The Pendle Way in Lancashire is a 45-mile circular route which ranges from limestone meadows to rugged millstone grit moorland. You’ll discover weaving hamlets and places associated with the Bronte’s and the Pendle Witches. The high point of the walk is the climb up the mysterious Pendle Hill (557M), which dominates the landscape.
Pendle is a little known corner of Lancashire with a wild beauty of its own. History, legend and story telling has cast its own enchantment over Pendle. Its name is drawn from Pendle Hill, a beacon hill which warned of the Spanish Armada and became infamous as the home of the Pendle witches of 1612.
In 1652, George Fox had a vision after climbing Pendle, which led him to found the Quaker movement. In more recent times, Charlotte Bronte explored the Pendle moors bordering her Haworth home and based her Ferndean Manor in Jane Eyre on Wycoller Hall, a fascinating ruin, which you can visit today.
Duration of tour
6 days (5 nights)
Tour availability
This tour is available throughout the year.
Price
From £150/person (single supplement £25/person).
Prices include B&B accommodation and transfers between accommodation and the route.
Grade of walk
Generally this is a moderate route with daily distances of about 11 miles. Strenuous walking is encountered when walking up to the summit of Pendle Hill.
Single centre tour
Pendle, Lancashire.
Accommodation
Selected comfortable en-suite B&B accommodation. On this holiday you stay in one location, each day you will be transferred between your accommodation and the circular route.
Meals
A full English breakfast is included. Packed lunches can be purchased from your overnight accommodation or from local convenience stores. Evening meals can be purchased in pubs and overnight accommodation when a pub is not available.
Maps
Included in the cost of your holiday are Pendle Way route maps. We also recommend Ordnance Survey Explorer Maps to compliment your route map. Please contact us if you require further information about purchasing OS maps.
Transport
Although we do not provide transport there is a train station in Nelson, from here you can use a taxi to travel to your accommodation. For those who wish to drive parking is available at your accommodation.
A convenient major city and International airport is Manchester.
We can purchase rail tickest on your behalf, please contact us if you require this option.
Outline Itinerary
Day 1 Arrive in Pendle
Check into your accommodation and spend the evening at your leisure.
Day 2 to 5
The Pendle Way has been divided into 8 sections, each day you travel by local transport to the circular route and walk part of the route. Local transport will return you to your accommodation.
Day 6
Depart from your accommodation and head for home.
Section 1 - Barrowford to Barnoldswick 7 miles
From Pendle Heritage Centre, the route follows a scenic riverside path with glimpses of Blacko Tower. The Old Gisburn Road leads to the viewpoint Weets Hill, from where the Way drops down to Barnoldswick and Bancroft Mill.
Section 2 - Barnoldswick to Earby 5.5 miles
The route follows the Leeds & Liverpool Canal for about 2.5miles. Industrial archeology gives way to views of limestone country. The ancient churches of St. Mary-le-Gill and St. Mary, Thornton, lie on the path. At Thornton the Pennine Way passes nearby.
Section 3 - Earby to Laneshaw Bridge 7 miles
From the old part of Earby, skirt the looming bulk of Kelbrook Moor to reach the earliest turnpike in Pendle at Black Lane Ends. Good views from Knarrs Hill of Yorkshire and, as ever, Pendle Hill.
Section 4 - Laneshaw Bridge to Wycoller to Coldwell Inn 6.5 miles
This section passes through the old hamlet and Country Park at Wycoller. Moorland soon takes over as the route follows an ancient trackway along the foot of Boulsworth Hill.
Section 5 - Coldwell Inn to Reedley 4.5 miles
The route takes in reservoirs at Coldwell and Walverden. The rural landscape at Catlow leads to views over the mills and terraces of Nelson.
Section 6 - Reedley to Higham to Newchurch 6 miles
A walk rich in connections with the Pendle Witches. Houses like Greenhead, Bull Hole and Moss End play a part in the story, as do the villages of Higham and Newchurch.
Section 7 - Newchurch to Pendle Hill to Barley 5 miles
From a lanscapre created by man at Ogden Reservoirs to the little altered cloughs and moorland of Pendle Hill (557M). The route leaves the views at Big End for the steep descent into Barley.
Section 8 - Barley to Barrowford 3.5 miles
From Barley along the former road to Whitehough then over to Roughlee to meet Pendle Water again. The direct route over the ridge brings you down to Barrowford, Pendle Heritage Centre and once more, Pendle Water.
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