28th September 2025 - Weets Hill and Wheathead Height
Walk Details
Distance walked: 12.0 miles
Total ascent: 2062 ft
OS map used: OL21 - South Pennines
Time taken: 7 hrs
Route description: Blacko Bar Road-Pendle Way-Wheathead Lane-Pendle Way-Admergill Hall Farm-Pendle Way-Blacko Hill-Pendle Way-Gisburn Old Road-Weets Hill-Pennine Bridleway-Howgill Lane-Middop Hall-Whytha Road-Higher Gills Farm-Clough Head Farm-Smithy Fold-Twiston Lane-Twiston Moor-Rimington Moor-Wheathead Height-Wheathead Lane-Pendle Way-Blacko Bar Road
I stayed local for my walk this weekend as I drove a short distance west to do a route across the moorland to the west of where I live in Foulridge. These moors are very familiar to me as a result of the numerous walks that I did across them during the COVID-19 restrictions, but despite that I managed to vary the route to include some footpaths that I hadn't used before, like those from Howgill up to Middop Hall, and from Higher Gills Farm across to Smithy Fold. I set off from Blacko Bar Road with a forecast of a mostly fine early autumn day, a mixture of fair weather cloud and sunny spells. With great visibility I had fantastic views across the Ribble Valley to the Forest of Bowland and the Yorkshire Dales to enjoy from the moors.
From where I parked in the layby on Blacko Bar Road I took the Pendle Way and followed it north to the bridge carrying Wheathead Lane over Admergill Water, then north to Admergill Hall Farm, by Admergill Water, up to and across the A682 and by Admergill Pasture Cottage up onto Blacko Hill, and then north to Gisburn Old Road. I then walked up Gisburn Old Road to its top at Weets House Farm, and from there I took the path to the top of Weets Hill. After a stop to take in the view, I returned to the top of Gisburn Old Road and took the Pennine Bridleway and followed it north until I reached Howgill Lane, which took me west and across the A682 and down to Howgill. When I reached a footpath on the left at the bottom of the hill I took it and followed it up to Middop Hall. From Middop Hall I then walked west along Whytha Road (with a stop for lunch), passing Whytha Farm, then turned left took the track up to Higher Gills Farm. I followed the footpath through Higher Gills Farm and then across to Clough Head Farm to walk west along the lane through Smithy Fold to Twiston Lane. I turned left and then briefly walked up Twiston Lane to a public footpath sign on the left, which I took up onto Twiston Moor. Once up on Twiston Moor I made my way to the western end of a track above Smithy Fold. I walked down the track to where it turned left, and I turned right and took the footpath down to and across Clough Beck and then east across Rimington Moor. From the eastern end of Rimington Moor I took the footpath signposted for Jackson's House and followed it south up onto the top of Rimington Moor and then south to Wheathead Height, where I kept on the footpath towards Jackson's House before picking up a track and following it down to Wheathead Lane. I turned left and walked down the road to the bridge over Admergill Water, where I joined the Pendle Way and retraced my steps back to Blacko Bar Road.
Total ascent: 2062 ft
OS map used: OL21 - South Pennines
Time taken: 7 hrs
Route description: Blacko Bar Road-Pendle Way-Wheathead Lane-Pendle Way-Admergill Hall Farm-Pendle Way-Blacko Hill-Pendle Way-Gisburn Old Road-Weets Hill-Pennine Bridleway-Howgill Lane-Middop Hall-Whytha Road-Higher Gills Farm-Clough Head Farm-Smithy Fold-Twiston Lane-Twiston Moor-Rimington Moor-Wheathead Height-Wheathead Lane-Pendle Way-Blacko Bar Road
I stayed local for my walk this weekend as I drove a short distance west to do a route across the moorland to the west of where I live in Foulridge. These moors are very familiar to me as a result of the numerous walks that I did across them during the COVID-19 restrictions, but despite that I managed to vary the route to include some footpaths that I hadn't used before, like those from Howgill up to Middop Hall, and from Higher Gills Farm across to Smithy Fold. I set off from Blacko Bar Road with a forecast of a mostly fine early autumn day, a mixture of fair weather cloud and sunny spells. With great visibility I had fantastic views across the Ribble Valley to the Forest of Bowland and the Yorkshire Dales to enjoy from the moors.
From where I parked in the layby on Blacko Bar Road I took the Pendle Way and followed it north to the bridge carrying Wheathead Lane over Admergill Water, then north to Admergill Hall Farm, by Admergill Water, up to and across the A682 and by Admergill Pasture Cottage up onto Blacko Hill, and then north to Gisburn Old Road. I then walked up Gisburn Old Road to its top at Weets House Farm, and from there I took the path to the top of Weets Hill. After a stop to take in the view, I returned to the top of Gisburn Old Road and took the Pennine Bridleway and followed it north until I reached Howgill Lane, which took me west and across the A682 and down to Howgill. When I reached a footpath on the left at the bottom of the hill I took it and followed it up to Middop Hall. From Middop Hall I then walked west along Whytha Road (with a stop for lunch), passing Whytha Farm, then turned left took the track up to Higher Gills Farm. I followed the footpath through Higher Gills Farm and then across to Clough Head Farm to walk west along the lane through Smithy Fold to Twiston Lane. I turned left and then briefly walked up Twiston Lane to a public footpath sign on the left, which I took up onto Twiston Moor. Once up on Twiston Moor I made my way to the western end of a track above Smithy Fold. I walked down the track to where it turned left, and I turned right and took the footpath down to and across Clough Beck and then east across Rimington Moor. From the eastern end of Rimington Moor I took the footpath signposted for Jackson's House and followed it south up onto the top of Rimington Moor and then south to Wheathead Height, where I kept on the footpath towards Jackson's House before picking up a track and following it down to Wheathead Lane. I turned left and walked down the road to the bridge over Admergill Water, where I joined the Pendle Way and retraced my steps back to Blacko Bar Road.
Route map
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Setting off from Blacko Bar Road, I follow the Pendle Way north to the bridge carrying Wheathead Lane over Admergill Water..
After crossing Wheathead Lane, I take the Pendle Way north to Admergill Hall Farm
Following the Pendle Way past Admergill Hall Farm, and then up the valley of Admergill Water..
Looking back down the valley of Admergill Water
At Admergill Pasture Cottage
Stansfield Tower on Blacko Hill
Keeping on the Pendle Way, I follow it north to Gisburn Old Road
Blacko Hill, the Forest of Pendle and Pendle Hill
Heading up Gisburn Old Road
Looking back down Gisburn Old Road with Boulsworth Hill in the distance
I leave the Pennine Bridleway and head up onto Weets Hill
At the eastern end of the hill. Great Whernside and Barden Moor in the distance, Pinhaw Beacon on the right, and Barnoldswick below.
Looking north to the Yorkshire Dales and the moors above Settle and Malham
The top of Pendle Hill in the distance
Pendle Hill from the trig point on Weets Hill
Great Whernside and Barden Moor to the northeast
Looking across the Ribble Valley to the Forest of Bowland, and to Pendle Hill..
One last shot across the summit. It's a lovely morning to be up here.
Heading back to Weets House Farm
Looking across the Ribble Valley to the southern fells of the Forest of Bowland
Heading north on the Pennine Bridleway...
I stay on the Pennine Bridleway after it crosses Stocks Lane..
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..then leave it to walk west along Howgill Lane
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The Forest of Bowland and Ingleborough in the distance from Howgill Lane
I stay on Howgill Lane after crossing the A682
Sunshine on Pendle Hill from the footpath up to Middop Hall
and looking back across the Ribble Valley to the Forest of Bowland and Ingleborough
Reaching Middop Hall
From Middop Hall I walk west along Whytha Road to and past Whytha Farm..
Looking back along Whytha Road with Weets Hill in the distance on the right
and as I head up the track to Higher Gills Farm
Making my way down the track to Higher Gills Farm
A great view across the Ribble Valley to my right
Higher Gills Farm
From Higher Gills Farm I take the footpath across to Clough Head Farm..
Walking along the lane through Smithy Fold to Twiston Lane
From Twiston Lane I take a footpath up onto Twiston Moor. There are great views across to the Forest of Bowland and the Yorkshire Dales as I gain height.
Pendle Hill's "Big End" from Twiston Moor
Looking east to Weets Hill in shadow
I take a track along the northern edge of the moor above Smithy Fold. More fantastic views across the Ribble Valley to the Forest of Bowland, and Ingleborough, Penyghent, the hills above Settle and Malham, and Great Whernside in the distance in the Yorkshire Dales. I could take them in for hours....
Looking back along the track to Pendle Hill
The Forest of Bowland and Ingleborough from the western end of Rimington Moor
Heading east across Rimington Moor
Pendle Hill from Rimington Moor
Ingleborough, Penyghent, and the moors above Settle and Malham in the distance from the eastern end of Rimington Moor
Wheathead Height above
The view across the Ribble Valley to the Forest of Bowland, Ingleborough and Penyghent as I head south up onto Wheathead Height
The Black Moss Reservoirs, Pendle Hill, and the ruins of Firber House from Wheathead Height
On Wheathead Height
The countryside around Blacko and across to Boulsworth Hill, as I take the footpath from Wheathead Height down towards Jackson's House
Heading down the track to Wheathead Lane..
On Wheathead Lane at Lanefield
On the Pendle Way by Admergill Water back to Black Bar Road