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Walks in Lancashire |
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Walks in Lancashire |
A circular walk from Barley in Lancashire. The walk initially climbs to Newchurch, where St Mary's church with its 'witch eye' can be explored. Then on over Driver Height which affords panoramic views of the area before dropping down to pass by the picturesque Upper and Lower Ogden reservoirs on the way back to Barley.
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Best gifts for walkers - 49 top presents for hikers under £35 If you are wondering what to buy someone who likes walking, or searching for those inexpensive or personalised gifts for hikers, then look no further. We've put together a selection of practical presents under £35 that any walker or hiker in the UK would like to receive. Read our article: Best gifts for walkers - 49 top presents for hikers under £35 |
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What to wear and take on your walk If you are new to walking and want to know what to wear and take on your walk, or just want to know what to consider when buying your walking clothes and equipment then these articles are for you. We'll also take you through our favourite walking boots, walking jackets, walking trousers, rucksacks, backpacks, water bottles, mapping and safety equipment etc. of 2024. Read our articles: What to wear on a walk and What to take on a walk |
| Parking: | Pay and display car park in the centre of Barley (grid reference SD 823 403). |
| Directions: | Google Maps: get directions here / What3words: clays.label.found |
| Walk distance: | 3.6 miles (5.7 Km) |
| Estimated walk time: | 1 hour 40 minutes |
| Height climbed: | 240 metres |
| Grade: | 1-B: A short walk that requires modest uphill walking |
| Peaks / summits: | None of note |
| Map: | Ordnance Survey - Explorer OL41 (Forest of Bowland & Ribblesdale) Buy this map from Ordnance Survey |
| Walk features: | Birds, Flowers, Hills or fells, Historic building, Reservoir, River, Views |
| Facilities / refreshments: | Toilets and café in car park at Barley. Pendle Inn in Barley. Tearoom in Barley and at Noggarth Top Café. Public toilets in Newchurch in Pendle. |
| Nearest town: | Walk passes through Barley and Newchurch in Pendle |
| Local self-catering accommodation: | View self-catering accommodation close to the start of this walk from Sykes Holiday Cottages or from Holidaycottages.co.uk |
| Walk Tags: | walk, walks, Barley, Newchurch in Pendle, Pendle Hill, Pendle Inn, Parish church of St Mary, Barley Green, Pendle Way, well head road, driver height, ogden clough, lower ogden reservoir, upper ogden reservoir |
Leave the car park and turn right along the pavement towards the centre of Barley. Over the bridge at the 'T' junction, cross the road and pass along the right hand side of the village hall down the lane signed "Barley Green". Follow the lane as it bends around top the left in front of some terraced cottages and on through the gate posts. Keep on past the water works, then a few yards further on, turn left off the lane over the wooden footbridge.
Looking across to Lower Ogden Reservoir
Over the footbridge, turn right and almost immediately pass through a wooden gate following the yellow arrow pointing diagonally left up the hill towards the wooden waymarker. Pass the waymarker and keep on in the same direction towards the wall ahead.
Pass over the stone stile built in to the wall, and turn left heading up hill initially parallel with the wall towards the farm house. Continue on to pass by a wooden waymarker, over a tumbled down wall and then to the right of Far Banks farmhouse heading towards the gate on the wall ahead at the top of the field. Pass through the gate and turn left.
Descending into Newchurch
Follow the wooden signpost to head diagonally left away from the wall across the next field on a line to the right of the small building in front of the trees. After a couple of hundred yards the path starts to descend into Newchurch, with the towns of Brierfield and Nelson visible ahead and Hameldon Hill behind them.
As the path begins to approach the houses, it veers to the left and passes over a wooden stile by the trees, and then on almost immediately through a wooden kissing gate before heading the few yards down to the road by the side of the public toilets.
St Mary's church in Newchurch
Turn right along the pavement and then along the road past the Old Slaughterhouse, when the pavement ends. Around the next bend is the Parish church of St Mary, where a short detour can be taken. A few yards past the church, the road splits.
Here take the right hand fork, initially heading uphill signed "Sabden Fold". After the initial rise the road descends and then gently undulates passing by Faugh's Quarry after a few hundred yards. After a further quarter of a mile the road (Well Head Road) passes a few houses, once again becomes enclosed by walls, and continues on past the Shekinah Christian Centre. Shortly after passing the Centre, pass by the entrance to a grand looking house up to the right, and continue along its frontage before turning right off the road over a stone stile immediately after the wall ends by a metal gate.
Pendle Hill from Driver Height
Once over the stile, keep close by the wall and start to climb the hill. Continue climbing up onto Driver Height over a series of false summits until finally the top is reached.
Descending off Driver Height towards Upper Ogden Reservoir
Keeping by the wall as the descent starts, a wonderfully expansive view of Pendle Hill appears ahead. At one stage on the descent the path pulls right in to the wall by a wooden footpath sign - here keep straight ahead descending into Ogden Clough, ignoring the path off to the right.
As the slope gets steeper, the path veers more away from the wall towards the head of Upper Ogden Reservoir below. Continue down to and over the stile, then down a few steps to arrive at the water. Here, keep straight on along the right hand side of the wall along the right hand side of the water.
The track by the side of Lower Ogden Reservoir
Just before a wall is reached, turn right down the track heading towards the gate below. Pass over the stone stile to the right of the gate and proceed along the track. The track starts climbs and then descends to and past Lower Ogden Reservoir.
Keep on the track past a few houses, and then on back past the wooden footbridge used at the start of the walk. Keep on the lane past the water works and the houses to arrive back at the 'T' junction by the village hall. Cross over the road and head along the pavement for the short distance back to the car park.
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