Bowland & Pendle Walks
Pendle Hill
Date: 1st January 2012
Distance: 5.8 miles
Ascent: 1229 feet
Time: 2 hours 25 mins
With: On my own
Start Grid Ref: SD823403
Walk Summary:
A soggy walk on to Pendle Hill to celebrate the New Year. Not much in the way of views, an impressive hail shower though.
Route Summary: Barley - Lower Ogden Reservoir - Upper Ogden Reservoir - Ogden Clough - Pendle Hill - Pendle House - Pendle Way - Barley
Photos: Click on the photos below to enlarge.
Walk Detail: It had been just over six years since my first and up to this point only walk up on to Pendle Hill, one of the most iconic of Pennine hills. I'd decided therefore that it was high time that I went back there again, especially since I wanted to try a route from Barley, having started from Downham last time.
Any hope that the sunshine and showers that had been forecast would prove to be a reality were quashed on the drive out to Barley in incessant and often heavy rain. Fortunately the rain relented somewhat for the first half of the walk as I took the 'long' route up via the two Ogden Reservoirs and Ogden Clough. It was a nice approach if somewhat muddy underfoot after all the recent rainfall.
Just before I reached the slabbed path leading from the top of the clough to the summit of the hill the rain began to pick up and the cloud dropped further. By the time I reached the summit visibility was virtually zero and my waterproof jacket was being sorely tested by the elements. Shortly after leaving the trig point I walked head on into a rather tasty hail shower.
Rather than taking the direct steep route off the hill I walked south for a while before doubling back on a slanting path which led me down to Pendle House. Along the way I made it back under the cloud level and was able to enjoy some limited views of Barley and the immediate surrounds.
Even taking into account the bad weather I'd been surprised at how few people I'd seen but as I made my way back to Barley I began to pass the crowds heading in the opposite direction. I have to admit that for some reason I felt rather smug knowing that I'd soon be dry again whilst they were all going to get extremely wet!
Follow me on ...
