16th November 2025 - Pendle Hill
Walk Details
Distance walked: 1.1 miles
Total ascent: 1638 ft
OS map used: OL41 - Forest of Bowland & Ribblesdale
Time taken: 6 hrs
Route description: Pendleton-Wymondhouses-Nick of Pendle-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 stayed close to home for my walk this weekend, Pendle Hill from Pendleton. This route might have become my favourite for taking in a circuit of the whole hill, as it's just the right sort of length for a day walk and I can add to it if I want to, which I did today by taking in the trig point on The Rough, and I have no problem finding somewhere to park my car in Pendleton. The forecast was for a fine autumn day with a decent amount of sunshine. Setting off from Pendleton with blue skies and sunshine, I kept sunny spells until the early afternoon when it started to cloud over as I reached the top of Pendle Hill. It was then pretty cloudy for the rest of the afternoon for the walk back to Pendleton.
From the car park in Pendleton I walked east along the main street past the Swan with Two Necks pub and along the road to Sabden until I reached a track on the right with a public footpath sign. I took the path and followed it across fields and a footbridge over Pendleton Brook to reach Wymondhouses, and then the footpath round the farm and up a track to the Nick of Pendle. From the Nick of Pendle I crossed the moor to the trig point on The Rough, took in the view, then returned to the Nick of Pendle. Once cross the Nick of Pendle I made my way up onto Pendleton Moor, making a short diversion to Deerstones before returning to the path to Ogden Clough. I kept on the path as it made its way into Ogden Clough and followed it all the way up to the trig point and summit, where I stopped for lunch. I then crossed the stile onto Downham Moor, followed the path west, and crossed the stile onto Worston Moor to reach the Scout Cairn. I then walked across Mearley Moor before crossing the top of Howcroft Brook to pick up the path across Pendleton Moor back to the Nick of Pendle. From there I retraced my steps back to Pendleton.
Total ascent: 1638 ft
OS map used: OL41 - Forest of Bowland & Ribblesdale
Time taken: 6 hrs
Route description: Pendleton-Wymondhouses-Nick of Pendle-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 stayed close to home for my walk this weekend, Pendle Hill from Pendleton. This route might have become my favourite for taking in a circuit of the whole hill, as it's just the right sort of length for a day walk and I can add to it if I want to, which I did today by taking in the trig point on The Rough, and I have no problem finding somewhere to park my car in Pendleton. The forecast was for a fine autumn day with a decent amount of sunshine. Setting off from Pendleton with blue skies and sunshine, I kept sunny spells until the early afternoon when it started to cloud over as I reached the top of Pendle Hill. It was then pretty cloudy for the rest of the afternoon for the walk back to Pendleton.
From the car park in Pendleton I walked east along the main street past the Swan with Two Necks pub and along the road to Sabden until I reached a track on the right with a public footpath sign. I took the path and followed it across fields and a footbridge over Pendleton Brook to reach Wymondhouses, and then the footpath round the farm and up a track to the Nick of Pendle. From the Nick of Pendle I crossed the moor to the trig point on The Rough, took in the view, then returned to the Nick of Pendle. Once cross the Nick of Pendle I made my way up onto Pendleton Moor, making a short diversion to Deerstones before returning to the path to Ogden Clough. I kept on the path as it made its way into Ogden Clough and followed it all the way up to the trig point and summit, where I stopped for lunch. I then crossed the stile onto Downham Moor, followed the path west, and crossed the stile onto Worston Moor to reach the Scout Cairn. I then walked across Mearley Moor before crossing the top of Howcroft Brook to pick up the path across Pendleton Moor back to the Nick of Pendle. From there I retraced my steps back to Pendleton.
Route map
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Long shadows across the fields as I leave Pendleton on the footpath up to Wymondhouses Farm
Looking back across the Ribble Valley to the Forest of Bowland
On the path up to the Nick of Pendle
Looking back to Wymondhouses Farm, and across the Ribble Valley to Longridge Fell, Parlick, Fair Snape Fell, and Totridge
Mearley Moor and Pendleton Moor on the other side of the Nick of Pendle
At the Nick of Pendle with a view across the Ribble Valley to Clitheroe and the Forest of Bowland
From the Nick of Pendle I make my way across the moor towards the trig point on The Rough
At the trig point on The Rough, with the Ribble Valley below behind it
The West Pennine Moors in the distance to the south
Pendle Hill and Spence Moor to the northeast
Sabden and Black Hill to the southeast, with the South Pennines in the distance
Heading back to the Nick of Pendle
Looking across to Mearley Moor and Pendleton Moor
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 west to The Rough and Pendleton Moor, with the Ribble Valley beyond
Leaving Deerstones I head back towards the path to Ogden Clough
Mearley Moor on the other side of Ashendean Clough
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
Up the flagged path to the summit
Autumn moorland colours
Looking back to the Ribble Valley in the distance
At the trig point on Pendle Hill
The view east from Pendle Hill with the Black Moss Reservoirs, Barley, and Lower Ogden Reservoir below, and Boulsworth Hill in the distance
I can make out the Yorkshire Dales in the distance to the north..
Views across Downham Moor before I go through the gate onto it..
Looking back up to the summit
and northeast across Twiston Moor to Weets Hill
Heading across Downham Moor
Looking back to the summit of Pendle Hill
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 to the West Pennine Moors in the distance beyond Spence Moor
Heading for the gate onto Worston Moor
Then across Worston Moor past the circular shelter to the Scout Cairn
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
Heading across Mearley Moor
I can make out the unmistakeable profile of Ingleborough in the distance from Mearley Moor
The Clayton-le-Moors Harriers cairn at the western end of Mearley Moor
Looking across to Pendleton Moor and The Rough
Across Howcroft Brook and heading across Pendleton Moor to the Nick of Pendle...
Having crossed the road at the Nick of Pendle, following the path down to Wymondhouses Farm..
Making my way down through fields back to Pendleton