5th April 2015 - Boulsworth Hill
Walk Details
Distance walked: 8.5 miles
Total ascent: 1919 ft
OS map used: OL21 - South Pennines
Time taken: 6 hrs
Route description: The Atom-Foster's Leap-Haworth Road-Bronte Way-Boulsworth Hill-Bronte Way-Lumb Laithe Farm-Lumb Spout-Lodge Moss Farm-Lodge Hill Farm-Copy House Farm-Wycoller-The Atom
A foggy start this morning, so I waited until it was showing signs of clearing before I set off for Wycoller. I arrived at The Atom car park at about 1100, things were definitely improving but it was another thirty minutes before I put my boots on and set off. Once the fog cleared it turned into a lovely spring afternoon with some spells of warm sunshine.
From The Atom car park I followed the path to the gritstone edge of Foster's Leap, across the hillside to Higher Key Styles Farm and up to the Haworth Road. I then had an uncomfortable ten minutes until I reached the bridleway of the Bronte Way. This then took me across the hillside to Lumb Laithe Farm where I set off up Boulsworth Hill. After visiting the summit I took the path past the Abbot Stone down to the Bronte Way and back to Lumb Laithe Farm. Here, I left the Bronte Way for a field path down to Lodge Moss Farm. A short road walk and then I followed a path across the fields to Wycoller Dean and down to Copy House Farm. On reaching the hamlet of Wycoller I had an uphill finish to the walk back to the car park at The Atom.
Total ascent: 1919 ft
OS map used: OL21 - South Pennines
Time taken: 6 hrs
Route description: The Atom-Foster's Leap-Haworth Road-Bronte Way-Boulsworth Hill-Bronte Way-Lumb Laithe Farm-Lumb Spout-Lodge Moss Farm-Lodge Hill Farm-Copy House Farm-Wycoller-The Atom
A foggy start this morning, so I waited until it was showing signs of clearing before I set off for Wycoller. I arrived at The Atom car park at about 1100, things were definitely improving but it was another thirty minutes before I put my boots on and set off. Once the fog cleared it turned into a lovely spring afternoon with some spells of warm sunshine.
From The Atom car park I followed the path to the gritstone edge of Foster's Leap, across the hillside to Higher Key Styles Farm and up to the Haworth Road. I then had an uncomfortable ten minutes until I reached the bridleway of the Bronte Way. This then took me across the hillside to Lumb Laithe Farm where I set off up Boulsworth Hill. After visiting the summit I took the path past the Abbot Stone down to the Bronte Way and back to Lumb Laithe Farm. Here, I left the Bronte Way for a field path down to Lodge Moss Farm. A short road walk and then I followed a path across the fields to Wycoller Dean and down to Copy House Farm. On reaching the hamlet of Wycoller I had an uphill finish to the walk back to the car park at The Atom.
Route map
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The fog is finally clearing at The Atom
First stop is the gritstone boulders of Foster's Leap. Named in the 17th century after Foster Cunliffe, a relative of the owners of Wycoller Hall, who lept the gap between them in a single bound. Not something that I'll be having a go at.
Looking down Wycoller Dean from Foster's Leap and Pendle Hill is still surrounded by fog
Thank goodness I'm off the Haworth Road and on the Bronte Way. Turning round and there's sunshine on the hillside of Wolf Stones.
Pendle Hill comes into view
Wycoller Dean
The paved nature of the path above Saucer Hole Clough shows how old this route is
Improving views of Pendle Hill as I head up Boulsworth Hill
Wolf Stones and Crow Hill from Weather Stones
Stanbury Moor and Ovenden Moor
Up on the summit of Boulsworth Hill, Lad Law, and its bright white trig point
Looking south towards Calderdale past the gritstone outcrops of Dove Stones
A rather hazy view looking southwest to the moors around Rossendale
There's a great view of Pendle Hill from Boulsworth Hill
and a final shot from the summit. Looking down on the Forest of Trawden.
The Abbot Stone is a great subject for the foreground of a photo
Lovely views looking towards Trawden as I head down
Back on the Bronte Way and I'll be following it east to more or less where I left it earlier to head up Boulsworth Hill
I left the Bronte Way at Lumb Laithe Farm for a field path towards Trawden
The lovely little waterfall of Lumb Spout. Just off my route and worth the detour.
A lovely view of Pendle Hill and Trawden as I take the hillside path to Wycoller
Combe Hill ahead
and Wycoller Dean
Heading down to Wycoller
A last chance for a view up Wycoller Dean
At the packhorse bridge in Wycoller
As I head up to the car park I pass an example of vaccary walling. They date from the 13th century and were put in place to stop cattle straying.
Back at The Atom and there's a great view across to Pendle Hill at the end of a lovely afternoon
