Outlook
P e n d l e — t h e h i l l . W e ' r e a t
h o m e w i t h PAUL WILSON suggests an interesting route up East Lancashire’s favourite hill
What is the best time of the year for the hillwalker- who enjoys solitude? There can be no real argument about the answer to such a question : it has to be. winter, particularly November, December and the early part of January. Of course, this season has more- than its fair shape of foul days when the tops are best left alone and the wise walker seeks the warmth and cheer of a country inn. But there are plenty of mar vellous days in every winter: days of crisp, clear intense light which provide views from the tops which are quite unsurpassed at any other time of year. And nothing quickens the walker’s pace more than the sight
of the first snows on the hills. Winter, and the Christmas — New Year period
in particular, is the time when the tourists and sight seers retire to the security of the glow of their televi sion screens, leaving the hills to the lover of solitude. Quietness reigns on even the busiest peaks. Every Christmas Eve I try to gel out onto the hills, and hardly ever see another soul. Collision Old Man, Fair- field,Uelvellyn, become worth visiting again. The year before last my son and 1 climbed I’enyghent via the poular Three Peaks path from Horton-in-Ribblesdale and had the summit to ourselves: a rare and satis fying event. So it seems the ideal time to take a stroll up to the top of that hoary old giant that provides the
A g r e e i n g w i t h 3Eric
I COME to the Kibble Valley every year for the walking and I agree entirely with Eric HalsaH's article in Outlook. The confrontational altitude of the Ramblers Associa
quite unnecessary. If one treats farmers and gamekeepers with politeness
and consideration for their professional interests, a modus vivendi is easily achieved. Walkers should be aware that public rights of way
tion (the instill interest of which often seems to be fight ing the class war against landowners and larmerslis
summit of Pendle at least once in their lives. The gentlest way up is from the Nick of Pendle; the quickest is via the Rig End, leaving your car by the track to Pendle House. This is a round which I've often done comfortably within an hour.
backdrop for all our lives, Pendle Hill. Most East Lancashire folk have been up to the
The steepest way is also from Pendle House, ignor ing the rather unpleasant staircase and heading
straight up the steep Hank, a grass-clutching slog which provides splendid upside-down views looking back between one’s legs.
via Ogden Clough. Follow the track up from Harley past the reservoirs until it veers off to the right and begins to ascend the steep breast of Harley Moor. Ignore the path and continue alongside the stream up into the steep-sided ravine. This calls for much hopping from side to side of the stream, for there is no path; nor is there any litter, indeed little sign that anyone has passed this way before. As the dough narrows and curves its way like a
The best way up Pendle - in my humble opinion - is
mere? Much tinier than Pendle at only It!!)!) feet, yet every inch a mountain. No, ascend Pendle via Ogden Clough and you will have no doubts about its
you emerge onto the rolling peat fastnesses to the west of the summit. The sporting finish would be to follow the streamlet to its source, oozing from the peat-hags jusl west of north of the summit, but you can also pick up the distinct track from the Nick which will guide you unerringly to the summit. This route has the advantage of only revealing the
true status. IL is a pity when the ravine eventually peters out and
full glory of the view at the very last minute, as the ground suddenly falls away down to the liarley- Downham road. The last time 1 came this way, on a still afternoon in late November, there was not a soul in sight, and the light began to fade into dusk as I trotted down the excellent Pendle Way track back to the reservoirs. And so for a pint. 1 recommend that you con
scythe around the back of the main mass of the sum mit, you get the distinct feeling of being in a real moun tain. Ignore all those wiseacres who tell you that Pen dle isn't a mountain because it doesn’t (pole attain the magic height of two thousand feet. What nonsense! There are plenty of sub-two thousand foolers which
tinue along the Pendle Way, up through Fell Wood, descending into the hamlet of Newchurch. There in the cosy Lamb Inn you may drink a seasonal toast in the shape of a pint of Burnley’s very own beer. Moor-
are undoubtedly mountains: What about, say, dear old Helm Crag— The Lion and the Lamb’ — above Gras
Thcakston’s the last time 1 dropped by. But don’t be tempted to sample too much of these fine beers: I want to see you all shipshape with your newly-dub- bined boots early in 1!)!)1, ready to see in the New Year with another ramble amongst our lovely native hills.
houses's excellent bitter. There’s also usually a guest real ale, which was
A V i c t o r i a n C h r i s t m a s
were anciently established for the convenience ol the manorial tenants of the parish going about their busi ness, not so that strangers from the towns and cities could trample over the countryside at will. If they are asked to walk round a field or keep away
from breeding birds they should accept the diversion gracefully instead of insisting on the letter of a privilege which has come down to them quite fortuitously. A. I’VE,
1 Tithe Barn Close, Kaunds, Wellingborough, Northamptonshire. Q
THE Wharfmastcr’s House on Manchester Road in Burnley steps back a hun dred years on Saturday and Sunday 15th and 16th D e c e m b e r w h e n t h e
Friends of the Weavers’ Triangle hold their Vic- t o r i a n C h r i s t m a s celebrations. The building, which dates from the 1870s and houses
W l ia t a r e th e y ?
the Weavers’ Triangle Visi tor Centre, will be suitably decorated with a Christmas tree and trimmings. Staff, dressed in Victorian cos tume, will be on hand to greet visitors.
1-30 p.m. to -1 p.m. on each afternoon, with free admis sion, and at 2-15 p.m. F a th e r Christmas will arrive, rowed along the Leeds and Liverpool Canal
The house will open from
boat trip, will be able to c r u i s e a b o a r d t h e “ Eldorado” across the Burnley embankment — the spectacular “straight mile” — commencing at 2-15 p.m. each afternoon. The fare is 12, which includes a gift for the children from Father Christmas. □
by members of the Burnley Sea Cadet Corps — weather permitting. Visitors wishing for a
ROEFIELD NURSING AND REST HOME
EDfSFORD BRIDGE, CLITHEROE S i t u a t e d i n th r e e a c r e s o v e r lo o k in g th e R i v e r R ib b le
★ Reg i s t e r ed for 28 people. ★ Slnglo and double rooms mo s t wi th cn-aul te bathrooms . ★ All s ervic es provided.
R e g i s t e r e d n u r s e s a n d a s s i s t a n t s on d u t y 24 h o u r s to
p r o v id e t h e h ig h e s t s t a n d a r d o f e n r e in a c omf o r t a b l e a n d p l e a s a n t e n v i r o nme n t .
Telephone: Mrs M. P. Bickford, S.R.N., CLITHEROE (0200) 22010
ONCE every-day objects in many homes and places of work, these items are from a selection on display at the Visitor’s Centre. The question is: “What are they?” If you think you might, then there's a prize compe
tition at the centre. And one of the prizes is the book “A Lancashire Christmas”, presented by Outlook and featured elsewhere in this issue. □
^ M U L T I S P O R T S
A B I G G E R a n d B E T T E R C H O I C E I N A B I G a n d B E T T E R S H O P
\ 2 8 -3 1 R A I L W A Y S T R E E T , N E L S O N !- : (1 d e v io u s ly M u 11is t y le s ) T e l : 6 8 i8 1 .: .
\ V v y ^ B r i g h t e n u p s o m e o n e ' s ^ ^ ^ C h r i s tm a s
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