking area on School Lane I walked down School Lane to the main car park at the bottom of the hill and took the footpath north along the track through the woodland of Gisburn Forest, across Hasgill Beck and up to the barn of New House. From New House I took a footpath up onto the hillside of Pike Side, then a track across Old Moss to reach Keasden Road and Bowland Knotts. After a break for lunch I made my way west along Bowland Knotts to the trig point, then down and up to Cold Stone, and then up onto and across Catlow Fell. When I reached the wall corner and fence junction at Crowd Stones I followed the fence down to the Lythe Fell Road and the Cross of Greet. I then had a long walk down the Lythe Fell Road ahead of me, to the Cross of Greet Bridge, and to the track at the top of Copped Hill Clough. I took this track, and then a footpath down by Copped Hill Clough to a footbridge over the River Hodder, and the path from there up to the barn of New House. I then retraced the steps of my outbound route back to where I was parked.
Route map
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Walking down School Lane from where I've parked
The open countryside beckons as I leave the woodland around Stocks Reservoir behind
Looking back to a less than full Stocks Reservoir as I follow the footpath..
..up to New House
Saddle Hill and White Hill
White Hill and Catlow Fell
Heading up onto Pike Side
Pendle Hill, Stocks Reservoir and Easington Fell from Pike Side
The enticing profile of Bowland Knotts appears ahead
Looking across Gisburn Forest to Whelp Stone Crag
Some photos of the craggy profile of Bowland Knotts as I follow the path across Old Moss up to Keasden Road....
Looking back to Pendle Hill and Easington Fell in the distance
A rocky outcrop on the eastern side of the road provides a good place to stop and have lunch, and admire the fantastic view. To the northeast are Whernside, Ingleborough, Penyghent and Fountains Fell in the Yorkshire Dales.
Penyghent, Fountains Fell, Warrendale Knotts and Rye Loaf Hill to the east
Warrendale Knotts, Rye Loaf Hill, a distant Barden Moor, and Whelp Stone Crag
Pendle Hill, Stocks Reservoir, and Easington Fell
Finally, looking north to Gragareth, Great Coum, Whernside and Ingleborough. Some of the Lake District fells can be made out in the distance on the left.
After crossing Keasden Road I pass a bench with a fantastic view, which I'm a little surprised to find unoccupied
Heading for the Bowland Knotts trig point, which is on top of the rise on the left
Plenty of great views across to Whernside, Ingleborough and Penyghent in the Yorkshire Dales...
At the trig point on Bowland Knotts
Looking across Gisburn Forest to Whelp Stone Crag..
..and to Pendle Hill
Saddle Hill on the other side of the valley of the River Hodder
Of course there are great views across to the Yorkshire Dales as well...
Leaving Bowland Knotts and heading for Cold Stone and Catlow Fell
Gragareth, Great Coum, Whernside, Ingleborough and Penyghent from the dip between Bowland Knotts and Cold Stone
Cold Stone
Pendle Hill, Stocks Reservoir and Easington Fell from Cold Stone
Looking back to Bowland Knotts
and again, as I head up onto Catlow Fell
Penyghent, Fountains Fell and Rye Loaf Hill in the distance, from the collection of rocks of Ravens Castle
Looking east to Bowland Knotts, with Rye Loaf Hill and Barden Moor in the distance
and Pendle Hill
As I cross the top of Catlow Fell a fantastic view of distant Lake District fells is revealed
Penyghent, Fountains Fell and Rye Loaf Hill to the northeast
White Hill, Wolfhole Crag and Ward's Stone
I can't stop looking at the view that's ahead of me. It's perfect weather for walking on the fells of Bowland.
and there's Gragareth, Great Coum, Whernside, Ingleborough and Penyghent to my right
At Crowd Stones, where I'll cross this fence and follow another one down to the Lythe Fell Road
But first, I follow the other fence north for the view across to the Yorkshire Dales..
..and to the Lake District
Following the fence down to the Lythe Fell Road
Despite all the dry weather of the past couple of months Bowland still has its boggy bits to negotiate
Glorious views from the top of the Lythe Fell Road
The boulder on the right has a hole in its top, which once held the Cross of Greet
Walking down the Lythe Fell Road to the Cross of Greet Bridge..
The River Hodder from the Cross of Greet Bridge
From the Cross of Greet Bridge I continue walking south along the Lythe Fell Road
Looking back to Catlow Fell
I leave the Lythe Fell Road for a track, then footpath, down Copped Hill Clough. It's a beautiful end to a summer's afternoon...
Crossing the River Hodder
Heading back down to Gisburn Forest and Stocks Reservoir
One last shot looking up to Pike Side before I enter the woodland of Gisburn Forest