2nd September 2023 - Twiston Moor and Pendle Hill
Walk Details
Distance walked: 14.1 miles
Total ascent: 2287 ft
OS map used: OL41 - Forest of Bowland & Ribblesdale
Time taken: 7.5 hrs
Route description: Downham-Twiston-Smithy Fold-Twiston Moor-Black Moss Road-Lower Black Moss Reservoir-Barley-Barley Fold-Newchurch in Pendle-Pendle Way-Saddlers Height-Driver Height-Spence Moor-Deerstones-Mearley Moor-Worston Moor-Downham Moor-Pendle Hill-Downham Moor-Pendle Road-Downham
I first walked from Downham across Twiston Moor to Barley and then back across Pendle Hill earlier this year. Having really enjoyed it I've decided to do that route again for my first walk of this weekend, but with a bit of a change to make the most of the good weather and stay up on the moors as much as possible. Instead of walking up Ogden Clough to the top of Pendle Hill from Barley I took to the moors to the west of Newchurch-in-Pendle and Ogden Clough, which meant that I actually got to walk on some new territory and also take in the views from the western side of Pendle Hill. I had some fine early autumn weather for this walk, with mixture of warm sunny spells, patchy cloud, and good visibility, although a bit of haze restricted long distance views.
From the car park in Downham I made my way to Pendle Road and then along Town End Road to take a footpath east across fields to Twiston Beck, then up to Hill Foot Farm and the hamlet of Twiston. After a brief walk south along the road through Twiston I turned left and took the lane to Smithy Fold, then from the end of the lane a track up onto Twiston Moor. I then made my way south across Twiston Moor using a walled track and footpath to a stile in the wall at the southern end of the moor, which after crossing I turned right and followed the footpath to Black Moss Road. There was then a brief walk west along Black Moss Road to take a permissive path on the left down to Lower Black Moss Reservoir, and from there I walked down a track from the reservoir to the village of Barley. After a break for lunch in Barley I briefly walked south up Cross Lane to take a bridleway on the left at Bridge End, then a footpath on the right up a field to Barley Fold and along a track to Cross Lane, which I walked down into Newchurch-in-Pendle. I left Newchurch-in-Pendle by taking the Pendle Way west up onto Saddlers Height, but the trail was soon left as I kept to the moorland by following the footpath west across Driver Height, up and across Spence Moor, and to Deerstones. Once I'd taken in the view from Deerstones I made my way north, crossing the path to Ogden Clough, taking the path across Howcroft Brook and up onto Mearley Moor. I then followed the wall north towards the Scout Cairn on the top of Worston Moor, onwards over Downham Moor and to the trig point and summit. After taking in the view I made my way back to Downham Moor to take the footpath down to Pendle Road. I then took the footpath opposite that makes its way across fields to head back to Downham.
Total ascent: 2287 ft
OS map used: OL41 - Forest of Bowland & Ribblesdale
Time taken: 7.5 hrs
Route description: Downham-Twiston-Smithy Fold-Twiston Moor-Black Moss Road-Lower Black Moss Reservoir-Barley-Barley Fold-Newchurch in Pendle-Pendle Way-Saddlers Height-Driver Height-Spence Moor-Deerstones-Mearley Moor-Worston Moor-Downham Moor-Pendle Hill-Downham Moor-Pendle Road-Downham
I first walked from Downham across Twiston Moor to Barley and then back across Pendle Hill earlier this year. Having really enjoyed it I've decided to do that route again for my first walk of this weekend, but with a bit of a change to make the most of the good weather and stay up on the moors as much as possible. Instead of walking up Ogden Clough to the top of Pendle Hill from Barley I took to the moors to the west of Newchurch-in-Pendle and Ogden Clough, which meant that I actually got to walk on some new territory and also take in the views from the western side of Pendle Hill. I had some fine early autumn weather for this walk, with mixture of warm sunny spells, patchy cloud, and good visibility, although a bit of haze restricted long distance views.
From the car park in Downham I made my way to Pendle Road and then along Town End Road to take a footpath east across fields to Twiston Beck, then up to Hill Foot Farm and the hamlet of Twiston. After a brief walk south along the road through Twiston I turned left and took the lane to Smithy Fold, then from the end of the lane a track up onto Twiston Moor. I then made my way south across Twiston Moor using a walled track and footpath to a stile in the wall at the southern end of the moor, which after crossing I turned right and followed the footpath to Black Moss Road. There was then a brief walk west along Black Moss Road to take a permissive path on the left down to Lower Black Moss Reservoir, and from there I walked down a track from the reservoir to the village of Barley. After a break for lunch in Barley I briefly walked south up Cross Lane to take a bridleway on the left at Bridge End, then a footpath on the right up a field to Barley Fold and along a track to Cross Lane, which I walked down into Newchurch-in-Pendle. I left Newchurch-in-Pendle by taking the Pendle Way west up onto Saddlers Height, but the trail was soon left as I kept to the moorland by following the footpath west across Driver Height, up and across Spence Moor, and to Deerstones. Once I'd taken in the view from Deerstones I made my way north, crossing the path to Ogden Clough, taking the path across Howcroft Brook and up onto Mearley Moor. I then followed the wall north towards the Scout Cairn on the top of Worston Moor, onwards over Downham Moor and to the trig point and summit. After taking in the view I made my way back to Downham Moor to take the footpath down to Pendle Road. I then took the footpath opposite that makes its way across fields to head back to Downham.
Route map
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It's a beautiful morning as I set off from the village of Downham
Leaving Downham beside Downham Beck
Pendle Hill rises to my right
Heading east across fields towards Twiston
To my left, Easington Fell on the other side of the Ribble Valley
On the footpath down to and across Twiston Beck, then up to Twiston...
Looking south across the valley of Twiston Beck to Pendle Hill
In the hamlet of Twiston
From Twiston I walk along the lane to Smithy Fold
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Then up the footpath onto Twiston Moor
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Pendle Hill ahead as I follow the track up onto the moor
Looking back and it's a bit too hazy to really make out the moors above Settle and Malham in the distance
I take the walled track of an "occupation road" south across Twiston Moor, with views across the Ribble Valley behind me...
Pendle Hill looms large above Twiston Moor
The walled track ends and I take the footpath to the southern end of Twiston Moor and out to Black Moss Road..
After a short walk west along Black Moss Road, I then follow a footpath and track down to Lower Black Moss Reservoir
Pendle Hill from Lower Black Moss Reservoir
After a stop for lunch in Barley I take the footpath up to Barley Fold
Pendle Hill from Barley Fold
Newchurch-in-Pendle as I leave it behind by taking the Pendle Way
Barley, the Black Moss Reservoirs, and Stang Top Moor from Saddlers Height
Heading west across Saddlers Height
Pendle Hill to my right
A bit further on and Ogden Clough comes into view
Looking back to Saddlers Height from Driver Height
Views to the south and southeast to Great Hameldon above Accrington..
..and to Boulsworth Hill, Hoof Stones Height, and Thieveley Pike, above Colne, Nelson, and Burnley
Boggy ground underfoot as I head up onto Spence Moor
Crossing Spence Moor and the Forest of Bowland appears ahead
A short diversion to Deerstones to take in the view of Churn Clough Reservoir, Black Hill and Sabden, with the West Pennine Moors in the distance
The Rough, Pendleton Moor, and the Ribble Valley
The view across Pendleton Moor to the Forest of Bowland
Sunlit moorland to cross as I head for Mearley Moor
At the Clayton-le-Moors Harriers cairn at the western end of Mearley Moor
The bulk of Pendle Hill rises to the northeast
Heading north across Mearley Moor and I can make out Ingleborough in the Yorkshire Dales in the distance
The Ribble Valley below as I cross the top of Mearley Brook
At the Scout Cairn, with the Forest of Bowland in the background
Looking back to Mearley Moor
and back across Worston Moor as I head for Downham Moor
Looking up the Ribble Valley from the edge of Worston Moor
This pool on Downham Moor has become a favourite spot for me to stop and take photos. Looking up the Ribble Valley to Ingleborough and Penyghent.
and across the Ribble Valley to the Forest of Bowland
The West Pennine Moors in the distance beyond Spence Moor
Looking across Downham Moor to the summit of Pendle Hill
Views across to the Yorkshire Dales and the Forest of Bowland as I head east across Downham Moor..
Looking back across Downham Moor
At the trig point on the summit of Pendle Hill
The view to the east to Boulsworth Hill in the distance, with the Black Moss Reservoirs, Barley, and Lower Ogden Reservoir below
Looking north along the steep eastern face of Pendle Hill
The Forest of Bowland in the distance beyond Downham Moor
At the eastern edge of Downham Moor. Twiston Moor, Rimington Moor, Wheathead Height, and Weets Hill to the northeast.
Great views to the north across the Ribble Valley as I follow the path down to Pendle Road.....
Heading back to Downham
A last look back up to Pendle Hill