Worsthorne and Widdop, Wednesday 8th April, leader Aly

On a glorious spring Wednesday morning, 17 ramblers gathered in the centre of Worsthorne village, it finally felt like spring was in the air!

We left Worsthorne, which takes its name from ‘homestead by the thorn bush’; following the Burnley Way southwards, out onto fields, towards the pretty hamlet of Hurstwood, passing the impressive 16th century Hurstwood Hall on our right. From here we left the Burnley Way, taking a steady uphill track through woodland before levelling out onto the Pennine Bridleway, with Hurstwood Reservoir on our left and remains of the Worsthorne quarries on our right. Here, a few fleeces and thermal layers were removed as the temperature was rising nicely.

Continuing along the Pennine Bridleway the track started to climb again to a junction with the old packhorse route, Gorple Road and pick up the Burnley way again. After considering an early ‘elevenses’ by the junction it was decided we continue on a little further for a more suitable spot, so we turned right, continuing steadily uphill to our elevenses pitch with a bench (which some at the front almost walked past!) and plenty of good places to sit.

After our refreshment stop it was onward and upward on Gorple Road, which on a poor day would be a slog, but today was not a poor day………. it was a good day! With Gorple Stones high above us on our left we made it to Shuttleworth Moor, the highest point of the day, with its interesting boulders and stones, we were rewarded with views over Gorple Upper and Lower Reservoirs, and further afield, distant views over to Stoodley Pike to our south east and Pendle Hill to our north west.

Here we turned north towards Widdop Reservoir, (discussing the idea of the proposed wind farm on Widdop Moor and the Walshaw Estate….. but that’s for debate on another day). After a short descent we left the Pennine Bridleway, picking up a feint path following the contours alongside ‘The Brinks’, taking our route carefully to avoid the boggy bits (although not as boggy today as expected).  

After crossing a small stream, we climbed towards a moorland road, near which we chose to have our lunch stop, with good views down the reservoir and the warming sun on our faces we were reluctant to get moving again, but move we did – up the road which led us uphill for a short while, then heading west on a ‘damp’ path across Extwistle Moor.

After another short stretch on the Pennine Bridleway we were heading off down the Swinden Valley, with Swinden Reservoirs below to our left and up on the ridge to our right – Twist Castle – site of a Romano British farmstead.

Back on the Burnley Way, our route took us past Lee Green Reservoir, where a few of the group spotted a small group of dear in the woods opposite, then descending along Swinden Water through the pretty valley, picking our way through the less pretty muddy bits. Some stepping stones led us across the brook then a short climb up past Wood Hey Farm, onto a farm track leading us back into the village.

Thank you to everyone who came on the walk today, thanks to Jan for helping me with back marking and to Stephen D for taking photos.

Approx stats:

Distance 9.85 mile, with a steady 1150 ft of ascent.

‘If you wish to see a static view of the pics all in one go, then click here .’

Continuously running slideshow below – you can see it full screen by clicking in top left of picture