5th April 2025 - Bowland Knotts and Catlow Fell
Walk Details
Distance walked: 8.3 miles
Total ascent: 1376 ft
OS map used: OL41 - Forest of Bowland & Ribblesdale
Time taken: 5 hrs
Route description: Cross of Greet Bridge-Lythe Fell Road-Kenibus-Pike Side-Bowland Knotts-Cold Stone-Catlow Fell-Cross of Greet-Lythe Fell Road-Cross of Greet Bridge
Despite me doing a long walk from Grassington yesterday I couldn't resist taking the opportunity of heading out for a walk on another beautiful spring day. With an easterly breeze having picked up from yesterday and brought more cloud in from the North Sea, I went west for the best of the sunshine. I decided to head for Gisburn Forest in the Forest of Bowland and do a route that took in Bowland Knotts and Catlow Fell. It's familiar territory, and it was only last April that I was walking across their tops. This corner of the AONB along with the northwestern corner around Clougha Pike are my favourite places in the Forest Bowland. Both have gritstone outcrops and crags to clamber about on, and fantastic views, assuming the weather co-operates. It did today, there was wall-to-wall blue skies and warm spring sunshine, and good visibility for enjoying the long distance views from the tops of the fells.
After parking at the Cross of Greet Bridge I walked south along the Lythe Fell Road until I reached the track to Catlow Farm on the left. I took this track and followed the footpath along it towards Catlow Farm, then by the edge of woodland when the track turned to go up to Catlow Farm to reach another track, which took me to the bottom of the hillside of Pike Side. From here I took a track then footpath up onto the hillside of Pike Side, then a track across Old Moss to reach Keasden Road and Bowland Knotts. I then made my way west along Bowland Knotts to the trig point, where I stopped for lunch, then down and up to Cold Stone, and then up onto and across Catlow Fell. When I reached the wall corner and fence junction at Crowd Stones I followed the fence down to the Lythe Fell Road and the Cross of Greet. I then had a walk down the Lythe Fell Road ahead of me back to the Cross of Greet Bridge.
Total ascent: 1376 ft
OS map used: OL41 - Forest of Bowland & Ribblesdale
Time taken: 5 hrs
Route description: Cross of Greet Bridge-Lythe Fell Road-Kenibus-Pike Side-Bowland Knotts-Cold Stone-Catlow Fell-Cross of Greet-Lythe Fell Road-Cross of Greet Bridge
Despite me doing a long walk from Grassington yesterday I couldn't resist taking the opportunity of heading out for a walk on another beautiful spring day. With an easterly breeze having picked up from yesterday and brought more cloud in from the North Sea, I went west for the best of the sunshine. I decided to head for Gisburn Forest in the Forest of Bowland and do a route that took in Bowland Knotts and Catlow Fell. It's familiar territory, and it was only last April that I was walking across their tops. This corner of the AONB along with the northwestern corner around Clougha Pike are my favourite places in the Forest Bowland. Both have gritstone outcrops and crags to clamber about on, and fantastic views, assuming the weather co-operates. It did today, there was wall-to-wall blue skies and warm spring sunshine, and good visibility for enjoying the long distance views from the tops of the fells.
After parking at the Cross of Greet Bridge I walked south along the Lythe Fell Road until I reached the track to Catlow Farm on the left. I took this track and followed the footpath along it towards Catlow Farm, then by the edge of woodland when the track turned to go up to Catlow Farm to reach another track, which took me to the bottom of the hillside of Pike Side. From here I took a track then footpath up onto the hillside of Pike Side, then a track across Old Moss to reach Keasden Road and Bowland Knotts. I then made my way west along Bowland Knotts to the trig point, where I stopped for lunch, then down and up to Cold Stone, and then up onto and across Catlow Fell. When I reached the wall corner and fence junction at Crowd Stones I followed the fence down to the Lythe Fell Road and the Cross of Greet. I then had a walk down the Lythe Fell Road ahead of me back to the Cross of Greet Bridge.
Route map
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Starting from the Cross of Greet Bridge I walk south along the Lythe Fell Road
Looking back to Catlow Fell
I leave Lythe Fell Road for the footpath along the track to Catlow Farm..
Across the River Hodder
Looking across to White Hill, and Catlow Farm below Catlow Fell
Following the footpath up Pike Side..
White Hill and Catlow Fell to my left
Looking back to Stocks Reservoir as I reach the top of the footpath up Pike Side
The enticing profile of Bowland Knotts appears ahead
Looking across Gisburn Forest to Whelp Stone Crag
Following the path up to Keasden Road below Bowland Knotts
The highest summit of Bowland Knotts, which has a trig point on it, is the one just to left of centre
Looking back to Pendle Hill and Easington Fell in the distance
Approaching Keasden Road, and I'll cross it and visit the rocky knoll on its other side
Looking back across Pike Side
Having reached Keasden Road I climb up onto the rocky outcrops that mark the eastern end of Bowland Knotts. To the north are Gragareth, Great Coum, Whernside and Ingleborough.
Penyghent, Fountains Fell, and Rye Loaf Hill to the northeast
Looking east to Rye Loaf Hill in the distance on the left, with Gisburn Forest and Whelp Stone Crag on the right
Pendle Hill in the distance, and Keasden Road makes its way down to Stocks Reservoir
Finally, looking west across Keasden Road to the rest of Bowland Knotts, with White Hill and Catlow Fell in the distance
After crossing Keasden Road I pass a bench with a fantastic view
Heading for the Bowland Knotts trig point, which is on top of the rise in the middle
There are lots of boulders and craggy outcrops to pass..
At the trig point on Bowland Knotts
Taking in the view. Starting with looking northeast and east along Bowland Knotts to Penyghent, Fountains Fell, and Rye Loaf Hill in the distance.
Whelp Stone Crag on the other side of Gisburn Forest
Pendle Hill and Easington Fell in the distance to the south
Looking across the valleys of the River Hodder and Keasden Holes to Saddle Hill and White Hill
Cold Stone and Catlow Fell to the west
Finally, looking north and northeast to Gragareth, Great Coum, Whernside, Ingleborough, and Penyghent in the distance
Leaving Bowland Knotts; I cross the stile in the wall ahead, turn left, and head for Cold Stone and Catlow Fell..
Taking in the view to Gragareth, Great Coum, Whernside, and Ingleborough from the dip between Bowland Knotts and Cold Stone
A short but steep climb to Cold Stone
Looking back to Bowland Knotts from Cold Stone
and south to Pendle Hill, Stocks Reservoir and Easington Fell
Looking back to Bowland Knotts as I head up onto Catlow Fell
Approaching the top of Catlow Fell
Whernside, Ingleborough, Penyghent, Fountains Fell, and Rye Loaf Hill in the distance, from the collection of rocks of Ravens Castle..
Looking east back to Bowland Knotts
Pendle Hill to the south
Following the fence across the top of Catlow Fell
Whernside, Ingleborough, Penyghent, Fountains Fell, and Rye Loaf Hill to the northeast and east..
White Hill, Ward's Stone and Caton Moor
Approaching Crowd Stones and the wall/fence junction at the western end of Catlow Fell
Before following the fence down to the Lythe Fell Road I followed this one north to take in the view across Burn Moor to the Lune Valley, and the Yorkshire Dales..
Looking across Lythe Fell to Caton Moor
Following the fence down to the Lythe Fell Road
Looking back to Catlow Fell
Glorious views from the top of the Lythe Fell Road
The boulder has a hole in its top, which once held the Cross of Greet
Walking down the Lythe Fell Road to the Cross of Greet Bridge..
Looking back up to the slopes that have the source of the River Hodder
The final descent to the Cross of Greet Bridge
Blue skies above sun bleached grass as I make it back to Cross of Greet Bridge..
The River Hodder at the Cross of Greet Bridge