One Hill… So Many Ways to Climb it

Five circular routes to the top of Pendle, plus a low-level alternative for when the weather is less than ideal

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2 Fence via Newchurch and the steps – the more challenging route Downham via Twiston – the scenic route Spring Wood via Wiswell – the quiet route Sabden Circular – the low-level valley route (for when the cloud is down) Pendleton – the classic route

Contains Ordnance Survey data © Crown copyright and database right 2022

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1 Fence: the more challenging route

A challenging route via the pretty village of Newchurch with multiple climbs and a steep sustained ascent to the summit trig point. This route starts from Fence and traverses the foothills of Pendle, offering tantalising glimpses of the hill on the walk in before starting a long ascent to the ‘Big End’. Clocks up almost 700 metres of ascent all told.

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Factfile

Start/parking: The White Swan, Fence. Park with consideration on street in Fence. Please do not use the pub car park unless you have a table reservation. Distance: 13.3km/8.2miles Duration: 4 ½ hours Ascent: 680m Terrain: Field paths. Uneven ground, mud and some very steep ascents/descents Difficulty: Challenging Refreshments: The Barley Mow, Barley: Booking advised: 01282 690868.

2 Downham: the scenic route

A sustained climb through the foothills of Pendle followed by a very steep ascent up the escarpment of the ‘Big end’ to reach the summit trig point with its panoramic views. An equally steep initial descent followed by a gentler amble through pretty pastureland to return to the startpoint in the gorgeous village of Downham.

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Factfile

Start/parking: Free car park opposite ice cream shop over bridge in village of Downham. Distance: 10.1km/6.2miles Duration: 3 ½ hours Ascent: 470m Terrain: Field paths. Uneven ground, mud and some very steep ascents/descents Difficulty: Challenging Refreshments: The Assheton Arms, Downham. Booking advised: 01200 439699. (Check before visiting, as the pub is currently between ownership: noted Jan 22)

3 Clitheroe: the car-free route

Leave the car at home and travel to the pretty market town of Clitheroe by train for a car-free expedition up Pendle. This route quickly moves from town into countryside and up onto the summit plateau via one of the many valleys or ‘cloughs’ on Pendle’s flanks, before returning to the station via a pretty hamlet which boasts one of Britain’s best pubs.

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Factfile

Start: Clitheroe Railway Station. Distance: 14.8km/9.2miles Duration: 4 hours Ascent: 450m Terrain: Tracks and field paths. Uneven ground, mud and some steep ascents/descents Difficulty: Challenging Refreshments: The Station Hotel, Clitheroe. Booking recommended: 01200 425464

4 Spring Wood via Wiswell: the quiet route

Take the path less trodden up onto the main ridge of Pendle, ascending beneath the ramparts of an ancient hillfort at Portfield Bar and following a lonely drovers’ path above the Sabden Valley, before climbing steeply past an old quarry and up onto the main ridge before returning via the Nick of Pendle and descending into the pretty hamlet of Wiswell where one of England’s best gastropubs serves hearty local fare in an informal setting.

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Factfile

Start/parking: Spring Wood pay and display car park A671 near Whalley. Distance: 13.2km/8.2miles Duration: 4 hours Ascent: 415m Terrain: Tracks and field paths. Uneven ground, mud and some steep ascents/ descents Difficulty: Challenging Refreshments: The Freemasons, Wiswell. Booking essential: 01254 822218

5 Sabden Circular: the low-level alternative route

A gentler alternative to a summit expedition for those days when the cloud is down or the forecast is uncertain. This route explores the pastures and woodlands of the Sabden valley before heading into the more remote reaches through the pretty ghyll of Stainscomb, with its ancient stone field boundaries, then returning to the startpoint via Churn Clough Reservoir.

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Factfile

Start/parking: Free car park on Clitheroe Road north of Sabden. Distance: 12.8km/7.9miles Duration: 3 ½ hours Ascent: 331m Terrain: Tracks and field paths. Uneven ground, mud and occasional steep ascent/descent Difficulty: Moderate Refreshments: The White Hart, Sabden. Booking advisable: 01282 777862

Use this QR code to view the routes online

www.pendlehillproject. com/summit-else

6 Pendleton: the classic ridge route

This demanding hike climbs steeply from the pretty village of Pendleton, nestling below the Nick of Pendle, and climbs the main ridge before following the valley of Ogden Clough onto the summit plateau and along a flagstone path to the trig point. It then returns via the ‘ridge route’ along the northern flank of the hill before descending steeply to join a bridleway through the foothills and back to the start point.

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Factfile

Start/parking: Pendleton village car park next to pub (honesty box). Distance:14.7km/9.1miles Duration: 4 ½ hours Ascent: 470m Terrain: Tracks and field paths. Uneven ground, mud and some very steep ascents/descents Difficulty: Challenging Refreshments: Swan with Two Necks, Pendleton. Booking advisable: 01200 423112