In the shadow of Pendle Hill
This walk uses in part the first and final sections of the Pendle Way the 45 mile path to explore yet another delightful corner of the county. It is hard to believe that you are a few minutes drive away from the M65 at the start the walk when you step out alongside Pendle Water. Later, on reaching Barley, where woodland, water, field and pasture combine to produce a lovely backdrop for a gem of a village, it seems impossible that less than half a dozen miles separate you from Colne, Nelson and Burnley. [Please note that after wet weather some sections of this walk can be exceptionally muddy.]
Time: 3 – 3½ hours
Terrain: Begins with an easy riverside walk before a sustained climb to a point behind Black Moss Reservoirs. From here an easy descent to Barley. Return leg has similar profile. Easy to begin with, and then moderate ascent at White Hough, and another steeper climb across the ridge from Roughlee to Barrowford.
Map
Start: The Heritage Centre, Barrowford, at the junction of the A682 Gisburn Road and B6247 Colne Road.
1. Barrowford to Barley (6 Km or 3¾ miles: 1½ hours)
From the car park cross a stile to follow path with Pendle Water on left. In 300m this brings you to the A682 at Higher Ford. Taking care cross the road, turn left across the bridge and then right into Foreside which quickly leads to Barleydale Road. Soon you rejoin Pendle Water now on your right.
At Water Meetings, where Blacko Water merges with Pendle Water cross the bridge and turn left.
Follow the stream to a footbridge after which you begin to ascend a hill to a stile on the skyline.(Aim to the right of a gate.)
After the next stile continue with wall on your right to reach Blacko Bar Road. Here you part company with the Pendle Way for the time being as it turns right.
Your way is straight ahead on a farm track to Bank End. Follow the path as it skirts the well maintained grounds on the right of a wooden fence. This is a recent diversion which brings you to a stile on a wall.
Cross the stile and immediately turn right and begin a descent that brings you quickly to another (awkward) stile and then, beyond a gate, to a broad, flat footbridge over a brook.
Follow the track upwards which is joined by a hedge on the right. This concessionary path will bring you eventually to a stone stile and then a short distance beyond a wooden stile that lets out onto the farm drive for Lower Briercliffe.
Turn left and walk into the farm yard by a metal gate ( remembering to secure it as you go through).
At the far end of the yard turn right through a gate and then cross diagonally left to reach a stile besides a wall. Cross the stile and follow wall up to a gate that gives out onto a lane. (Wheathead Lane) Turn left onto the lane and at the next junction follow it as it bends to the right. Just beyond Black Moss Farm turn left through a metal kissing gate and begin descent towards Upper Black Moss Reservoir.
Near the ruin of a barn a gap in the wall renders a ladder stile unnecessary. Cross a footbridge to turn left onto a substantial track. Continue past Upper and Lower reservoirs on your right to reach Barley close by the Primitive Methodist Chapel. Turn left into the village.
2. Barley to Barrowford (5 Km or 3 miles: 1½ hours)
This part of the walk rejoins the Pendle Way on its final section back to Barrowford. From the information centre car park walk to its far end on the right to take the track to reach White Hough Farm after 15 minutes.
Here turn left through a complex of cottages to follow a tarmac drive up the hill. Then at a small brick building branch off right below the outdoor education centre .
The path leads through woodland to bring you to Offa Hill. (Another recent diversion is in place here. Follow the waymark signs)
Taking the farm track to reach a lane where you turn left and then, after 50m right along a track.
At 200m the Pendle Way turns sharply right and descends towards Roughlee. It passes on the left of Croft House.
Keep ahead to cross a footbridge. Passing a complex of buildings/cottages on the right, the Way reaches Blacko Bar Lane through a metal gate.
Continue across the lane, over a metal stile to drop down to Pendle Water which you cross by a number of concrete stepping stones.
Follow the path up the slope keeping to the left of a prominent tree on the skyline. Cross a stile in the wall at the top of the hill and commence final descent into Barrowford.
To begin with the hedgerow is on your right, but after a barn you descend with it on your left.
Two fields beyond the barn you arrive at a T junction of paths as indicated by waymark signs on a footbridge. Here turn left and after crossing a stile turn right onto a farm track. This quickly brings you to Pasture Lane. Continue descent to reach the busy A682 which you cross to a footbridge over Pendle Water. Turn left and walk through the park to reach Pendle Heritage Centre.
Pendle Inn
In researching this website we have been struck by the amazing wealth of countryside to choose from. Equally striking has been the wealth of rural taverns in which to rest ones weary feet and take sustenance. The Pendle Inn is one of the best! Set as it is in the picturesque village of Barley it is truly in the shadow of Pendle.
As can be seen the Inn is stone built and dates back to 1930. The main bar is a mixture of flag stones and carpet, wood panels and beams. The walls are adorned by a number of interesting landscape paintings some of which are for sale. Other rooms include a pool and darts room and a large modern conservatory for dining.
The Pendle Inn is open all day every day for food and boasts an extensive menu. On this occasion there were 3 of us walking and we opted for cold pork on bloomer with side salad and crisps, hot pork on ciabatta with side salad and chips and club sandwich with side salad and chips. As seems to be the custom these days the helpings were generous. The food was of a high standard.
On this occasion the inn was serving 3 cask ales: Moorhouses Pride of Pendle (4.1%), Moorhouses Blond Witch(4.5%) and Thwaites Original (3.6%). We opted for the Pride of Pendle a delightful and refreshing bitter. Moorhouses beers seldom disappoint and today was no exception.