5th December 2020 - Twiston Moor and Wheathead Height
Walk Details
Distance walked: 5.1 miles
Total ascent: 780 ft
OS map used: OL21 - South Pennines
Time taken: 4.5 hrs
Route description: Black Moss Road-Twiston Moor-Rimington Moor-Wheathead Height-Wheathead Lane-Black Moss Road
My local walk this weekend has taken me back to the moorland to the east of Pendle Hill. I decided to start from the layby at the top of Black Moss Road as this would give me options for different routes. One of them was an ascent of Pendle Hill but I decided against it when I saw the cloud covering its top and the soft, slushy snow that I would have to negotiate. My other planned route it was then, across Twiston Moor, Rimington Moor and Wheathead Height, and since I used the footpaths that I was going to follow just a matter of weeks ago, I knew that I would have no problems with finding my way. After that dull and grey start it brightened up in the afternoon to sunny spells, and with it being a short route I had plenty of time for enjoying the great views across to the Yorkshire Dales.
From where I parked in the layby at the top of Black Moss Road I walked south along the road to the first right hand bend where I took the public footpath on the left. I then followed this path across a field to a squeeze stile in a wall, which I crossed, and then another on the left for a footpath north across Twiston Moor. At the northern end of Twiston Moor I crossed a stile and made my way east to a gate, went through and followed a track east above Smithy Fold to a steep sided clough. I left the track here for a footpath up by the clough and then across it to pick up a footpath east across Rimington Moor. At the eastern end of Rimington Moor I picked up the footpath above Tory Log Clough signposted for Jackson's House which I followed up onto the top of Rimington Moor and to the top of the track on Wheathead Height. I then walked down the track from Wheathead Height to Wheathead Lane, which I walked up and onto Black Moss Road, for a return to the layby at its top.
Total ascent: 780 ft
OS map used: OL21 - South Pennines
Time taken: 4.5 hrs
Route description: Black Moss Road-Twiston Moor-Rimington Moor-Wheathead Height-Wheathead Lane-Black Moss Road
My local walk this weekend has taken me back to the moorland to the east of Pendle Hill. I decided to start from the layby at the top of Black Moss Road as this would give me options for different routes. One of them was an ascent of Pendle Hill but I decided against it when I saw the cloud covering its top and the soft, slushy snow that I would have to negotiate. My other planned route it was then, across Twiston Moor, Rimington Moor and Wheathead Height, and since I used the footpaths that I was going to follow just a matter of weeks ago, I knew that I would have no problems with finding my way. After that dull and grey start it brightened up in the afternoon to sunny spells, and with it being a short route I had plenty of time for enjoying the great views across to the Yorkshire Dales.
From where I parked in the layby at the top of Black Moss Road I walked south along the road to the first right hand bend where I took the public footpath on the left. I then followed this path across a field to a squeeze stile in a wall, which I crossed, and then another on the left for a footpath north across Twiston Moor. At the northern end of Twiston Moor I crossed a stile and made my way east to a gate, went through and followed a track east above Smithy Fold to a steep sided clough. I left the track here for a footpath up by the clough and then across it to pick up a footpath east across Rimington Moor. At the eastern end of Rimington Moor I picked up the footpath above Tory Log Clough signposted for Jackson's House which I followed up onto the top of Rimington Moor and to the top of the track on Wheathead Height. I then walked down the track from Wheathead Height to Wheathead Lane, which I walked up and onto Black Moss Road, for a return to the layby at its top.
Route map
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A snowy Wheathead Height in the distance from the layby I'm parked in on Black Moss Road
A cloud topped Pendle Hill as I head up onto Twiston Moor..
It's all a bit dull and bleak at the moment
The extensive view to the north to the Forest of Bowland and the Yorkshire Dales starts to appear as I reach the northern end of Twiston Moor
A snow and cloud topped Pendle Hill
There seems to be some brightness in the distance over the western fells of the Yorkshire Dales. I hope it heads this way.
A zoom in reveals sunshine on a snow covered Ingleborough..
On the track above Smithy Fold..
Looking back to Pendle Hill
Pendle Hill from the western end of Rimington Moor
Looking east across Rimington Moor to a snow topped Weets Hill. It seems to be brightening up quite nicely.
Pendle Hill looms over Rimington Moor
The cloud has cleared enough for a clear view across to Ingleborough and Penyghent in the Yorkshire Dales..
Snow on Jackson Slack Hill
Pendle Hill from the eastern end of Rimington Moor
Sunshine bathes a distant Ingleborough
Zooming in on Pendle Hill. I could see people walking up to the summit.
Looking across to a snow covered Weets Hill
and north to Ingleborough and Penyghent from the top of Tory Log Clough
Ingleborough..
..and Penyghent
Looking north to the Forest of Bowland, Ingleborough and Penyghent as I head up onto the top of Rimington Moor
Pendle Hill and the broad expanse of Rimington Moor
The ruins of Firber House and Pendle Hill from the top of Rimington Moor
The Forest of Bowland, Ingleborough and Penyghent to the north on the other side of the Ribble Valley
In a matter of minutes Pendle Hill develops a banner of cloud..
Weets Hill and Burn Moor
Boulsworth Hill in the distance from Wheathead Height
A snow covered Ingleborough in the distance
Following the track from Wheathead Height down to Wheathead Lane...
A snow covered Boulsworth Hill and Hoof Stones Height beyond the towns of Colne and Nelson
I spotted this OS benchmark on a fallen gatepost next to the track
A short detour along a public footpath into a field next to Wheathead Lane gives me a great view of the Black Moss Reservoirs and Pendle Hill
The Black Moss Reservoirs and Pendle Hill from Black Moss Road
The Black Moss Reservoirs as I walk up Black Moss Road to where I'm parked
I finish with a quick visit onto Twiston Moor to watch the sun set behind Pendle Hill....
