~Pendle Hill~
7th August 2013
Pendle Summit
Scroll down for photos and a description of the walk....
LMS Class 5MT 4-6-0 nos 44932 and 45231
"The Fellsman" on the return Fifteen Guinea Special, photographed near Gisburn. I was hoping for an explosion of steam and smoke as the train went under the bridge, but it was not to be.
Please follow the story right to the bottom of the page, for two extra photos.
Same Bridge - in February
Then off to Downham for my first ascent of Pendle from the sleepy little village in the Ribble Valley.
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Downham
There are no overhead wires or satellite dishes in Downham, but a litter bin has got through the defences. Start time of 18:50hrs.
Burst Clough
The route went along West Road and then up Burst Clough.
Gerna Hill
Gerna Hill is a limestone reef knoll.
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A pesky cloud out west was denying this walker of a little sunshine; the route up (right) is quite a long one compared with the more familiar routes from Barley.
The Scout Cairn
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Golden Plover |
T'other Stile |
It's quite a long walk round from the Scout Cairn to the summit, a beeline would be a mile, but the walk round is about half as much again. Time is tight and I'm hoping the sun will find a way through the clouds.
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Pendle Moorland |
The Stile |
It looks as though sunlight is forcing a way through that nuisance cloud.
Pendle Sunset
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The Western Sky
Descent Route
As you can imagine, most of the return route was at dusk, finishing with a road walk into Downham.
Walkers: Just Me
Time taken: 2hrs 30 mins over a distance of about 7 miles.
Route: Downham, West Road, Burst Clough, "obvious" path up Pendle, Scout Cairn, Shelter, Two Stiles, Summit, The Stile, Zig-Zag path down to Downham Road, Downham.
Greetings: Two descenders on my climb, one pleasant smile on top and three young 'uns at the stile on the way down.
Weather: Pesky cloud, cooler than of late, then a late sunset.
Pendle Sunset - 6th August 2013 and dedicated to the memory of many happy hours spent with......
Trouble The Cat
Abandoned and taken in by the RSPCA; adopted by us 13th May 2002, aged "4 ish"
We said goodbye 6th August 2013
"May Chicken & Fish
Be Forever In Your Dish"
All photos copyright Richard Ratcliffe 2013 ©
Take me back to the start ....