Allen & Southey stared mournfully out of the window. "Will this rain ever stop", complained Southey.
"It's just got to", replied Allen. "Over three weeks since our last walk, this incessant rain is preventing us getting to Pendle Hill to finish the challenge."
Tetley commented, "I thought we were on for last Friday, but yet again the forecast deteriorated."
Shaun, Grizzly and Little Eric then arrived carrying the flasks and cake tin."
"Well here at least is something to cheer you up", said Southey.
"Yes", replied Allen, "cakes and tea!"
He and Tetley went to get the mugs and plates then Tetley helped Shaun, pour the tea.
"What are the cakes today?", asked Southey.
"Chocolate caramel shortbread that Little Eric has made, and I have made coconut and cherry slice", replied Grizzly.
"Lovely", cheered Allen. "Just the thing to cheer us up on this awful day."
We all tucked in, Shaun saying, "they are both delicious. Thanks pals."
"Dad and Uncle Brian are off to Armathwaite Hall next weekend, so it would be good if we got the opportunity to get Pendle Hill done before", mused Little Eric.
"We are doing it with Uncle Eric, and there are two potential walk days in the diary", responded Allen. A few more taps with his paw, and he went on, "of the two Wednesday has the best forecast."
"So we will just have to keep our paws crossed then", said Southey.
Well the forecast held and after speaking to Uncle Eric on Tuesday evening, Dad came to tell us the walk was on.
"Great", cheered Tetley. "What time are we setting off?"
"The plan is to start walking at 10:00, so bearing in mind the distance and negotiating the rush hour traffic, we need to leave home at 08:45."
The Walk
And as well we did too, because for starters it took 30 minutes to drive the few miles through Lancaster to the M6. "Roll on the completion of the Heysham to M6 link road when we won't have to go through Lancaster", said Tetley, as Dad swung up on to the motorway."
Once on the M65 we had expected to make good time, but to our surprise the traffic was crawling. "We have never been on this motorway at rush hour" said Grizzly, "so clearly we now know what it is like."
"Would be better if it had been built all three lane, instead of the stretches of two-,three-, two-lanes", remarked Allen.
Finally we made it to junction 8, where we left the motorway, and in about 20 minutes, we had reached Barley. The car park was almost empty in contrast to last time when there was barely a space due to the relay race up Pendle Hill, our objective today of course. There first and early we waited until Uncle Eric arrived, calling out, "good morning."
"Hi lads", Uncle Eric replied, "nice to see you all."
Quickly now they were ready, and off we went to climb our final Bowland & Pendle summit.
The day was dry throughout with some sun but quite cold in the wind. However this was a welcome change after all the heavy rain over the recent weeks.
At the main road, Shaun said, "we go along the tarmac lane opposite."
This private road led up the Ogden Valley, another water catchment for Lancashire built in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, coming first to Lower Ogden Reservoir.
Then continued beside the reservoir and on towards the dam of Upper Ogden Reservoir
The outfall can be seen. Tetley commented, "the water looks like ribbons."
In close up the reason could seen from the offset placing of the stones.
Beyond the reservoir the track became unsurfaced and then just a narrow path to a kissing gate and on to drop down to cross the ravine of Boar Clough.
"The path should now turn uphill above the Clough", informed Shaun.
"Here", called out Grizzly, pointing to a small inscribed stone sign.
"I like these", said Little Eric. "Much more interesting than ordinary waymarks.
"Similar to those we have seen on the Wyre Way", went on Allen.
The rough path climbed steeply to gain the top of the ravine of Boar Clough, after which the gradient eased as we walked on to a junction, where there was another inscribed stone.
Tetley scratched his head, saying, "this appears to indicate we go left, but clearly the route is right across the stream."
"You're right pal", agreed Shaun. Then turning to face the way we had come, he said, "I see now, this is intended to point the route if you are descending."
So we strolled on, the wide peaty path climbing more gently.
The way was never in doubt as the frequent cairns were a clear guide. At first the path ran north, then bent right in a north-easterly direction, before swinging north once again.
"Wow what a huge cairn!", exclaimed Southey.
"That is perhaps because it marks a junction of paths", said Shaun. "In fact from the summit we have to double back to here and take the fork left."
Beyond the cairn we topped a short rise and there in view was the summit trig point on its slightly raised cobble stoned circular plinth.
Arriving, we all let out a cheer, and Dad waved his stick in the air.
"Yippee", shouted Little Eric, "the Bowland & Pendle challenge is complete."
"Wonderful", cheered Southey, jumping up and down. "I now have one challenge to my name."
Too windy we had to be content to sit at the bottom of the trig point while Dad took our picture.
"There's Upper & Lower Black Moss Reservoirs, that we walked past on the way to Wheathead Height", pointed Tetley.
"And then open area to the left of the forest is Stang Top Moor, the other summit we climbed that day", said Grizzly
Allen said, "if Dad stands behind the trig point he can hold us while we sit on top. Would you take our picture, Uncle Eric?"
"Certainly, lads", he replied.
We think Dad looks a bit of a one in that hat. "Rather like Compo from Last of the Summer Wine", suggested Shaun.
While there quite a number of walkers reached the top, showing how popular this fell is. "It can perhaps be considered the Helvellyn of Pendle, from the popularity", mused Tetley.
So it was back the way we had come to the junction by the large cairn, taking the left fork. The path ran above the steep east facing side of the fell, and fairly soon cut back left, descending to finally reach a gate. We were now on the Pendle Way again as the signs indicated.
Across a pasture and through a gate brought us on to the access road to Pendle House.
"The Pendle Way is right", said Shaun.
"Hmm, but not through the grounds", replied Little Eric.
Two young men were approaching another gate into the field we had just crossed, and asking them they said that the right of way went behind the house.
Once past, the route was plain through a kissing gate and on across the next field, where beyond the next gate it became a narrow path.
This was soil, reinforced and cobbled at times as via a number of kissing gates took us past Brown House, where these sheep statues stood on the garden...
... and so on to pass Ings End and then as signed across the footbridge to the right.
The clear path took us quite shortly over another footbridge, and then soon into Barley turning right on the main street to the car park.
We quickly decamped to the car to enjoy our picnic of sandwiches cake and tea.
Dad and Uncle Eric had brought sandwiches, but now decided instead to have a meal at the cafe in the car park, called The Cabin. Dad had an all day breakfast with a doorstop slice of toast (over half inch thick) and butter with a pot of tea. Uncle Eric a bacon and sausage bap and a hot chocolate. "The food was good at the cafe", Dad told us on the way home.
We all felt euphoric getting the challenge completed and went off home, having said our goodbyes to Uncle Eric, a very happy group.
" And what now?", wondered Southey.
"Well there are still some low walks that we may be able find in Bowland", replied Shaun.
Little Eric piped up, "and time to get back to the Lake District?"
"Yes lad", agreed Dad. "I have neglected progressing your Wainwrights this year, despite saying I would take you to complete books 2 and 6, so that will have to be rectified next year."
"That would be wonderful, but I still say, you do not need to climb them all again just for me", said Little Eric.
