Gareth Jones Walks: lancashire

Route: Startifants Lane - Parlick - Fair Snape Fell trig - Fair Snape Fell true summit - Saddle Fell - Saddle End Farm - Wolfen Hall - Startifants Lane

Distance: 6.2 miles

Classification: Marilyn

Weather: Warm, dry, welcome breeze

We started this climb from the car park on Startifants Lane. A steep climb up Parlick followed which allowed us great views of Longridge Fell and the 'other side' of Pendle Hill. Growing up in Burnley I'm used to seeing Pendle Hill from the east. It's not often I get to see Lancashire's 4th highest peak from the west.

Once on top of Parlick the views really started to open out. Unfortunately my camera which really struggles when it's hazy doesn't do justice to the views we encountered on this walk, but we could clearly see Black Hameldon, the hill I climbed a week before which struck up my interest of climbing Parlick and Fair Snape Fell. From Black Hameldon I had great views of these two hills behind Pendle that I had not recalled seeing before. Their shapes had me searching on the internet to find out what these two were, and born was the idea of climbing them the week after, particularly as we had arranged to visit my Mum in Lancashire the following weekend.

From Parlick we then made our way towards Fair Snape Fell, which presents a fantastic walk along the col offering more great views over Lancashire. It wasn't long before we reached Fair Snape Fell's southern summit with its trig point, storm shelter, and the cairn of Paddy's Pole.

We took lunch here and the binoculars came out. The binoculars allowed us to pick out Winter Hill to the south, Preston to the south-west, and Blackpool to the west. We could clearly see the Big One roller coaster on Blackpool Pleasure Beach and Blackpool Tower.

We then left to make our way to Fair Snape Fell's true summit. This year's Ordnance Survey map indicated that the quickest route here from the trig point has no clear path. It was a nice surprise to find a fairly clear path back to the fence that leads to Fair Snape Fell's true summit, and it was here that we made out Whernside and Ingleborough on the horizon to the north.

Next we made our way to Saddle Fell over peaty, barren moorland. Again we were surprised to find how clear the path was which eventually turns south for the descent back towards our car on Startifants Lane.

It was on the descent that we saw the lush, green eastern slopes of Parlick, it looked great. Up to this point on the walk Parlick had the usual light brown colour of moorland lacking heather so to see this this lush side of it was a surprise.

We ended the walk with a low level return to our car through farmland at Saddle End Farm and Wolfen Hall.

This was a really enjoyable walk. It wasn't the longest but we certainly felt like we'd had a good workout. The views were fantastic all day and a lot of the time we had the place all to ourselves. We found it strange that on such a nice day there were more hang gliding enthusiasts about than walkers, still, let's keep it a secret eh?

Thanks to Bowland Walks and My Pennines for the routes and advice on this walk. Have a look at their great sites for routes covering the Forest of Bowland, the Pennines, and walks in many other areas too.

Not long after starting and the views are immediate - Pendle Hill (left) and Longridge Fell (right) here

We chose the steep ascent of Parlick

Parlick is a beautiful hill, it's summit marker however, is unspectacular

A look towards Fair Snape Fell, our next destination

Looking back at Parlick while ascending Fair Snape Fell

Fair Snape Fell's southern summit with the shelter and Paddy's Pole - time for lunch

A look west towards the coast, we could pick out Blackpool Tower and the Big One, Preston and Winter Hill

A faint Whernside (left) and Ingleborough (right) on the horizon

Fair Snape Fell's true summit - 521 metres

A high level walk now over moorland, just how we like it

Yep - plently of it!

Sheep chilling in the hot weather

The lush green eastern slopes of Parlick

Pretty Parlick

A pleasant finish

Route: Gorple Lower Reservoir - Reap's Cross - Noah Dale - Hoof Stones Height - Hare Stones - Gorple Stones - Widdop Reservoir

Distance: 9.8 miles

Classification: None

Weather: Cloudy, warm, mostly dry under foot

It's difficult to find many words to say about this walk, this is good, honest, featureless moorland. But that's not to say it isn't an enjoyable walk, if it's solitude and peace you require on the hills then Black Hameldon is a good choice.

The walk started at a small lay-by car park near to Gorple Lower Reservoir. I joined the Pennine Bridleway and walked along the dam before joining the Pennine Way, with the intention of taking in the trig at Standing Stone Hill. Unfortunately for me, the path on the OS map from the Pennine Way to the trig has disappeared, so I gave up the ghost and returned to the Pennine Bridleway.

I then turned off the Pennine Bridleway to take in Reap's Cross. The cross dates back to the 1400s and marks an ancient pathway across the Pennines. It was restored in 2002 by local residents having broken in two.

From Reap's Cross I followed a very faint path to Noah Dale which was the beginning of the climb to Black Hameldon's summit, Hoof Stones Height. It didn't take long from here to reach the summit. Something I really enjoyed about this hill is that the views are saved until you are within just seconds of the summit, you have no idea what's in store, no sneak previews, then suddenly you are surrounded by 360 degree views to Pendle Hill, Stoodley Pike, Emley Moor, Boulsworth Hill, the Bowland fells, and on a good day like today even Ingleborough and Pen-y-ghent far to the north.

From the summit I followed the ridge north to Hare Stones and then on to Gorple Stones. Again there isn't much of a path but a fence separating Lancashire and Yorkshire can be used as a handrail here.

Finally the walk takes in Widdop Reservoir, probably the most picturesque part of the walk other than the summit. As said earlier, this is barren moorland, but I personally enjoy this. The higher peaks will attract the hordes in good weather, I'd rather leave them for during the week and take in a good walk like this where you'll be lucky to come across a dozen people all day.