21st August 2022 - Bowland Knotts and Catlow Fell
Walk Details
Distance walked: 11.3 miles
Total ascent: 1703 ft
OS map used: OL41 - Forest of Bowland & Ribblesdale
Time taken: 7 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
After the heat of last weekend temperatures have returned to normal, thank goodness, and for my walk this weekend I decided to head for Gisburn Forest in the Forest of Bowland and do a route that took in Bowland Knotts and Catlow Fell. It's familiar territory, and it was only last August that I did the exact same walk. This corner of the AONB along with the northwestern corner around Clougha Pike are my favourite places in the Forest Bowland. Both have gritstone outcrops and crags to clamber about on, and fantastic views, assuming the weather co-operates. It did today, there were spells of warm summer sunshine, good visibility for enjoying the long distance views from the tops of the fells, and with the heather in bloom some extra colour added to the moors. Despite the lack of rainfall during recent months I was surprised to find that there was still some boggy ground to negotiate.
After parking in the main car park on School Lane I 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: 1703 ft
OS map used: OL41 - Forest of Bowland & Ribblesdale
Time taken: 7 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
After the heat of last weekend temperatures have returned to normal, thank goodness, and for my walk this weekend I decided to head for Gisburn Forest in the Forest of Bowland and do a route that took in Bowland Knotts and Catlow Fell. It's familiar territory, and it was only last August that I did the exact same walk. This corner of the AONB along with the northwestern corner around Clougha Pike are my favourite places in the Forest Bowland. Both have gritstone outcrops and crags to clamber about on, and fantastic views, assuming the weather co-operates. It did today, there were spells of warm summer sunshine, good visibility for enjoying the long distance views from the tops of the fells, and with the heather in bloom some extra colour added to the moors. Despite the lack of rainfall during recent months I was surprised to find that there was still some boggy ground to negotiate.
After parking in the main car park on School Lane I 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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The open countryside beckons as I leave the woodland around Stocks Reservoir behind
Following the footpath up to New House, with a look back to a less than full Stocks Reservoir...
White Hill and Catlow Fell as I head up Pike Side
Pendle Hill and Easington Fell from the track from Pike Side to Keasden Road
Looking across Gisburn Forest to Whelp Stone Crag
The enticing profile of Bowland Knotts ahead..
The highest summit of Bowland Knotts, which has a trig point on it, is the one on the left
Having reached Keasden Road I climb up onto the rocky outcrops that mark the eastern end of Bowland Knotts. Looking west across Keasden Road to the rest of Bowland Knotts, with White Hill and Catlow Fell in the distance.
To the north and east are Whernside, Ingleborough, Penyghent, Fountains Fell, Warrendale Knotts and Rye Loaf Hill in the Yorkshire Dales..
After crossing Keasden Road I pass a bench with a fantastic view
Heading for the Bowland Knotts trig point, which is on top of the rise in the middle, with great views across to Whernside, Ingleborough and Penyghent in the Yorkshire Dales...
At the trig point on Bowland Knotts
Cold Stone and Catlow Fell to the west
Looking across the valley of the River Hodder to Saddle Hill
Pendle Hill to the south
Looking east to Warrendale Knotts, Rye Loaf Hill, a distant Barden Moor, and Whelp Stone Crag
Finally, looking across to Whernside, Ingleborough, Penyghent, Fountains Fell, and Rye Loaf Hill in the Yorkshire Dales..
Leaving Bowland Knotts and heading for Cold Stone and Catlow Fell
The flowering heather provides some colour for taking in the view to Whernside, Ingleborough and Penyghent from the dip between Bowland Knotts and Cold Stone
A short but steep climb to Cold Stone
Pendle Hill, Stocks Reservoir and Easington Fell
Looking back to Bowland Knotts from Cold Stone
Heading up onto Catlow Fell from Cold Stone
Looking across to Whernside, Ingleborough, Penyghent and Fountains Fell..
..and back to Bowland Knotts..
Penyghent, Fountains Fell, and Rye Loaf Hill in the distance, from the collection of rocks of Ravens Castle
and looking south to Pendle Hill
Following the fence across the top of Catlow Fell
and 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
Looking north to Gragareth, Whernside and Ingleborough after crossing the fence at Crowd Stones
Before following the fence down to the Lythe Fell Road I followed this one north to take in the view across to the Lake District
Following the fence down to the Lythe Fell Road
Looking back across the southern slopes of Catlow Fell
Glorious views from the top of the Lythe Fell Road
The boulder 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, with views across the valley of the infant River Hodder to the eastern slopes of White Hill...
Looking back to Catlow Fell
The River Hodder from the Cross of Greet Bridge
From the Cross of Greet Bridge I continue walking south along the Lythe Fell Road
Bowland Knotts and Pike Side above Catlow Farm
Looking back to Catlow Fell
I leave the Lythe Fell Road for a track, then footpath, down Copped Hill Clough..
Crossing the River Hodder
Heading back down to Gisburn Forest and Stocks Reservoir
One last shot looking across the countryside around the River Hodder before I enter the woodland of Gisburn Forest, and head back to the car park..
