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| Pendle's Big End | |
Six people joined Phil Bedson on part 1 of his two part celebratory birthday walk entitled 40km at 40. Both routes would take him up to his favourite trig point atop Pendle Hill, albeit different ways, and this first one started out from Sabden. Nestled in a valley at the western edge the route started out along a well defined track all the way to Dean Farm. This is one of the oldest buildings in the Sabden Vally, not only evident by the multiple mullioned windows but also by the large Latin inscribed datestone. This can still be read and translates as "THIS HOUSE WAS BUILDED BY HUGH MORE SON OF CHRESTOVER MORE, OLDEST BROTHER SON AND LETIS HUGH WIFE, IN THE YEAR OF OUR LORD GOD 1574".
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left:
The track to Dean Farm |
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right: The inscrbed datestone |
Taking the track opposite we then turned left to follow the wall along to Back’ o’ th’ Hill. After a brief pause for a drink our way continued on down a narrow path to again follow a wall edge. It was along this part where we came across a bit of a quagmire that was negotiated extremely gingerly but everyone made it through without mishap. The path continued on through a field to join the road at the end of the track down to Lower Houses. A short distance along the road we took the track past Higher Town to join up with the Pendle Way. This part of the walk was familiar to a couple who had done the Clarion Way walk some four weeks previous and indeed the same route was followed, past Tinedale and Bull-Hole, through to Newchurch-in-Pendle. A well-deserved brew stop was had in the churchyard of St. Mary’s before the next stage.
Taking the small path up by the side of the public conveniences in Newchurch, the group ascended into a field of cows and calves and took great care whilst passing through. We were still following the Pendle Way and would indeed be stuck with it until lunchtime. As we descended down the edge of Fell Wood the clouds rolled in and by the time we were coming out of the trees a few spots of rain could be felt.
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left:
Track down from Tinedale |
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right: Through the trees |
At the western end of Lower Ogden reservoir we stopped to put waterproofs on but after a quick assessment everyone decided they weren’t really needed as once again a blue sky was creeping towards us. We took the track up past Upper Ogden reservoir and followed the well defined path past Cat Holes and Fox Holes to a point where the Pendle Way turned sharp right.
Uphill.
Steeply.
Taking a slow and steady pace we made our way up along Boar Clough and around to the eastern slopes of Pendle Hill. Here we sat for lunch, overlooking a fine view towards Barley and beyond which surely has to be one of the great views in East Lancashire.
With lunch having been eaten we picked up our (considerably lighter) rucksacks and made our way up to the trig point atop Pendle Hill. There were people everywhere and it took a short while before they got out of camera shot!
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left:
Above Upper Ogden Reservoir |
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right: Lunchtime view |
We veered westwards from the trig point to follow the well flagged path down to Ogden Clough. Navigation along this part of the walk is so easy you could do it blindfolded. The well trodden path after the kissing gate following the clough down is also hard to get wrong however leaving this path proved difficult as we somehow missed the turn! The error was soon noticed and rectified without the group even noticing and the way ahead was to take us over Black Hill and on down to Badger Wells Hill. Here we observed grown men flying in the skies either by para-glider or hang-glider. We could see one of these brave souls was waiting to launch himself off the side of the hill and hung around a few moments until the wind was just right for him to hurtle headlong off the edge. Shortly thereafter we came across the model aeroplane fanatics hurtling their machines through the skies too.
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left:
Hang-gliding... |
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right: ...and Para-gliding |
Continuing on our way we soon arrived at the road over the Nick O’ Pendle and turned left to follow the road a short distance. We took the track off to the right along to Parsley Barn and shortly thereafter veered off left down the field to make our way down to Higher Whins. Going past the large posh houses of The Whins we followed the track down to join the main road leading into Sabden. Our route to the cars was however not straight-forward as a deviation by way of The Pendle Witch Inn caused much delight within the group.
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| The group atop Pendle | |
