Pennine Walker, a photographic walking diary

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2nd May 2016 - Earl Crag

Walk Details

Distance walked: 6.9 miles

Total ascent: 1094 ft

OS map used: OL21 - South Pennines

Time taken: 3 hrs

Route description: Ickornshaw-Gill Lane-Lane House Road-Hill End Lane-Moss End Lane-A6068-Reedshaw Lane-Park Lane-Lumb Lane-Close Lane-Piper Lane-Earl Crag-Dick Lane-Cowling-Ickornshaw Beck-Cinder Hill Lane-Ickornshaw


Not the best of weather for a bank holiday Monday but with the forecast for the morning rain to clear early in the afternoon I decided to do a relatively short walk in the South Pennines, from Ickornshaw, just off the Colne Road between Colne and Cross Hills. The skies were clearing as I parked up and I enjoyed some warm sunny spells as I made my way round but with a very strong blustery wind up on Earl Crag.

​After parking outside the church on Gill Lane in Ickornshaw I walked north up Gill Lane then west up Lane House Road and Hill End Lane, then south on Moss End Lane to reach the A6068. After crossing the main road I continued the road walking along Reedshaw Lane and Park Lane to the byway of Close Lane. I followed this down and across Dean Brow Beck and up to Piper Lane. A brief walk east up this road and I took the second footpath on the left north to pick up the path east up onto Earl Crag. I then had an enjoyable walk between the two monuments on Earl Crag, Wainman's Pinnacle and Lund's Tower. Time to make my way back. A walk down Dick Lane to Cowling, a walk across a few fields and along an alley to the main road. Across the road and then along a path down to a footbridge over Ickornshaw Beck, on its other side I picked up Cinder Hill Lane which I followed west back to the church in Ickornshaw.

Route map
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© Crown copyright. All rights reserved. License number PU 100034184.

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The sun is out on Cowling Hill as I set off from Ickornshaw
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Looking back as I make my way up Lane House Road..
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..and Hill End Lane with Earl Crag on the right
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Have crossed the Colne road I'm now heading for Earl Crag on the byway of Close Lane..
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The hills around Lothersdale come into view as I get onto the hillside that Earl Crag is a part of
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The village of Cowling below
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Pendle Hill in the distance as I reach the start of Earl Crag
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Wainman's Pinnacle now in sight
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Cross Hills round the corner
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Looking across the valley of Holme Beck to the hill of Gib with the moors on the eastern side of Airedale; Barden Moor, Skipton Moor and Farnhill Moor, on the right
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Wainman's Pinnacle backed by Pendle Hill and Cowling
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Certainly modest crags but they provide a nice walk with good views as I follow them east to Lund's Tower...
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There are steps to the top but it was very windy today and I would have had to take my rucksack off so that I could get up them
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From here I can make out Flasby Fell and Barden Moor beyond Skipton with Skipton Moor and Farnhill Moor on the right
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The hills around Lothersdale, including Pinhaw Beacon in the centre of the photo. I was there on Saturday.
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Cross Hills, Sutton-in-Craven and Steeton with Rivock Moor in the distance
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Heading down to Cowling
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Looking back up to Earl Crag
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Across the footbridge over Ickornshaw Beck
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and then on Cinder Hill Lane back to Ickornshaw

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© Alan Kilduff 2016-2023                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      
  • HOME
  • About this site
  • Walking Diaries
    • Walking Diary 2022
    • Walking Diary 2021
    • Walking Diary 2020
    • Walking Diary 2019
    • Walking Diary 2018
    • Walking Diary 2017
    • Walking Diary 2016
    • Walking Diary 2015
    • Walking Diary 2014
    • Walking Diary 2013
    • Walking Diary 2012
    • Walking Diary 2011
    • Walking Diary 2010
    • Walking Diary 2009
    • Walking Diary 2008
  • Lake District Walks
  • Peak District Walks
  • Yorkshire Dales Walks
  • Forest of Bowland, Pendle & West Pennine Moors Walks
  • South Pennines Walks
  • Walks in other areas
  • Links Page