1st November 2015 - Pendle Hill
Walk Details
Distance walked: 8.9 miles
Total ascent: 1639 ft
OS map used: OL41 - Forest of Bowland & Ribblesdale
Time taken: 5 hrs
Route description: Barley-Lower Ogden Reservoir-Upper Ogden Reservoir-Ogden Clough-Downham Moor-Pendle Hill-Pendle House-Pendle Way-Barley-Lower Black Moss Reservoir-Upper Black Moss Reservoir-Aitken Wood-Lower Black Moss Reservoir-Barley
Although I'd enjoyed a great walk yesterday I couldn't help but head out again today to take advantage of the glorious autumn weather, but this time to somewhere much closer to home. This was my third time up Pendle Hill this year (it's a long time since I've been up it that often) and I decided to start from Barley today to take advantage of the cafe in the car park. It felt really warm in the sun and if it wasn't for the autumn colours and the sun being low in the sky it would have been easy to think it was a summers day.
From the car park I crossed the road and made my way up the lane to Lower Ogden Reservoir and then to Upper Ogden Reservoir. I continued on the path up Ogden Clough until I reached the point where it crosses from the west side to the east to head for the summit, here I left it to cross the moor to the Ribble Valley side of the hill to pick up the path across Downham Moor. I then followed this path around until I reached the Pendle Way which took me to the summit. I kept on the Pendle Way for most of my route back to Barley except for the bit south of the summit down to Pendle House. When I got back to Barley I decided to pay the Black Moss Reservoirs a visit since I still had some daylight left. My intention had been to take the concessionary path through Aitken Wood, over Stang Top Moor and back to Barley but I discovered on crossing the moor that the bit of the path across the field towards Barley was closed and blocked off as the agreement had run out. I had to retrace my steps.
Total ascent: 1639 ft
OS map used: OL41 - Forest of Bowland & Ribblesdale
Time taken: 5 hrs
Route description: Barley-Lower Ogden Reservoir-Upper Ogden Reservoir-Ogden Clough-Downham Moor-Pendle Hill-Pendle House-Pendle Way-Barley-Lower Black Moss Reservoir-Upper Black Moss Reservoir-Aitken Wood-Lower Black Moss Reservoir-Barley
Although I'd enjoyed a great walk yesterday I couldn't help but head out again today to take advantage of the glorious autumn weather, but this time to somewhere much closer to home. This was my third time up Pendle Hill this year (it's a long time since I've been up it that often) and I decided to start from Barley today to take advantage of the cafe in the car park. It felt really warm in the sun and if it wasn't for the autumn colours and the sun being low in the sky it would have been easy to think it was a summers day.
From the car park I crossed the road and made my way up the lane to Lower Ogden Reservoir and then to Upper Ogden Reservoir. I continued on the path up Ogden Clough until I reached the point where it crosses from the west side to the east to head for the summit, here I left it to cross the moor to the Ribble Valley side of the hill to pick up the path across Downham Moor. I then followed this path around until I reached the Pendle Way which took me to the summit. I kept on the Pendle Way for most of my route back to Barley except for the bit south of the summit down to Pendle House. When I got back to Barley I decided to pay the Black Moss Reservoirs a visit since I still had some daylight left. My intention had been to take the concessionary path through Aitken Wood, over Stang Top Moor and back to Barley but I discovered on crossing the moor that the bit of the path across the field towards Barley was closed and blocked off as the agreement had run out. I had to retrace my steps.
Route map
© Crown copyright. All rights reserved. License number PU 100034184.
Autumn colours at the picnic site in Barley
Clear blue skies, sunshine and not a breath of wind at Lower Ogden Reservoir. It feels much too warm to be the first day of November.
Heading up Ogden Clough..
Briefly above Ogden Clough to get a view up to the summit of Pendle Hill
Back on the path up Ogden Clough but when I reached the point where the path crosses it again I crossed the moor to get to the Ribble Valley side of the hill
Fog in the Ribble Valley..
Crossing Downham Moor
Looking back
The final approach to the summit
By the trig point on the top of a very busy Pendle Hill
The view to the west and northwest doesn't go very far, not just because of fog but haze as well..
Fog fills the valleys to the south on the other side of Spence Moor
The Black Moss Reservoirs, Barley and Lower Ogden Reservoir below
The steep east face of Pendle Hill. My route down goes across it.
On the Pendle Way back to Barley
Looking back to Pendle Hill
Instead of going back to the car park when I reached Barley I decided to have a walk up to the Black Moss Reservoirs. Worth it to see the reflections in them. Pendle Hill from the lower one.
and from the upper one
A larch in its autumnal colours
One of the sculptures on the Pendle Sculpture Trail in Aitken Wood
The sun sets over Lower Black Moss Reservoir..
..as I head back down to Barley