A circular walk to the summit of Pendle Hill from from the Nick of Pendle through Pendleton Moor, Apronfull Hill and Ogden Clough before returning via Pendle Moor, with wonderful panoramas across the Ribble Valley and beyond.
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| Walk title: | Pendle Hill walk from the Nick of Pendle |
| Author: | Andrew Forrest - November 2024 |
| Walk start point: | Layby on the Nick of Pendle (grid reference SD 771 385). |
| Parking: | As mentioned above, for the walk start point, and as shown in the video, there are other nearby laybys on the same road on either side of the Nick of Pendle that are also available for parking. |
| Directions to nearest parking place: | Google Maps: get directions here / What3words: nozzle.informer.breezes |
| Walk distance: | 10.9 km |
| Estimated walk time: | 3 hours 5 minutes |
| Height climbed: | 355 metres |
| Technical difficulty: | Moderate - as determined by our interpretation of the Ordnance Survey guidance on technical difficulties. There are a few potentially boggy sections along the walk, so walking boots are definitely recommended for this one. |
| Peaks / summits: | Pendle Hill |
| Map: | Ordnance Survey - Explorer OL41 (Forest of Bowland & Ribblesdale) Buy this map from Ordnance Survey |
| GPS/GPX file: | Download available to registered users - Register and Login here - It's FREE to register |
| Facilities / refreshments: | Wellsprings (restaurant, bar and café) is 400m from the start and passed on the walk. Swan with Two Necks is one mile away in nearby Pendle. Both of these are shown in the video. There are also additional pubs and cafés in nearby Sabden, about one mile from the start. |
| Nearest town: | Sabden |
| Local self-catering accommodation: | View self-catering accommodation close to the start of this walk from Sykes Holiday Cottages or Holidaycottages.co.uk |
Estimated walk time
Walk time estimates used are from the Ordnance Survey mapping app, which uses a refined Naismith's rule, adjusted by OS overlaying their own data collected from more than one million people using the OS mapping app. Naismith's rule allowed one hour for every three miles walked and added pro-rata an additional hour for every 2000ft of ascent - roughly one hour for every 5km, plus one hour for every 600m of ascent.
Ordnance Survey Mapping App
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This Pendle Hill from the Nick of Pendle walk starts from a layby on the Nick of Pendle, just outside Sabden, a village in the Ribble Valley in Lancashire.
We head along the wide track from the laybys at the Nick of Pendle, climbing Pendleton Moor and Apronfull Hill. From there, we continue climbing until the path becomes less steep as it pulls into Ogden Clough. We then follow Ogden Clough until we cross the stream to start heading up the flagged section of the path up to the summit of Pendle Hill.
There is a beautiful panorama from the summit of Pendle Hill, where you see over the Ribble Valley to the Trough of Bowland and Blackpool out in the West and then around to the East Lancashire Valley, the Yorkshire Dales and the Southern Lakeland Fells.
From the summit of Pendle Hill, we follow a wide gravel track down to the wall before striding out along a grassy path to pass by the weather shelter and Scout Cairn while enjoying wonderful views across the Ribble Valley.
From there, we walk across Pendle Moor before dropping down steeply to Howcroft Brook in Ashendean Clough and climbing on the other side to reach Clitheroe Road, Pendle Ski Slope and the Wellsprings. From there, it is just a short walk back up to the start.
Our video shows the full Pendle Hill from the Nick of Pendle walk, and the route is shown on the Ordnance Survey map - both above. Below is a brief description of the walk. Places where you can eat and drink after the walk are shown below and at the end of the video.
Our Pendle Hill from the Nick of Pendle walk starts from a layby on the Nick of Pendle, about three-quarters of a mile outside Sabden, a village in the Ribble Valley in Lancashire. Sabden lies at the foot of Pendle Hill in the southern part of the Forest of Bowland, an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty.
The Forest of Bowland was designated an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty back in 1964 and is split into two areas. The detached southern part, known as the Forest of Pendle, is separated from the main part by the Ribble Valley. Pendle Hill lies in the detached southern part.
Just before the crest of the road, as you follow it up from Sabden, there are a couple of rough laybys where we start the walk. If you drive from the other direction and come past the Wellsprings, the laybys are just over the crest of the hill.
If these are full, there are further parking areas as you head down the road towards Sabden and, on the other side, past the Wellsprings. If you use any of these, walk up to the Nick of Pendle to start the walk.
From the layby just before the crest of the hill, we leave the road heading up either of the paths that, after a few yards, passes close by to a memorial stone to Australian and American airmen who died in crashes nearby in 1942 and 1944.
The footpath leaves the road just before the road's summit on the Nick of Pendle
From here, we head up the wide path away from the road, which quickly becomes stony underfoot. As the path flattens, we can see the onward path stretching out before us over Pendleton Moor.
The wide path heads towards Apronfull Hill on Pendle Hill
Walk along the wide track as it slowly rises. Even with a small amount of height gain, there are good views behind towards Clitheroe and across the Ribble Valley, with Fairsnape Fell and Longridge Fell amongst the hills visible on the horizon.
Just continue climbing up the track. With a little bit more height, if you look behind, the panorama has expanded. In the foreground, you can see the Wellsprings and the Pendle Ski Slope, which we will visit towards the end of the walk.
Looking back towards Blackpool on the horizon, the Wellsprings below, Longridge Fell, Walker Fell and round towards Clitheroe and over the Ribble Valley
Keep on heading up the wide track as you pass over Apronfull Hill. As part of local folklore, Apronfull Hill is supposed to be where the devil filled his apron full of stones and threw them in Clitheroe Castle's direction. He got angered as most missed and, in his anger, dropped a pile of stones from his apron here on Apronfull Hill.
If you look over to the left, on the other side of the clough, you can see Mearley Moor, which we will walk along and off towards the end of the walk.
Looking across towards Mearley Moor that is descended from at the end of the walk
You can see Sabden and the Churn Clough reservoir below to the right from the track. Continue walking up the wide track.
Churn Clough Reservoir and Sabden
The route we're following here, from the Nick of Pendle to just beyond the summit of Pendle Hill, is part of the Ribble Valley Jubilee Trail. This magnificent 65-mile circular walk winds through the scenic rolling hills and stunning uplands of the Ribble Valley, set within the Forest of Bowland Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty.
The wide path, which forms part of The Ribble Valley Jubilee Trail as it passes over Badger Wells Hill
This trail was established in 2022 to celebrate the Queen's Platinum Jubilee. Starting in Whalley, it is divided into seven accessible sections. Along the route, you'll encounter picturesque villages like Downham, Slaidburn, and Hurst Green and scenic landmarks such as Stocks Reservoir and Pendle Hill.
After about two kilometres from the start of the walk, we reach a stone waymarker showing Mearley Moor to the left and the summit straight on. We go straight on here, following the summit sign. On the return leg of this walk, we will walk over Mearley Moor.
Stone waymarker, showing left towards Mearley Moor and straight on towards the summit of Pendle Hill
The path starts to flatten as it approaches Ogden Clough.
Passing a cairn as the path heads towards Ogden Clough
Looking down to the right over Ogden Clough from a cairn, you can see some of the Fell Wood trees above the Ogden Clough reservoirs.
Continue walking along the path.
After a few hundred metres, the path joins a path coming in from below to our right. This is the path from Barley that passes by the Ogden Clough reservoirs and then heads up Ogden Clough. It's the path we use on our Pendle Hill via Ogden Clough walk from Barley.
The path pulls in alongside Ogden Clough
Looking back along the path just walked along and back down Ogden Clough in the direction of Barley
We follow this narrower path as it gently climbs for about half a mile, with the stream running through Ogden Clough below us to the right.
The footpath heading along Ogden Clough
The path pulls close to the stream by a stone waymarker signed summit to the right.
The stone marker pointing over the stream through Ogden Clough and to the summit of Pendle Hill
Cross over the stream and head up through the opposite metal gate.
Cross the stream and pass through the gate to head uphill away from the stream
Once through the gate, head away from it, up the initially rocky path that soon becomes flagged underfoot.
The footpath soon becomes paved underfoot
We follow this flagged path for just over half a mile to just before the trig point on the summit of Pendle Hill.
The paved footpath heading across Barley Moor on the way to the summit of Pendle Hill
The paved footpath continues to climb across the desolate Barley Moor
When the flagged path ends, it becomes stony underfoot for the final 50 yards to the trig point on the summit of Pendle Hill.
Looking over the trig point on the summit of Pendle Hill towards the Yorkshire Three Peaks (Ingleborough, Whernside and Pen-y-ghent)
Pendle Hill is famous, amongst other things, for its association with the Pendle witches and George Fox. To learn more about these and Pendle, check out our Ultimate Guide to Pendle Hill. The guide features five distinct routes up Pendle Hill and the Pendle Sculpture Trail Walk.
Pendle Hill is 557m high, and because of its isolation from other hills from its summit, a stunning panorama extends over the Ribble Valley towards the Trough of Bowland and Blackpool to the west, sweeping around to the East Lancashire Valley, the Yorkshire Three Peaks, the Yorkshire Dales, and the Southern Lakeland Fells. Although I've only seen it once, the Snowdon Mountain range can be seen on a very clear day.
Looking back from the triangulation point on the summit of Pendle Hill down the path walked up on the right and the path towards Ogden Clough on the left
If you wander towards the edge from the trig point, you get a good view of the Black Moss reservoirs, where the Pendle Sculpture Trail is in the trees just behind it, Barley, and then around to Lower Ogden Reservoir to the right.
Looking down towards the Lower Black Moss Reservoirs, Barley and Lower Ogden Reservoir from the trig point on Pendle Hill
To continue, from the direction you initially approached the trig point from Ogden Clough, we turn left to head away from the trig point down the wide stony track for about 300m to reach a gate in the wall, which is visible ahead.
The path reaches a wall with some seats to the left and a gate straight ahead
Before you pass through the gate, some sheltered seats are built into the wall to the left, if you want to rest. Next to the seats is a plaque about George Fox.
Pendle Hill occupies a special place in the history of the Quaker movement because of its connection to George Fox, the founder of the Religious Society of Friends, commonly known as the Quakers. In 1652, Fox experienced a profound spiritual transformation on the slopes of Pendle Hill. This event would profoundly influence his life, the Quaker faith, and the growth of the Quaker movement.
From the wall, we pass through a metal kissing gate just to the left of the wooden gate.
Pass through the metal kissing gate
A few yards away from the wall is a stone marker showing Downham straight on and Nick of Pendle to the left. The Downham sign is followed on our Pendle Hill from Downham walk.
The stone marker just through the gate, showing Nick of Pendle to the left and Downham straight on
We ignore the Downham sign and head left here, following the Nick of Pendle sign.
We then proceed along the wide grassy path for about three-quarters of a mile to reach a metal kissing gate in a wall.
The wide grassy path following the Nick of Pendle sign
The path drops down to a gate in a wall
Again, from here, there are beautiful views from the wall out towards Blackpool, Longridge Fell, Walker Fell, and Fairsnape Fell, with Clitheroe in the foreground and then around to the Lower Lakeland Fells, Ingleborough, Pen-y-ghent and the Yorkshire Dales.
Looking towards the Southern Lakeland Fells and the Yorkshire Dales from the metal kissing gate
Pass through the metal kissing gate, and walk the short distance from the wall to the weather shelter.
Pass through the metal kissing gate with views out over the Ribble Valley
The weather shelter on Pendle Hill
Some stone seats are inside for a break if you want to shelter from the wind.
To continue, walk in the same direction for about 500m along the wide grassy path towards the Scout Cairn, which is now visible ahead.
The wide grassy path heading from the weather shelter towards the Scout Cairn (marked as a pile of stones on the OS map)
This cairn is marked on the map as a pile of stones, but it is known locally as the Scout Cairn due to all the Scout-related plaques embedded in it. Looking back, you can see the weather shelter on the horizon.
Looking towards Longridge Fell, Clitheroe and the Ribble Valley from the Scout Cairn on Pendle Hill
To continue, keep on in the same direction past the Scout Cairn.
The Scout Cairn on Pendle Hill. The onward path heads down the left-hand side of the cairn and is visible ahead.
After a short distance, the path becomes stony underfoot and more defined as it crosses Pendle Moor.
The rougher path heading across Pendle Moor away from the scout cairn
After a few hundred metres, just after the path returns to being grassy underfoot, there's a split in the path. Take the right-hand fork here. If you did take the left one by mistake, you should be able to correct your error soon afterwards, as the wall we will walk alongside shortly should be visible ahead, and you can head back over to that wall.
Heading along the path over Pendle Moor towards the two tumbled-down walls ahead
Walk on and pass over a tumbled-down wall.
Pass over the tumbled-down wall and keep straight on to the left of the wall stretching out ahead
Then, keep straight on in the same direction to head along the left-hand side of the wall that stretches out ahead. This next section can sometimes be a little boggy, so it is a walk where walking boots are recommended. Check out our walking boot and hiking kit recommendations if you are unsure what to wear.
The path along the side of the tumbled-down wall
After about 500m, the wall turns 90 degrees to the right. When it does, continue straight in the same direction as we were walking alongside it. There is a memorial cairn on the corner of the wall.
Memorial Cairn on the corner of the wall
Head away from the wall where the narrow grassy path soon starts to descend.
As the wall bends around to the right, keep straight ahead to head away from the wall
After about 300m, the path starts to descend more steeply.
The grassy path starts to descend, with the Wellsprings ahead in the distance
Follow the wide grassy path as it descends more steeply off Mearley Moor
Then, the path splits as it swings around to the right. Where this path splits, take the path that heads off more steeply downhill to the left, initially just keeping to the right of the bracken.
As the main path swings around to the right, we head left off this path to descend more steeply
If you look ahead, you can see the onward path on the far side of the brook as it heads diagonally away from it. It's better to get your bearings and see this now, as it isn't clear once you have dropped down into the brook.
The path heads down towards Howcroft Brook below, with the onward path visible on the far side
The path makes its way through bracken as it heads steeply down towards Howcroft Brook and Ashendean Clough below.
The path heads down through bracken towards Howcroft Brook in Ashendean Clough below
There are a couple of paths that cross the brook. Either can be taken as they join together further on. If you take the right-hand one, on leaving the brook, you need to head up left to meet the other path.
Head down to the water and cross over it. Looking back, you can see the path you've just descended off Mearley Moor into Ashendean Clough.
Looking back over Howcroft Brook up towards the path just taken to descend from Mearley Moor
Head away from the brook and follow the path as it swings around to the right to head diagonally up.
The sketchy path heads away from the brook
Looking back again towards Mearley Moor and the path just taken
As the path starts to flatten and you can see further ahead, continue walking along this sketchy path, which does get much easier to follow.
The path heads in the direction of the road and the small hills on the Nick of Pendle
After about 300m, the path reaches a layby on Clitheroe Road, where you can see the Wellsprings on the left.
The path reaches the road at a parking spot. We follow it to the left to join the road a few yards further on.
Take the left-hand path to keep just above a layby on the road for a short distance before dropping down to it at a footpath sign.
The path drops down onto Clitheroe Road by a public footpath sign. We head up the road the short distance to the ski slope and the Wellsprings.
Upon reaching the road, turn left to walk along the grass verge and cross over to pass by the Pendle Dry Ski Slope.
A footpath sign is opposite the ski slope. This footpath leads away from the road, which we will return to shortly.
Pendle Ski Slope next door to the Wellsprings
The Pendle Ski Club is member-owned and run by volunteers, and it's also where Dave Ryding learnt his craft. In addition to competing in the Olympics and many other world downhill races, in January 2022, he took his and Great Britain's first-ever World Cup win, winning the slalom in Kitzbuhel in Austria.
As we've almost finished the walk, head past the ski slope to the Wellsprings for a place to eat and drink.
The Wellsprings is a restaurant, bar and café that offers accommodation with views across the Ribble Valley.
Entrance to the Wellsprings restaurant, bar and café
The restaurant serves Spanish and Mexican food and offers a selection of wines, beers, and sangria. If the weather is good, there's plenty of outside seating with wonderful views.
Enjoying a drink looking out across the Ribble Valley from the covered balcony at the Wellsprings
If you plan to have something to eat and drink, check the opening times on the website, as they don't open every day of the week.
The large car park at the Wellsprings
Upon leaving the Wellsprings, the layby where we started the walk is about 400m to the right up the road. But as I like to keep off the roads wherever possible, we can extend the walk by about one hundred metres using an off-road grassy path.
To do that, we must return to the footpath sign that we passed just before the Wellsprings.
If you want more food and drink choices after the walk, there are a couple of pubs and cafés in Sabden just over the hill. Or, if you were to head down this road on the Wellsprings side, either by foot or by car, the village of Pendleton is about one mile away, where you will find the Swan with Two Necks.
The Swan with Two Necks is an award-winning CAMRA pub serving food and drink. On colder days, there are fires inside, and some seating is outside in the beer garden around the back, which affords views of Pendle Hill.
The Swan with Two Necks at Pendleton
Amongst their many awards, they were voted Lancashire Pub of the Year 2023. They have a great range of ales, so it would have been remiss of me not to try one.
Enjoying a drink in the beer garden at the Swan with Two Necks in Pendleton, looking towards Pendle
Back at the footpath sign opposite the Wellsprings, follow the path away from the road as it heads uphill, keeping the road below to the right.
We follow the footpath sign opposite the Wellsprings to head diagonally away from the road uphill
The path heading back up onto Pendleton Moor
As you head up the path, there are views out over the Wellsprings towards the Ribble Valley beyond.
Looking back over the Wellsprings to Clitheroe and beyond
After about 400m walking from the road, the path meets the outbound track.
Turn right upon meeting the outbound track
Turn right upon meeting it and follow it back down to the laybys on the road.
Dropping back down to the parking at the Nick of Pendle
If you want to see this walk from above and get a bit more perspective on where you have been on the walk, we have created a short fly-through using the Ordnance Survey app, which you can see at the end of the Pendle Hill from the Nick of Pendle Walk video.
Finally, talking of videos, if you watched and enjoyed our video, don't forget to click the like button, subscribe to our channel and hit the notification bell so you know when any more new walks have been uploaded. Subscribing on YouTube is free, and your likes and comments about the video or the walk help promote our channel - thanks. 😊
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What to wear and take on your walk or hike
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