Turn – Whittle Hill - Scout Moor - Paradise - Turn

Walter M Waide

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Turn Village – Whittle Hill - Higher Hill – Scout Moor - Knowl Hill - Paradise - Turn Village

This is a walk which should not be undertaken in bad weather, because poor visibility would spoil the stunning views and heavy rain would make some of the moorland sections impassable. That said, in sunshine and after a few dry days, the views are well worth the climbing involved and apart from the dramatic turbines (love 'em or hate 'em, they impose themselves on the landscape), you are likely to see a variety of avian wildlife including skylarks, lapwings and snipe.

As you climb out of Turn Village, views behind you open up and once you come to the top of New Gate Clough, you come face-to-blade with the first turbine. Another climb to the wooden cross at the top of Whittle Hill and 360-degree views are the order of the day. The walk continues through the windfarm to Higher Hill, from where Scout Moor, Knowl Moor and Knowl Hill can be seen. The view from Knowl Hill is arguably one of the most extensive in Lancashire and on a weekday one is able to enjoy it in solitude. At the weekend however, a never-ending crocodile of visitors makes its way up to this flat-topped eyrie from the car park at the road and from the pub. All 26 turbines from the 'Alphabet' windfarm can be seen from the summit.

The descent leads you to Owd Bett's, a pub with cask ale and a friendly welcome. The food's good as well and on a sunny day it's nice to sit outside here. The return to the start takes you over moorland fields and then through the oddly-named 'Paradise' and the crossing of the Cheesden Brook – a doddle in dry weather! To finish there is a steep climb to the Coal Road and then a fairly level amble back to the car. Watch out for crossing the main road though!

England - North England - Lancashire - West Pennine Moors

Features

Birds, Great Views, Hills or Fells, Moor, Pub, Wildlife
4/25/2019 - Marie Eperson

A fantastic walk for Easter Friday, wonderful views & hardly a soul in sight except at Knowl Hill (everyone else was sat in queues going north on the M6). We would suggest sticking to the tracks going around the radio mast between 6 & 7. The stile down from the mast has disintegrated & that area was still quite wet after a dry period.

6/25/2014 - Norman Brannick

Completed this walk 25th June 2014. My thanks to Walter M. Waide for this walk, directions were fairly clear but had to use the Maintenance track at WM 4 to get to Whittle Hill. Took his point Re. the direct route from WM 6. I took the direct route only to find hidden dangers lurking beneath the long grass. (knee high bogs) I wouldn't have considered it had it been in the middle of winter, but not too bad in the summer. WALKER BEWARE!Thank you again Walking World for another great walk..

3/2/2012 - alec jackson

Did this walk today (01/03/2012). Reached waymark 4 and tried to follow directions. It appears that the fence and wall is now within the quarry grounds. You would need to go through the gate (marked 'NO PUBLIC ACCESS'). Spoke to a quarryman outside the area who advised to follow the maintenance track around the hill. The cross can be accessed from this track. Is it possible the quarry has amended its boundaries?