25th October 2025 - Hawthornthwaite Fell and Top of Blaze Moss
Walk Details
Distance walked: 13.5 miles
Total ascent: 1920 ft
OS map used: OL41 - Forest of Bowland & Ribblesdale
Time taken: 7 hrs
Route description: Tower Lodge, Wyresdale-Wyre Way-White Moor-Wyre Way-Gilberton Farm-Wyre Way-Tarnbrook-Wyre Way-Abbeystead-Abbeystead Reservoir-Doeholme Rake-Cam Brow-Catshaw Greave-Greave Clough Head-Hawthornthwaite Fell Top-Black Clough Head-Holdron Moss-Top of Blaze Moss-Trough of Bowland-Tower Lodge, Wyresdale
My walk for this weekend has take me to the Forest of Bowland to do a route that I worked that would take in a lot of territory that was new to me, including the moorland ridge from Hawthornthwaite Fell to the Trough of Bowland. The only part that was familiar was from Tower Lodge to Tarnbrook. Given that a good part of the walk was across featureless moorland I wanted a day of decent weather for it, not just for navigating but also for being able to enjoy the views and being up there. The forecast was for a fine autumn day with a mixture of fair weather clouds and sunny spells, excellent visibility, and brisk northerly breeze up on the moors. It didn't disappoint. With plenty of sunshine through the afternoon and excellent visibility, I enjoyed some great long distance moorland views. The moorland ridge was quite wet underfoot in places, but I expected it to be. Place names don't have "moss" in them otherwise.
From where I parked by the side of the road near Tower Lodge in Wyresdale, I took the track by Tower Lodge and followed it uphill to the edge of access land and White Moor. I went through the gate onto access land and then made my way west along a path to the western edge of access land where I crossed a stile and joined the trail of the Wyre Way. I then followed the Wyre Way north to Gilberton Farm and then along the farm's access road to reach a track where I turned left and followed it to Tarnbrook. Leaving Tarnbrook I kept on the Wyre Way as it made its way west across fields to reach Strait Lane and Abbeystead. I walked along Strait Lane through Abbeystead and when the lane turned right and went uphill I took the Wyre Way on the left across to Far House Barn, and then down to a footbridge over the River Wyre below the weir on Abbeystead Reservoir. Once across the bridge I took the footpath east by the southern shore of the reservoir to reach the lane of Doeholme Rake. After a stop for lunch I walked up Doeholme Rake, and then south along Cam Brow until I reached a track on the left that crossed a bridge over Cam Brook then went up Catshaw Greave. I followed this track up Catshaw Grave, then the path from its top up to Greave Clough Head, where I turned left and followed the fence up to Hawthornthwaite Fell Top. Once I'd taken in the view I followed the fence east down to Black Clough Head, then across Holdron Moss and up to Top of Blaze Moss. A descent by the fence down to the road through the top of the Trough of Bowland came next, then a walk north down the road took me back to Tower Lodge.
Total ascent: 1920 ft
OS map used: OL41 - Forest of Bowland & Ribblesdale
Time taken: 7 hrs
Route description: Tower Lodge, Wyresdale-Wyre Way-White Moor-Wyre Way-Gilberton Farm-Wyre Way-Tarnbrook-Wyre Way-Abbeystead-Abbeystead Reservoir-Doeholme Rake-Cam Brow-Catshaw Greave-Greave Clough Head-Hawthornthwaite Fell Top-Black Clough Head-Holdron Moss-Top of Blaze Moss-Trough of Bowland-Tower Lodge, Wyresdale
My walk for this weekend has take me to the Forest of Bowland to do a route that I worked that would take in a lot of territory that was new to me, including the moorland ridge from Hawthornthwaite Fell to the Trough of Bowland. The only part that was familiar was from Tower Lodge to Tarnbrook. Given that a good part of the walk was across featureless moorland I wanted a day of decent weather for it, not just for navigating but also for being able to enjoy the views and being up there. The forecast was for a fine autumn day with a mixture of fair weather clouds and sunny spells, excellent visibility, and brisk northerly breeze up on the moors. It didn't disappoint. With plenty of sunshine through the afternoon and excellent visibility, I enjoyed some great long distance moorland views. The moorland ridge was quite wet underfoot in places, but I expected it to be. Place names don't have "moss" in them otherwise.
From where I parked by the side of the road near Tower Lodge in Wyresdale, I took the track by Tower Lodge and followed it uphill to the edge of access land and White Moor. I went through the gate onto access land and then made my way west along a path to the western edge of access land where I crossed a stile and joined the trail of the Wyre Way. I then followed the Wyre Way north to Gilberton Farm and then along the farm's access road to reach a track where I turned left and followed it to Tarnbrook. Leaving Tarnbrook I kept on the Wyre Way as it made its way west across fields to reach Strait Lane and Abbeystead. I walked along Strait Lane through Abbeystead and when the lane turned right and went uphill I took the Wyre Way on the left across to Far House Barn, and then down to a footbridge over the River Wyre below the weir on Abbeystead Reservoir. Once across the bridge I took the footpath east by the southern shore of the reservoir to reach the lane of Doeholme Rake. After a stop for lunch I walked up Doeholme Rake, and then south along Cam Brow until I reached a track on the left that crossed a bridge over Cam Brook then went up Catshaw Greave. I followed this track up Catshaw Grave, then the path from its top up to Greave Clough Head, where I turned left and followed the fence up to Hawthornthwaite Fell Top. Once I'd taken in the view I followed the fence east down to Black Clough Head, then across Holdron Moss and up to Top of Blaze Moss. A descent by the fence down to the road through the top of the Trough of Bowland came next, then a walk north down the road took me back to Tower Lodge.
Route map
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Autumn colours at Tower Lodge
Heading up the track from Tower Lodge to White Moor
Approaching the top of the track and access land
Looking back across the valley of the Marshaw Wyre to Hawthornthwaite Fell
Following the path west across White Moor
Looking across the valley of the Tarnbrook Wyre to Tarnbrook Fell..
..and to Brennand Great Hill
Following the Wyre Way north down to Gilberton Farm
At Gilberton Farm. The footpath doesn't go through the farmyard but across a footbridge out of sight on the right.
A short walk along the track from Gilberton Farm and I arrive at the hamlet of Tarnbrook..
Looking back to Tarnbrook as I leave it on the Wyre Way
Following the Wyre Way towards Abbeystead, with views across to Tarnbrook Fell, and Grit Fell...
Looking back to Tarnbrook Fell, Brennand Great Hill, and Greenside Hill on the right, which separates the valleys of the Tarnbrook Wyre and the Marshaw Wyre
The Wyre Way approaches Top of Emmetts
At Top of Emmetts
After crossing the road at Top of Emmetts, I continue following the Wyre Way towards Abbeystead..
Crossing Stoops Bridge over the Tarnbrook Wyre
The Tarnbrook Wyre from Stoops Bridge
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Making my way through the hamlet of Abbeystead
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Above Abbeystead Reservoir
Crossing the River Wyre below Abbeystead Reservoir
The weir on Abbeystead Reservoir
Autumn colours around Abbeystead Reservoir
I follow a path east through Hinberry Wood above the River Wyre
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The Marshaw Wyre from the lane of Doeholme Rake
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Walking up Doeholme Rake to Cam Brow
Tarnbrook Fell and Brennand Great Hill in the distance
Walking along the road of Cam Brow with the slopes of Hawthornthwaite Fell to my left
The road runs along beside Cam Brook
I leave for the road for a track up Catshaw Greave..
Looking back across Wyresdale to Grit Fell and Ward's Stone
With some height gained I can now make out some of the Lake District fells in the distance
From the top of the track I follow a path through the heather by Catshaw Greave to Greave Clough Head
Great view looking back down to Wyresdale, and out to the coast, Morecambe Bay, and some of the Lake District fells
From Greave Clough Head I follow the fence towards Hawthornthwaite Fell Top
Great views to my left of the Lake District fells in the distance
Looking back to Grizedale Fell, with the Fylde coast in the distance
Fair Snape Fell in the distance to the south
Reaching Hawthornthwaite Fell Top
The trig point lies forlornly on its side. Before it fell it stood on a long pillar of concrete as the peat had been eroded away around it.
Taking in the view across Wyresdale to Morecambe Bay and the Lake District
I continue to follow the fence east across the top of the fell
Passing a small cairn I stop to take in the view to the distant Lake District fells, and across Wyresdale to Grit Fell..
..and Tarnbrook Fell, Wolfhole Crag, White Hill, and Whins Brow
Looking across Wyresdale to Ward's Stone and Wolfhole Crag. I can make out the tops of Whernside and Ingleborough to the left of Wolfhole Crag.
The expanse of Holdron Moss below as I reach the eastern end of Hawthornthwaite Fell
Totridge and Hareden Fell on the other side of the valley of Langden Brook as I follow the fence down to Lingy Pits
Looking back to Hawthornthwaite Fell from Lingy Pits
Following the fence east towards Black Clough Head and Holdron Moss..
At Black Clough Head. A fence heads down Black Clough to Langden Brook.
Looking across Wyresdale to Grit Fell and Ward's Stone
Passing the pool on Holdron Moss
Heading across Holdron Moss towards Top of Blaze Moss
To my right, Pendle Hill comes into view in the distance to the left of Totridge
Heading up onto Top of Blaze Moss
Looking back to Holdron Moss and Hawthornthwaite Fell
A short detour to the top of Swine Clough gives me a great view down into Losterdale and Langden Brook, and to Pendle Hill in the distance
Wyresdale from Top of Blaze Moss
Whins Brow rises on the other side of the Trough of Bowland
Following the fence down to the Trough of Bowland
To my left, Ward's Stone, Brennand Great Hill, Threaphaw Fell, and Wolfhole Crag
A steep descent to the Trough of Bowland
The road crossing the Trough of Bowland heads down to Losterdale
I'm going the other way, down the road to Tower Lodge..
I take the chance to get onto access land and look up to the moorland that is the source of the Marshaw Wyre
The sun has set as I walk along the road back to Tower Lodge