Start: Maidens Cross car park, Long Causeway.

From M65 junction 10 follow signs for Turf Moor, home of Burnley FC. Passing the ground on your left continue on Brunshaw Road. This runs into Red Lees Road. At Mereclough turn left in the direction of Heptonstall and Hebden Bridge. In a little under 2m you will arrive at the car park on the left side of the road, immediately before the wind farm. (You really cannot miss it!)

 Map by kind permission of the Blackpool Gazette

  Summary: Distance: 11.5k 7m

                  Time: 3 - 4 hours

                  Terrain: This is a strenuous walk. After wet weather some sections will be very boggy under foot. Unless proficient with map and compass an ascent of Thieveley Pike should not be attempted in mist. Apart from all these caveats this is a fine walk.

Directions: Coal Clough to Portsmouth.  4k 2 ½ m (1 - 1 ½ hours) From the car park walk past the wind farm along the Long Causeway. Here is a striking juxtaposition of ancient and modern. The road is a packhorse route between Lancashire and that other place - incidentally an excellent motor route to Hebden Bridge avoiding the congestion of the A646. The wind turbines, which seem to possess an ethereal majesty close to, point to our contemporary concerns all too pressing.

You are now on the Burnley Way and will stay on it for the next 9k. It is well signed and you should not find it difficult to stay on route.

 The path soon crosses the track and then follows it on a parallel course crossing a gully to a ruin and then arriving at a stile close by the farm. 

 After crossing it bear right, past an outbuilding with a sagging roof, and enter a clough. (Steep sided valley). The path drops to a bridge. Do not cross it but keep on the way with the stream on your left.

 The way follows the stream as it maintains an undulating course negotiating feeder streams. After 20 minutes of not altogether easy descent the way enters a plantation - Pudsey Wood.

 Here it is best to keep close to the fence. On exiting the wood follow a track that leads to a farm road.

 Turn right and then at the next junction bear left.  Climbing out of the valley follow the track as it bends round to the right to reach two large properties. (Brown Birks).

 The route goes between them and then swings to the left. A short way ahead the track divides. Your way is the left fork.

 Follow a far from distinct path as it contours above a wood to drop through pasture bringing you to a stile close by a handsome property.

 Follow the lane down to the railway.

 Cross with care and quickly reach the A646.

Portsmouth to Holme Chapel 5k 3m (1 ½ - 2 hours) Turn right on the A646. With a gradual feeling of rising panic it may dawn on you that you are now in West Yo… that other place. Worry not, you will not be for long and besides being on the Burnley Way will provides you with special dispensation.

 Pass the Roebuck Inn and cross to a track on the other side of the road.

This begins to zig zag its way through woods to reach the open fell. Keep on the track past a farm and then when it divides bear right, cross a stile and keep ahead over moorland. For the next 800m continue the ascent to the ridge. On these moors there is little in the way of feature to distract you.

 On reaching the ridge bear right and continue along the path for almost 2k 1 ½ m 30mins. When a wall closes in on the left follow it until you reach a stile next to a gate.

 The way leads gently up passing a fine stone signpost.

 At a wall coming in from your right cross the next stile to reach a rather dowdy trig. point.

 After a moment or two of surveying the view bear right away from the trig.point descending at first gradually and then more sharply into Dean Scout. Waymarker signs will continue to help as you drop towards Buckley Wood.  At a junction of paths fork left to arrive in woodland where the path continues a steepish descent to reach a track.

 Bear left and then right to pass under the railway track. Just beyond the Burnley Way turns left on its way to Towneley but you keep ahead to Holme Chapel, now on the Pennine Bridleway which in fact will take you nearly all the way back to the car park.

 Closer at hand it will quickly bring you to Holme Chapel.

Holme Chapel to the car park. 2k  1 ½ m (30-45mins)  On reaching the A646 turn right and then cross the road to enter a lane adjacent to the primary school.

 Follow it as it begins to climb steadily. At 200m from the main road take the right fork and continue to climb along a track.

 After 400m keep ahead at the next junction but then turn right away from the wall. The path dips down to cross a gully and then bears left through a gate.

 Keep ahead with Green Clough on your right.  Still upward  the path passes through another gate and then just before reaching the road turns right.

 When the bridleway finally crosses the road turn right to reach the car park.

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