Pendle Hill.

Pendle is the dominant feature of the East Lancashire landscape, rising to a height of 1831 feet. Despite its ridge-like appearance when viewed from below, there is a considerable summit area. Burnley, Nelson and Colne lie to the South and East, Clitheroe to the West.

Access:

The best approaches by road are via the A682 and then Roughlee and Barley from junction 13 of the M65 or via Chatburn and Downham from the A59. Park on the roadside of Barley Lane 0.8 mile NE of Barley village at SD815416, by the entrance to Pendleside House and Farm. Go over the cattle grid and walk along the private road towards Pendleside House. The left hand branch towards Pendleside Farm is private.

After passing a barn on the right-hand side take the footpath through the wooden gate on the right and walk up the field with the wall on your right. At the top of the field pass through the iron gate.

From here the most productive way to the summit is via the left hand wall which gradually ascends to an open stony area that looks like a quarry, (actually an ancient landslip). The path continues rising above this area before veering sharply right and ascending gently to the triangulation point. The return journey can be made by retracing your tracks or by taking the steps down towards Pendle House. The latter is usually unproductive.

The climb to the summit is fairly strenuous and bitterly cold during winter months. Appropriate footware and clothing should be worn.

  Birds:

  Dotterel: Pendle is one of the most important spring passage sites in England for this species; birds are annual with counts just reaching double figures most years. Peak numbers usually occur the last week in April and first ten days of May. In contrast, return passage in Autumn is very irregular. Birds show a strong preference for short cropped grassy areas especially south of the triangulation point. Please do not disturb or harass the birds, they can be tame and, with patience, will often approach you allowing excellent photographic opportunities.

Black Redstart: is probably an annual passage migrant. Spring records predominate with dates in April and May. Whilst breeding has yet to be confirmed, it is likely that birds have bred on or close to Pendle in recent years.
Black Redstarts tend to frequent the dry stone walls, often in loose association with Wheatears or occasionally Stonechats. The stony area, previously described, is another favoured spot.

Twite: An annual passage migrant and a rare breeder. Spring passage commences in March and counts of up to ten were not unusual; numbers have declined in recent years and only a very few pairs may still breed. Post-breeding flocks are variable in number and the birds are absent in winter. Look around the dry stone walls on the approach to Pendleside House and also as you join the footpath. In particular as soon as you pass through the iron gate type style check the lower dry stone wall areas and the lower slopes of Pendle. You will not find birds on the summit.

Snow Bunting: An annual winter visitor and double passage migrant. October records are infrequent, and relate to passage birds which can be encountered anywhere on the summit in single figures only. The winter flock builds up from around the middle of November with peak numbers December to February. A typical flock contains 15-20 birds with numbers falling away in March. The wintering flock is usually found North and West of the triangulation point in the two extensive areas of Molinia grass where the birds feed. The sight of distinctive cylinder shaped droppings is often the first sign of the birds presence. If you are unlucky try the stony scree areas just over the edge overlooking the village of Downham. Please do not disturb the birds too often.

Other Species:
Species seen regularly throughout the year include Red Grouse, which prefer the tracts of heather on the summit plateau, Grey Partridge in the fields at the foot of Pendle, Little Owl around the dry stone walls and Ring Ouzels are usually present in the open stony area, predominantly in spring. Merlin, Peregrine and Raven are always possible, single pairs of each have bred in remote areas close to Pendle Hill in recent years. Small numbers of Golden Plover occur on the summit in spring, autumn and occasionally winter but only the odd pair breed. Several pairs of Curlew breed on the summit and Skylarks, although decreasing in numbers, are still fairly common in the breeding season with Meadow Pipits even more numerous. Whinchats and Stonechats are regular passage migrants with the latter sometimes present in winter: both have bred in recent years, although stonechats are not annual. The dry stone walls and bracken covered fields are favoured. Wheatear is a fairly common summer visitor, early birds arrive from mid-March and departure is over by the end of October.

Article kindly provided by A.A. Cooper.