26th January 2015 - Thieveley Pike & Black Scout
Walk Details
Distance walked: 6.2 miles
Total ascent: 1507 ft
OS map used: OL21 - South Pennines
Time taken: 3.5 hrs
Route description: Layby on A646 southeast of Holme Chapel-Royd Wood-Dean Scout-Thieveley Pike-Heald Moor-A646-Dean Farm-Black Scout-Berril's Green Wood-Layby on A646 southeast of Holme Chapel
I had planned on doing a walk in the Peak District today but when I happened to hear a traffic report saying that there was severe congestion on the M66 heading south towards Manchester I changed my mind. I would have joined the traffic jam just five minutes after setting off and that was the last thing I needed. After a bit of thought I decided to stay local and do this walk around Cliviger. It might have been a blessing in disguise given that the forecast sunny spells didn't turn up and it was grey and windy.
From the layby on the A646 southeast of Holme Chapel I followed the road back towards the village for a few hundred yards and then I took the footpath into Royd Wood. At the top of the wood I continued on the path to Dean Scout, up Dean Scout and then on to the top of Thieveley Pike. After crossing Heald Moor I descended into Calderdale to reach the A646. I then crossed the railway line through the valley, took the path past Dean Farm and up the hill and across the moorland of Black Scout. When I reached some farm buildings there was just a short descent of a field and a wood to reach the A646 and the layby.
Total ascent: 1507 ft
OS map used: OL21 - South Pennines
Time taken: 3.5 hrs
Route description: Layby on A646 southeast of Holme Chapel-Royd Wood-Dean Scout-Thieveley Pike-Heald Moor-A646-Dean Farm-Black Scout-Berril's Green Wood-Layby on A646 southeast of Holme Chapel
I had planned on doing a walk in the Peak District today but when I happened to hear a traffic report saying that there was severe congestion on the M66 heading south towards Manchester I changed my mind. I would have joined the traffic jam just five minutes after setting off and that was the last thing I needed. After a bit of thought I decided to stay local and do this walk around Cliviger. It might have been a blessing in disguise given that the forecast sunny spells didn't turn up and it was grey and windy.
From the layby on the A646 southeast of Holme Chapel I followed the road back towards the village for a few hundred yards and then I took the footpath into Royd Wood. At the top of the wood I continued on the path to Dean Scout, up Dean Scout and then on to the top of Thieveley Pike. After crossing Heald Moor I descended into Calderdale to reach the A646. I then crossed the railway line through the valley, took the path past Dean Farm and up the hill and across the moorland of Black Scout. When I reached some farm buildings there was just a short descent of a field and a wood to reach the A646 and the layby.
Route map
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Out of Royd Wood and heading for the little ridge of Dean Scout
The Cliviger gorge from the bottom of Dean Scout with the crags of Thieveley Scout on the right
On the summit of Thieveley Pike
The view from Thieveley Pike. Looking southeast along the moors of the watershed to Freeholds Top.
Across Rossendale to the West Pennine Moors
Great Hameldon and the faint outline of the fells of the Forest of Bowland in the distance
Pendle Hill
Boulsworth Hill, Hoof Stones Height and the Coal Clough windfarm
The Rossendale valley below
Heading across a boggy Heald Moor
and down into Calderdale
Crossing the railway line to the other side of the valley
A last chance to look down Calderdale to Stoodley Pike before I cross the moorland of Black Scout
The waterfalls of Ratten Clough
Looking across Cliviger to Thieveley Scout
Pendle Hill comes into view as I head down off Black Scout