Whalley - Nick of Pendle - Heyhouses - Whalley

Chris Baines

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Whalley - Wiswell - Nick of Pendle - Heyhouses - Whalley

If arriving early for this walk, it is a good idea to explore the delights of Spring Wood before you start. Spring Wood was once owned by the monks of Whalley Abbey and originally called Oxheyewoode, which formed part of a deer-park. In the 1530s the monasteries were dissolved and all the possessions seized by the Crown. A survey carried out by the Crown on 29th June 1528 stated that Oxheyewoode was well-plenished with timber and underwood. The underwood consisted of 'Hassel and Eller' (hazel and elder) which was felled once every twenty years. In the 1970s the wood was bought by Lancashire County Council and developed into the picnic site that exists today. A pond was constructed by diverting three springs over the edge of a quarry working. Hard-surfaced paths were also constructed to make walking easier.

Once you leave Spring Wood, you will quickly start to climb out onto Pendleton Moors, passing Jeppe Knave's Grave on your way to the Nick of Pendle, the highest point on the walk. At weekends you can enjoy a locally made ice cream from the car park just above where you come out on Clitheroe Road. After a loop of Churn Clough Reservoir, you then make your way back to the start, passing through open farmland and small villages along the way.

There is a fair amount of climbing on this walk, but the majority is taken at a gentle incline and the views certainly make up for the effort involved.

England - North England - Lancashire - Countryside

Features

Ancient Monument, Birds, Butterflies, Flowers, Food Shop, Gift Shop, Good for Kids, Great Views, Hills or Fells, Lake/Loch, Moor, Nature Trail, Public Transport, River, Toilets, Wildlife, Woodland

6/8/2023 - Simon Worrall

Walked June 2023. Pleasant walk with sweeping views of the landscape on the outbound leg towards Nick of Pendle to the background noise of lapwings and curlews. BROKEN STILES at WP26 (passable with care) and WP27 (open farm gate to one side). FOOTPATH OVERGROWN with nettles and impassable on section between WP31 and WP32 (where it has been fenced off for tree planting). Keep to the obvious farm track which passes around the overgrown path and then head back down hill towards footpath and WP32 after passing the small plantation to your left. CATTLE - in the field behind New York Farm between WP15 and WP16. (The public right of way actually passes through the small farm yard between the farm buildings which we used to avoid the cattle on the permissive footpath.)

3/2/2013 - mark archer

A bit of a pull up out from Spring Wood however the route across the moors to the Nick of Pendle was very pleasant. It was a bit tricky negotiating the way through Sabden however clear instructions and a reliable satnav meant I didn't get lost. Why does the van at Spring Wood only sell ice creams? I could have murdered a burger!

6/23/2011 - DAMIAN BRADLEY

Everyone gave the thumbs up to this walk. We stopped for a pint in The White Horse at Sabden - very friendly pub with well kept ale and good food at reasonable prices. One bit of feedback about Point 4 in the Directions. The instruction to head left diagonally is a bit misleading. if you follow the fence on the right of the picture, it takes you to the pair of stiles in the next step. Cheers

5/4/2011 - Henry Jarman

We did this walk on the 2/5/11 and what a great walk it is. Would recommend this walk. The views are great. This walk has everything. It took us about 4 and a half hours and we would say it is about 8 miles long.

9/1/2010 - Michael and Marian Vaughn

What a beautiful walk on a lovely late summer day. We stopped for our packed lunch at the bench at waymark 13; the sun was out and not a cloud in the sky. However we felt that the suggested three hours was a bit optimistic - we certainly took longer - probably partly as Mike kept stopping to take photos - but such a walk should not be rushed!