WEST PENNINE WAY TO PENNINE WAY

Link from Bull Hill to near Warlands Reservoir on Pennine Way

Distance: 15 miles

Bull Hill to Edenfield 3 miles: Edenfield to Shawforth 7 miles

Shawforth to Walsden 3 miles: Walsden to Pennine Way 2 miles

Key: L = left R = right FP = footpath

  • Start at Bull Hill trig. point on the Eastern section of the West Pennine Way
  • Go North a short distance to the MOD flag pole
  • Turn R and follow well-worn wide track
  • Carry straight on at cross paths to Ellen Strange’s cairn and stone post
  • Continue in same direction following FP and stone wall down to Moorbottom road, (a dirt track skirting round the Holcombe Moors)
  • Turn L through gate
  • Turn R through small metal gate opposite Robin hood’s Well
  • Go down field passing ruined building then over ladder stile
  • Continue on to next stile near a telegraph pole on the R of farm
  • Cross farm lane to go over stile opposite
  • Go down field then go over stile
  • Cross B6214 road and take stile opposite
  • Go diagonally L to pass close to property fencing on your L
  • Go over stile ahead and continue in same direction over stiles and through gates down to Lumb
  • Turn L and follow tarmac road round R hand bend, under railway viaduct and across stone bridge
  • Turn R and follow river Irwell for a short distance
  • Turn L through subway under East Lancs. Railway
  • After kissing gate turn L and go steeply uphill
  • At the top turn L and go diagonally across field and rushes to the L corner of fencing round Great Hey Farm
  • Go over stile and follow fencing to go over next stile
  • Cross the field to the steps and gate onto the farm access road
  • Turn L and follow access road over A56(T) road then continue on to A 680 at Edenfield

EDENFIELD

  • Cross road and take FP up East street opposite the church
  • At Hey Meadow Farmhouse go up steps and turn L to go along side of property to next stile
  • FP follows hedge and wall to next stile which leads onto stony track
  • Turn L for short distance before turning R and following this track uphill then through a gate and past farm ruins to a sharp L bend
  • Leave the track to follow FP uphill at the side of gulley
  • Go through gate after next stile continue on and over stone embankment
  • At T junction turn R to follow old quarry rutted track skirting round Cowpe Lowe
  • Before stone wall bends to the R leave track bearing L to go towards curved embankment ignoring any other FP off to the L
  • Walk on top of embankment to sign post
  • Keep straight on sign posted and following this Bridleway which goes through a gate, then disused Cragg Quarry and on to junction with Rooley Moor road
  • Go straight on uphill on this paved track
  • Continue as far as sign post for Lee Quarry
  • Turn L and follow this narrow stony path for at least half a mile
  • Keep straight on then take the right fork (waymarked) towards Lee Quarry
  • Turn right into quarry (waymarked) and then right again after about 100m (again waymarked)
  • Follow the white route through the quarry (waymarked as WPW also) towards old quarry buildings
  • Go left of the quarry buildings and follow way marks to make your out of the quarry (way marked)
  • Join the main path heading in an easterly direction
  • Optional route across moorland
  • Turn R on rutted track just after a large stone on the R side of path
  • Follow rutted track to L side of the big pile of rubble
  • Go diagonally on heading for the corner of fencing bearing slightly to the L of it
  • Near fencing turn L and follow FP
  • FP turns L before ditch
  • Follow this FP to far R corner of Lee Quarry
  • Continue in same direction round top of quarry down to broken stone wall to your R
  • Turn R to follow this grassy FP to main track.
  • Continue in same direction with valley towns on your L
  • Continue to the T junction at the fenced off underground reservoir
  • Turn L for a few yards
  • Then turn R to follow FP close to fencing on L up moorland to corner of fencing
  • Here barbed wire has been cut where the stile once was, go over fence, bear slightly R and follow unclear FP keeping fence in view on R to next stone wall.
  • Take FP following wall on L until after you have crossed wet area on stepping stones
  • Cross to other side of wall, with wall on R continue down to fencing
  • Go over broken stile to L of old red metal gate
  • Continue down close to fencing with fencingon R
  • Follow FP with disused quarry on your L to next fencing , go over stile and continue downhill with fencing on R
  • Walk down to road, turn right, down to bottom and enter Quarry Street with a church on your left, to enter Shawforth
  • SHAWFORTH
  • At the end of Quarry St, cross main road(A671 Shawforth) and take farm track straight ahead, bear L up hill to farm
  • Go round farm to FP in stone wall – it has a wood frame surround.
  • Head straight across field over stiles onto farm track. Here go straight across and head up from lane passing 1st farm
  • Just before 2nd farm turn L through gate and follow FP passing behind farm
  • Turn left immediately after the paddock and then right after 30m with stone wall on your L
  • Climb up to top of gulley, then over ladder stile and straight across Rossendale Way to next stile
  • Over stile, then turn L and follow path for approx. 20m before bearing R up the moorland to 2 stone gate posts
  • Go through gate posts and turn R keeping wall on R follow path down to track
  • Turn L and continue on to T junction turn R follow Todmorden Centenary Way through wooden gates turn L passing ruined building on R
  • After 2 more metal gates continue following Todmorden Centenary Way, passing farm on R
  • Continue under pylon wires and pass more properties on your R
  • Go over cattle grid and turn immediately L to go over stone stile
  • Follow FP keeping close to wall on L
  • Continue to property called ‘Heys’ with date stone 1656
  • Go on FP close to front of property (it is also the path to their front door), then cross the grass and through gate follow FP down field, keeping close to fencing on R
  • Over stile turn L for approx. 50 m, then take FP R down steps and follow this steep FP down to row of stone houses
  • Continue going down passing back of houses and round L corner, follow road down and pass more properties
  • Continue straight on over railway footbridge to main road A6033

WALSDEN

  • Go across zebra crossing
  • Turn L then R up street with ‘Grandma Pollard’s’ (Fish & Chip shop) side entrance on your R
  • Follow road over canal bridge
  • Bear R at T junction Lord St to main road
  • Cross main road and turn L up steep cobbled lane
  • At fork in lane keep R on tarmac lane turn L between Top’O’Hill Farm & last row of cottages.
  • Go over stile, follow FP keeping fencing on L
  • At the end of fencing continue across field and just after the stone gate posts turn R
  • Follow FP with broken down wall on R, up to and over stile
  • Continue in same direction just after breeze block building
  • Turn R and follow FP to stile in far corner
  • Cross wooden planks to follow well marked FP straight up hill, near top turn R on wider path which winds up hill and across Pennine bridleway
  • Continue on well worn FP to corner of reservoir – (Gaddings Dam)
  • Follow FP keeping reservoir on L to next corner continue in same direction following FP across moors up to Pennine wayFP is flaggedover boggy areas