16th June 2024 - Twiston Moor and Pendle Hill
Walk Details
Distance walked: 14.7 miles
Total ascent: 2356 ft
OS map used: OL41 - Forest of Bowland & Ribblesdale
Time taken: 8 hrs
Route description: Downham-Springs Farm-Twiston Mill House-Twiston Lane-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-Mearley Moor-Worston Moor-Downham Moor-Pendle Hill-Downham Moor-Pendle Road-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, except for using some different footpaths to get from Downham to Twiston. The forecast was for a day of improving weather. I set off from Downham with cloudy skies, and as I made my way to Twiston a few brief showers passed through. From then on things got better as more in the way of sunshine came through, and by the time that I left Barley it had turned into a lovely summer's afternoon with increasing amounts of sunshine, and great visibility for taking in the views from the moors.
From the car park in Downham I made my way up Main Street to the Assheton Arms, turned right along a track to pass a row of cottages, and took a public footpath from its end up a field along the edge of a wood. At the top of the field I turned right and made my way east, passing Hall Royds Wood and Hey House Farm, to take the footpath east across the top of Wooly Hill to Springs Farm. From there I took a footpath down to Twiston Beck, crossed it via a footbridge, then the footpath south to reach Twiston Lane at Twiston Mill House. After a brief walk south along Twiston Lane I took a footpath on the left up to Hill Foot Farm and the hamlet of Twiston, made my way south along the road through Twiston, 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 walled track and 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, crossing the path to Ogden Clough, taking the path across Howcroft Brook and up onto Mearley Moor. I then followed the wall north towards the Scout Cairn on the top of Worston Moor, onwards over Downham Moor and to the trig point and summit. After taking in the view I made my way back to Downham Moor to take the footpath down to Pendle Road. I then took the footpath opposite that makes its way across fields to head back to Downham.
Total ascent: 2356 ft
OS map used: OL41 - Forest of Bowland & Ribblesdale
Time taken: 8 hrs
Route description: Downham-Springs Farm-Twiston Mill House-Twiston Lane-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-Mearley Moor-Worston Moor-Downham Moor-Pendle Hill-Downham Moor-Pendle Road-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, except for using some different footpaths to get from Downham to Twiston. The forecast was for a day of improving weather. I set off from Downham with cloudy skies, and as I made my way to Twiston a few brief showers passed through. From then on things got better as more in the way of sunshine came through, and by the time that I left Barley it had turned into a lovely summer's afternoon with increasing amounts of sunshine, and great visibility for taking in the views from the moors.
From the car park in Downham I made my way up Main Street to the Assheton Arms, turned right along a track to pass a row of cottages, and took a public footpath from its end up a field along the edge of a wood. At the top of the field I turned right and made my way east, passing Hall Royds Wood and Hey House Farm, to take the footpath east across the top of Wooly Hill to Springs Farm. From there I took a footpath down to Twiston Beck, crossed it via a footbridge, then the footpath south to reach Twiston Lane at Twiston Mill House. After a brief walk south along Twiston Lane I took a footpath on the left up to Hill Foot Farm and the hamlet of Twiston, made my way south along the road through Twiston, 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 walled track and 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, crossing the path to Ogden Clough, taking the path across Howcroft Brook and up onto Mearley Moor. I then followed the wall north towards the Scout Cairn on the top of Worston Moor, onwards over Downham Moor and to the trig point and summit. After taking in the view I made my way back to Downham Moor to take the footpath down to Pendle Road. I then took the footpath opposite that makes its way across fields to head back to Downham.
Route map
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In the village of Downham
Looking across to Pendle Hill as I leave Downham
The permissive footpath that I'm taking goes across this field to the right of Hall Royds Wood ahead
To my left, a view across the Ribble Valley to Beacon Hill
After passing Hall Royds Wood I continue following a footpath east through fields
A view of Pendle Hill to my right
There's a shower passing through as I reach Springs Farm
I join Twiston Lane at Twiston Mill House
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
Then up the footpath onto Twiston Moor
Pendle Hill ahead as I follow the track up onto the moor
There are great views to the north and northeast across the Ribble Valley to the eastern fells of the Forest of Bowland, Ingleborough and Penyghent..
..and to the moors above Settle and Malham, although there is a bit of cloud getting in the way at the moment
The wet ground of the track provides an appropriate habitat for a marsh orchid
The walled track of an "occupation road" that crosses Twiston Moor. I'm not going to wade through all that wet long grass to follow it, but take the footpath through the gate on the right.
Looking across the Ribble Valley to the eastern fells of the Forest of Bowland, Ingleborough, and Penyghent from Twiston Moor
Heading south across Twiston Moor
Pendle Hill looms large above Twiston Moor
Stang Top Moor and Lower Black Moss Reservoir come into view
Wheathead Height and Mountain Farm from the southern end of Twiston Moor
After a short walk west along Black Moss Road, I then follow a footpath and track down to Lower Black Moss Reservoir..
Pendle Hill from Lower Black Moss Reservoir
A view of buttercup filled fields and Pendle Hill as I walk down the track from Lower Black Moss Reservoir to Barley Lane..
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. The weather is really improving, with a lot more in the way of blue skies and sunshine coming across.
There's an even better view of Pendle Hill from Barley Fold
Looking back to Barley Fold with Stang Top Moor behind
Newchurch-in-Pendle as I leave it behind by taking the Pendle Way
Barley, the Black Moss Reservoirs, and Stang Top Moor from Saddlers Height
Heading west across Saddlers Height
A bit further on and Ogden Clough comes into view
and to my right, the eastern face of Pendle Hill
Looking back to Saddlers Height from Driver Height
Views to the southeast of Hoof Stones Height, and Thieveley Pike, above Nelson and Burnley
Boggy ground underfoot as I head up onto Spence Moor..
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
On Pendleton Moor and instead of heading for Ogden Clough and the summit, I'm going left to cross Howcroft Brook to reach Mearley Moor
At the Clayton-le-Moors Harriers cairn at the western end of Mearley Moor
Looking southwest down the Ribble Valley towards the coast
The bulk of Pendle Hill rises to the northeast
Heading north across Mearley Moor and I can make out Ingleborough in the Yorkshire Dales in the distance
Looking across the Ribble Valley to the Forest of Bowland
The Scout Cairn on Worston Moor ahead
The Ribble Valley below as I cross the top of Mearley Brook
At the Scout Cairn, with the Forest of Bowland in the background
Looking back to Mearley Moor
Views from the edge of Worston Moor. Looking across the Ribble Valley and Clitheroe to the Forest of Bowland..
..and to Ingleborough and Penyghent in the Yorkshire Dales in the distance
Looking back across Worston Moor as I head for Downham Moor
This pool on Downham Moor has become a favourite spot for me to stop and take photos. Looking across the Ribble Valley to the Forest of Bowland..
..and up the Ribble Valley to Ingleborough
Looking across Downham Moor to the summit of Pendle Hill
Views across to the Yorkshire Dales as I head east across Downham Moor
The West Pennine Moors in the distance beyond Spence Moor
Looking back across Downham Moor
At the trig point on the summit of Pendle Hill
The Yorkshire Dales in the distance to the north and northeast..
The view to the east to Boulsworth Hill in the distance, with the Black Moss Reservoirs, Barley, and Lower Ogden Reservoir below
One last shot before I move on. It's a beautiful summer's afternoon.
At the eastern edge of Downham Moor. Twiston Moor, Rimington Moor, Wheathead Height, and Weets Hill to the northeast.
Great views to the north across the Ribble Valley as I follow the path down to Pendle Road.....
After crossing Pendle Road I follow the footpath back to Downham