The Fifty-third of our “Hubberton Hikers Hikes” is now scheduled for Saturday August 17th 2007. The hike is planned to start at 11am from the roadside car park at Widdop Gate, 2 miles east of widdop reservoir. The hike is approximately 9 miles long and will take about 4.5 to 5 hours at a gentle pace. It is planned to have a drink and possibly some food at the Pack Horse pub (otherwise known as the Ridge), afterwards.
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Directions: Fairly local this one... From Hebdon Bridge, round the back of
Heptonstall, onto the Colne Road (the road for the Pack Horse, but don't go that
far). Widdop Gate is before you reach Blake Dean. OS Landranger Map 103
recommended, or Explorer OL21.
A stile on the lower of two hairpin bends above the road bridge gives access to Blake dean where a delightful but faint path traces the upper fringes along the grit stone rocks of Ridge Scout. A paved packhorse rout, the course of the Pennine Way, comes up to meet the route. Double back along it and descend to cross two wooden footbridges over Graining Water and the outflow of the reservoir. The path, still paved, climbs out of the valley to the reservoir keeper’s house at Gorple Cottages. Following Yorkshire water’s track over the dam and along the northern shores of the lake, passing some small weather beaten spruce plantations that cling to the pallid moorland slopes. The track ends by the dam of the Gorple Upper Reservoir. Here a well-used path climbs north past the shapely grit stone tors of Shuttleworth Moor to the Gorple Gate track, which has climbed from the Widdop Reservoir. Otherwise turn left for the Gorple Stones. If the day is a dull one, Black Hameldon will be true to its name, for it’s peaty northern end reflects a stark and sullen aura over the dilapidated pastures and upper lake. Abandon the track on reaching its apex beneath the stones. An extremely smelly bit of marsh near the start of the new southwesterly path needs intelligent circumnavigation to reach terra firma at the Hare Stones. The path climbs on Black Hameldon’s peat scarred slopes to gain the broad, marshy ridge, which spans just over a mile to the summit at hoof Stones Height. Here some shallow pools, that can be dry in summer, surround a concrete trig point. The rest of the Walk can be obtained from Leader if desired before the date, otherwise follow “YOUR LEADER” on the day. |
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ANY FRIENDS OR FAMILY CAN JOIN THIS BRILLIANT BAND OF PEOPLE ON THE DAY AT THE SAID TIME. PLEASE INFORM LEADER OF ANY INTAKES!
This is a moderate walk on peaty moorland paths and tracks. Black Hameldon lies at the heart of the lofty expanse of moorland rising from the green fields and factory chimneys of East Lancashire. It’s summit, known as Hoof Stones Height, crowns a broad, marshy ridge not 5 miles from the centre of Burnley. The very name, Black Hameldon, which means black-scarred hill, invokes images of a dark satanic place. This route is one of the finest walks in the south Pennines, guiding the walker into some of the widest, wildest landscapes in the region. The start will be taken at a leisurely pace so as to make sure that ALL those who wish to complete the hike will do so. PLEASE take note of "ANDYS AMBLING ADVICE" and ensure that warm and waterproof clothing is/are taken in case of any change in the weather.
A MAP of the walk is available HERE.
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This page last updated on 16th November 2006