MAP: OS 1:25,000 Explorer OL41

TRAVEL: Train to Clitheroe (2½ miles) – tel 08457-484950; www.thetrainline.co.uk

Taxi, Clitheroe station to Worston (01200-444444 or 444144) - £5

Road – M6 to Jct 29; M65 to Jct 7; A680, A671, A59; Worston signed off A59 at Clitheroe.

WALK DIRECTIONS:

Leaving Calf’s Head Hotel in Worston (768428), right round road bend. In 250 yd, right at footpath fingerpost. Bear left round end of barn, cross stile; walk towards Pendle Hill across 3 fields; right (774418) along farm track, past Little Mearley Hall (775416) and Lane Side (770412) to Mearley Hall (768409). Ahead over crossways and cattle grid; in 30 yards, left before gate (yellow arrow) up fence. Over stile; on up hillside, following wall on left to ruined barn (771403).

Next section is on Access Land - pick your own route. Recommended: bear left up flank of Pendle Hill, climbing old hollow way with wall a few yards to left. Halfway up, cross through fence at gate. Keep same hollow way up hill; in 300 yards, left up grassy track to Clayton-le-Moors Harriers cairn (782402). Follow track NE beside wall; where wall ends (785407), continue NE to Scout cairn, visible ahead (789413). Continue NE to stone shelter, seen ahead (793418), and cross ladder stile ahead (795418).

From here moorland path runs E; in a few yards, next ladder stile is in view in wall on skyline 2/3 mile away. Cross stile (805418); bear right to trig pillar on Big End (804414). Return over stile; right along wall for 100 yards. Where stone stile crosses wall, left along path, descending to Robin Hood’s Well (805420). Continue on narrow path to join upper track (802422). Keep ahead through zig-zags, descending to Downham Moor; north on path for ½ mile to reach road just east of Hookcliffe Plantation (798432).

Left along road; in 150 yd, left along lane to Hookcliffe. At farm (788429), ahead along lane, bearing right past Barkerfield (785427) to road (781429). Left for 50 yards; right (footpath fingerpost) over cattle grid, to Worsaw Hill Farm (marked Worsaw End House on map). Through gate in field wall above farmhouse (779431); left along wall; in 50 yards, left through gate and on through next gate; ahead through fields, with Worston Brook on left, back to Worston.

LENGTH: 8½ miles – allow 4–6 hours

CONDITIONS: Boggy parts, especially along ridge path; steepish climb up Pendle Hill; narrow path on steep hillside beyond Robin Hood’s Well. Hill walking gear and boots.

REFRESHMENTS: Robin Hood’s Well (water); Calf’s Head, Worston.

ACCOMMODATION: Calf’s Head Hotel, Worston (01200-441218; www.calfshead.co.uk) Bustling, cheerful place, very friendly and helpful.

This walk is based on Walk 10 in Forest of Bowland, with Pendle Hill and the West Pennine Moors by Andrew Bibby, one of the ‘Freedom to Road’ series of guide books published by Frances Lincoln (www.franceslincoln.com) at £7.99

ACCESS LAND INFORMATION: Tel 0845-100-3298;

www.countrysideaccess.gov.uk.

TOURIST INFORMATION: www.visitenglandsnorthwest.com