23rd June 2016 - Pendle Hill
Walk Details
Distance walked: 8.0 miles
Total ascent: 1555 ft
OS map used: OL41 - Forest of Bowland & Ribblesdale
Time taken: 5 hrs
Route description: Worston-Little Mearley Hall-Mearley Hall-Mearley Moor-Ogden Clough-Pendle Hill-Downham Moor-Worston Moor-Scout Cairn-Burst Clough-Worston
A real bonus today. I'd booked the day off work months ago for a dentists appointment late this afternoon but with such a lovely day forecast I decided to head out this morning for a walk up Pendle Hill. My start point was Worston near Clitheroe, somewhere that I've not climbed Pendle Hill from for several years. It was beautiful summers day, especially into the afternoon, a real treat to be up there.
After parking in Worston I walked through the village and up the road towards Pendle Hill. When the road forked I took the right hand one with a signpost for Little Mearley Hall. The road becomes a bridleway and I followed it southwest past Little Mearley Hall and Lane Side to reach Mearley Hall. Just past here I took the footpath on the left that heads for Howcroft Barn and Ashendean Clough. Once onto access land though I left it for an ascent of Mearley Moor, there are trods through the grass and bracken, to arrive at the cairn at the top of the moor. I then crossed the top of Mearley Moor into Ogden Clough to pick up the path up the clough that heads for the trig point and summit. After having lunch I made my way north to the stile over the wall onto Downham Moor and then west across the moor to another stile which I crossed onto Worston Moor. I soon reached the Scout Cairn which was my cue to head down. A path traverses the side of the hill and down by Burst Clough to reach the road end by Angram Green. I then followed the road back to Worston.
Total ascent: 1555 ft
OS map used: OL41 - Forest of Bowland & Ribblesdale
Time taken: 5 hrs
Route description: Worston-Little Mearley Hall-Mearley Hall-Mearley Moor-Ogden Clough-Pendle Hill-Downham Moor-Worston Moor-Scout Cairn-Burst Clough-Worston
A real bonus today. I'd booked the day off work months ago for a dentists appointment late this afternoon but with such a lovely day forecast I decided to head out this morning for a walk up Pendle Hill. My start point was Worston near Clitheroe, somewhere that I've not climbed Pendle Hill from for several years. It was beautiful summers day, especially into the afternoon, a real treat to be up there.
After parking in Worston I walked through the village and up the road towards Pendle Hill. When the road forked I took the right hand one with a signpost for Little Mearley Hall. The road becomes a bridleway and I followed it southwest past Little Mearley Hall and Lane Side to reach Mearley Hall. Just past here I took the footpath on the left that heads for Howcroft Barn and Ashendean Clough. Once onto access land though I left it for an ascent of Mearley Moor, there are trods through the grass and bracken, to arrive at the cairn at the top of the moor. I then crossed the top of Mearley Moor into Ogden Clough to pick up the path up the clough that heads for the trig point and summit. After having lunch I made my way north to the stile over the wall onto Downham Moor and then west across the moor to another stile which I crossed onto Worston Moor. I soon reached the Scout Cairn which was my cue to head down. A path traverses the side of the hill and down by Burst Clough to reach the road end by Angram Green. I then followed the road back to Worston.
Route map
Pendle Hill looms ahead as I leave Worston behind
Onto the bridleway past Little Mearley Hall
Looking back
Longridge Fell, Beacon Fell, Parlick, Fair Snape Fell and Totridge beyond the roofs of Clitheroe
Past Little Mearley Hall and the bridleway becomes a green way
Mearley Hall
Looking back down on the Ribble Valley as I make my way up onto Mearley Moor
The West Pennine Moors in the distance across the Nick of Pendle road
At the cairn by the wall corner on Mearley Moor
Lots of cotton grass to brighten the moors today
Heading for Ogden Clough from Mearley Moor with the summit in sight
Lots more cotton grass
Looking down Ogden Clough
On the flagged path that heads straight for the trig point. You might be able to spot some of the many swifts that were flying about.
Looking back to a distant Ribble Valley
A fine display of cotton grass as I near the summit. The fells of the Forest of Bowland in the distance.
and Ingleborough and Penyghent in the Yorkshire Dales
At the trig point on the summit of Pendle Hill
Lunch had, so a few photos of the view from the summit. The Black Moss Reservoirs, Barley and Lower Ogden Reservoir with the South Pennines in the distance.
The fells of the Forest of Bowland
Ingleborough, Penyghent, Fountains Fell and despite it being a bit hazy I can make out Buckden Pike and Great Whernside
Past Weets Hill to Barden Moor and Simon's Seat above Wharfedale in the distance
Time to cross the stile onto Downham Moor
It's a beautiful afternoon as I head across Downham Moor..
A great view of the fells of the Yorkshire Dales across a sea of cotton grass
The West Pennine Moors in the distance, the high point in the middle being Winter Hill
Looking back to the summit
My favourite shot of the day was this pool complete with a water lily in flower, with the Forest of Bowland in the background
Approaching the stile onto the top of Worston Moor
A great view up the Ribble Valley to Ingleborough and Penyghent
and across Clitheroe to the Forest of Bowland
The Scout Cairn is in sight
More great views as I head back down into the Ribble Valley towards Worston...
Back in Worston