JUST love a walk up Pendle Hill, there are such splendid views from the top, which sadly on this particular day, it was very foggy indeed, so no views at all, until we were on our way back down. I am fairly familiar with Pendle Hill and the various tracks, so could navigate okay through the fog, but for anyone unfamiliar, its probably best not to do if visibility is not too good. This circular walk sets off from lovely Downham, takes a direct rout to the top of Pendle Hill and then follows ancient and very steep tracks back down the hill and crosses fields back into the village. Pendle Hill, in Lancashire, is 557metres above sea level, compared to Penyghent at 694m, Ingleborough at 723m, and Whernside at 736m. It is, for the time being anyway, a lot less busy than the Yorkshire Three Peaks. Interestingly, on my way back down from a walk up Penyghent recently, I noticed Pendle Hill in the distance - and it is so very hard to miss.

1 From the car park, exit by gate next to public toilets, cross over fields via two gates and head to road bridge. Don't go over bridge, but follow road with beck on left. Take left road, still following beck, passing lovely cottages on left and pass through gate into field.

2 Follow beck on left and then bear right, following way markers. Take kissing gate to right of stile and continue along path.

3 Continue along the well defined path, and cross over a track, and follow path into a field. Climb fairly steeply up towards the barn, keeping to left of field. Over stile and go left into gully and take stile to right, climbing up steps to road.

4 Cross over road and go through gate directly opposite into field, with Pendle Hill looming up in front of you. The path is pretty well defined and take a zig zag route up to the summit - it can get rather boggy and narrow on the climb itself, so take care.

5 At the top, continue along the path and head for the gate. Take a diversion here to the summit and trig point, then re-trace steps back to gate, go through it again and then take the path to the left. Head across the moorland along the well defined path, watching out for the frequent boggy bits and ponds. You will eventually come to a ladder stile over a wall, cross over it.

6 Continue along the path, passing close by a stone shelter and then a cairn celebrating Clitheroe and District scouts centenary. To the right of the cairn, take the path which passes the edge of Mearley Clough, before bearing right again to follow an old track heading downhill. Head towards the wall, and then left, following wall downhill. Pick up the waymarker posts across the gully, and then go downhill steeply, heading to right of farm buildings.

7 Through gate onto path, which after a while becomes surfaced. Stay on road until the junction, and follow sign to Downham. Continue along road as it bends sharply to right, and just after, take left signposted path along farm track towards farm.

8 Continue along farm track, over bridge, and then head off across field towards gate at foot of Worsaw Hill. Then, turn right and follow path as it goes through stiles and into a field. Head across the field to the treeline, and then head for a dead tree stump off to the right to pick up the path. Continue along the path and back into the village.

Factfile:

Start/finish: Downham, off the A59 between Skipton and Clitheroe

Distance: Seven miles, allow four to five hours

Difficulty: Moderate

Terrain: quiet road, fields, tracks and moorland

Livestock: Ever present sheep and ground nesting birds on moorland - keep dogs under control and on leads.

Stiles/gates: Nothing difficult

Refreshments: Pub and cafe in Downham

Parking: Free parking and toilets in visitor car park in Downham

OS Map: Explorer OL 41