THE FOREST OF BOWLAND & PENDLE FELLS

The fells in this Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, had until the CRoW (Countryside Rights of Way Act) been largely off limits to walkers. During Spring 2015, Dad took us to explore the Lancashire countryside, and to climb Fair Snape Fell which had long been an ambition. We poured over the map and saw that there were other summits waiting to be explored and so the challenge to climb all the fells in the Forest of Bowland and the nearby Pendle area, was born. An initial listing of 21 tops was found falling under the classification of Bridgets. This included Arnside Knott, near to where we live, but not actually in the Forest of Bowland. We however include all fell summits regardless of classification, so already at the end of May 2015 a further 5 had been added. By July, the list had expanded to 45 after inspecting a list on Matthew O'Brien's superb My Pennines website. So, we can look forward to more days exploring this beautiful area. The completion of the challenge was on 25th November 2015, when we summited Pendle Hill.

And the boring bit, the stats!

No of walks	Distance (miles)	Ascent (ft)
23	179.5	31220

Currently the individual climbed status of each member is :-

Last updates - 14th June 2020 - Brock Valley & Beacon Fell
The plan had been to climb to Darwen Tower, but the very strong winds caused us decide to do this walk from the Brock Valley picnic site instead. The first part took us along a quiet lane then steeply up over fields and through woodland to come eventually to the Beacon Fell Country Park visitor centre and on to reach the summit, last visited in 2015. Now tracks led us down to the road, on and on via road and paths to Bleasdale. Here we walked up to the school and diverted to visit the church. A lane led to a path to Weaver's Farm, then it on and on through woods and clearings near the River Brock, to Waddecar Scout Activity Centre. From here climbed to Snape Rake Lane, and followed this as it became a rough track down to the river again. Keeping on the same side he path led through more delightful woodland and clearing to a house where joined the access, we then left this right to come by the river and walk to reach eventually Brock Mill. Then just a short way to the car park. A lovely day.

25th May 2020 - Fair Snape Fell & Parlick from Startifants Lane

With the restrictions due to COVID-19 being relaxed, Dad decided to take us to do these two summits again. These are very popular and being bank holiday many people had the same idea, and as such we had to park quite a way back on Startifants Lane from the corner. Our route was right on the tarmac drive to Wolfen Hall. At the second cattle grid climbed the waymarked stile on the right to walk ahead over pasture so avoiding the hall. Crossed a tarmac track to a stile by a gate on the left, then in a short way right over a stile, then along by the fence on the left and over a footbridge. On then to a stile by a gate after which the footpath descended right into a small valley of the Chipping Brook, where the bluebells made a magnificent sight. Crossed the footbridge then climbed by the fence on the left to a stile at the top of the slope. Continued ahead by the fence on the left to a stile by the next gate. Now half right over pasture guided by white topped posts to cross a tiny footbridge then stile in the fence, the path then being through the trees by the fence on the left to a stile and steps down to the access to Saddle End Farm. Went left through the farmyard via two gates. Thankfully the spring bolt on second had been fixed so did not fall out like last time. Now we kept left by the wall and through a kissing gate then to another gate and then another kissing gate and along a grassy path. This led to a kissing gate in the wall and then just followed the grassy cart track ever on up Saddle Fell, keeping left at junctions. As the gradient eased the path came near to a fence and so to a kissing gate in it. Now followed the soil and rock path over the heather moor eventually to a kissing gate in the fence. The summit of Fair Snape Fell was now a little way right reached by a grassy path then stone slabs over the bog and to a kissing gate in the fence to get to the cairn. We were quickly out for our picture and we had lunch. Returning to the kissing gate at the end of the made track, Dad now picked his way carefully across to a stile. Then on to join the good to the cairn shelter and trig point on Fair Snape Fell, where we sat on top for our picture, although due to Dad inadvertently altering a camera setting it did not turn out correct. Chatted to couple took our picture too. Then took the clear path across to a kissing gate and on to come by the wall and walk what is described as the best mile in Lancashire to Parlick. Truly wonderful views that were quite clear today to Morecambe Bay, the Fylde and over towards the Welsh hills. Descended then through the kissing gate left and on up to the shelter on Parlick for our picture this one with the camera on the correct setting. Then just followed the clear path that eventually came to a gate by the house called Fell Foot and just then a short walk to the car. Super day. So many people out walking and also lots of people paragliding, at times there being around 20 in the sky at the same time.

25th November 2015 - Pendle Hill from Barley

So the day arrived with the walk to the last of the Bowland Fells, to complete the challenge. This was as we had decided Pendle Hill, and the walk would be made more enjoyable with Uncle Eric for company. The day was dry with a bit of sun but quite cold in the wind. However this made a pleasant change after all the heavy rain over the recent weeks. Our start point was the village of Barley, the car park today being much quieter than the last time when spaces were at a premium due to the relay race on Pendle Hill. At the main road we took the lane opposite. This led up the Ogden Valley passing the Lower and Upper Reservoirs. Another area of water catchment for Lancashire built in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Beyond the reservoirs the track became unsurfaced and then just a narrow path that eventually crossed the stream of Boar Clough. After a kissing gate a small inscribed stone sign indicating the Pendle Way pointed uphill. This climbed steeply for a section above Boar Clough, before the gradient eased. At a junction it was right on the clearly cairned way that climbed ever up but quite gently to the summit of Pendle Hill, the trig point being on a slightly raised stone circular plinth. So that was it the challenge complete, and we all let out a cheer. My other pals have completed more challenges, so I was particularly pleased to have done this one. It was windy so we say by the trig column for our picture. Then Uncle Eric took us sitting on top with Dad. While were were there a number of walkers reached the top, showing how popular this fell is. Now we retraced the route for a short way to go left at a fork and then soon took the clear path that cut back left to descend this steep side of the fell, eventually down to the Pendle House. On the Pendle Way again, the path went through a gate behind the house then through a kissing gate into a field. At the next gate it became a narrow path, that was soil, reinforced and cobbled at times as via a number of kissing gates took us past Brown House to Ings End. Then a short way on the access to cross a footbridge right and on a clear path over another footbridge, and finally down to Barley. We now sat in the car to have our sandwiches cake and tea. Dad and Uncle Eric went to the cafe at the car park called The Cabin. Here Dad had an all day breakfast with a doorstop slice of toast (over half inch thick) and butter and pot of tea. Uncle Eric had a bacon and sausage bap and hot chocolate. So what now?. Well there are still some low walks that Dad will be able to find in Bowland, but next year it is time we were back in the Lake District!

Southey

For all updates see - Southey's blog

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