Basic route instructions – Clough Head to Jumbles

Basic route instructions –    Clough Head to Jumbles  –  13.3 miles

(View West Pennine Way Heritage Trail for details of interesting places etc. on route.)

You can view these instructions in microsoft word and then print them by clicking route instructions clough head to jumbles.

Distance: -13.3 miles. This section can be walked in stages, Clough Head to B6232 crossing is 1.5 miles. B6232 to Bull Hill is 4.4 miles. Bull Hill to Greenmount is 4 miles and Greenmount to Jumbles is 3.4 miles.

     Short link to join West Pennine Way if starting from Clough Head Café.

  • On car park with your back to car park entrance take FP on L of café

Climb half way up steep hill to junction of FPs turn R – you are now on The West Pennine Way

  • The West Pennine Way now follows the Rossendale Way for some time.
  • Pass quarry on your R, continue on FP which changes to a flagged path for a short distance
  • Continue down to wooden bridge, go over bridge and up the other side. Keep following quarry fencing on your R
  • At corner of fencing follow FP L
  • Follow fencing, turn sharp R, then still following fencing pass disused quarry on your R
  • Immediately after quarry, turn L up stony track to go right through kissing gate and farm ruins.
  • Continue on grassy FP which becomes a track, follow this going through 2 gates.
  • Just before next gate turn R, go over stile then down through first field to stile
  • Over stile then follow FP heading towards Cloud Hill Farm, path changes to track, keep following this farm track over 2 cattle grids
  • Immediately after 2nd cattle grid, turn R on FP across field
  • Head R towards farm.
  • Go over stile and through farm down to main road B6232
  • Cross road and over stile opposite
  • Follow FP down through meadow, with trees on your R
  • Over ladder stile, turn R, follow FP which goes over footbridge
  • Keep following straight on up to sign post at junction of footpaths
  • Over stile turn R, after 30 m turn, where old rail track goes over FP turn R to get on to this steep grassy slope and go up hill.
  • Continue going steeply uphill through gully.
  • After gully continue straight ahead passing large wooden post on your R.
  • Where paths cross bear L follow track, on Rossendale Way, through countless spoil heaps.
  • Go over stile in stone wall
  • Carry straight on for approximately ½ mile to ruins
  • Here follow Rossendale Way sign keeping wall on your R
  • Continue past farm ruins on the L up to head of valley
  • Go over stream, turn L, following FP round other side of valley, keeping a lookout for the post on the left marked Rossendale Way. Here turn R onto moorland FP which becomes clearer once height is gained and runs parallel to stone wall and green field on the left. Follow across moorland and to stile which is on the L of an 18ft wooden post.
  • Follow close to fencing for short distance, FP goes across to corner of stone wall.
  • If clear, look for the flag pole on Bull Hill the route passes close to this.
  • Keep following the high path to the head of the valley, cross a stream then through bracken over rocky usually dried up stream bed, then across another stream then through rushes and another stream – this makes 4 main gullies crossed altogether.
  • After last stream walk 20m then take R fork
  • Continue up through rushes at the top turn R to follow the indistinct FP across the moorland heading for the flag pole on top of Bull Hill which can be seen in the distance.
  • Continue going S passing flagpole and trig point. (If red flag is flying the army have exercises on, turn L near flagpole and follow well marked track going east at cross paths turn R pass good metal way sign and head towards Pilgrim’s Cross; at MOD information board pass it on R (so board is on your L) and follow well trodden FP still on boundary of danger area round Bull Hill to Pilgrim’s Cross – a large square stone.
  • If flag is not flying, keep on well trodden FP to Pilgrim’s Cross, here take FP 150o, with valley to your L continue on high ground over next hill and on to Harcles Hill and on to Peel Tower.
  • Go past main entrance steps of Peel Tower then turn R and follow FP behind tower across moorland then through kissing gate
  • Turn L and follow FP wall/fencing on your L down and through gate
  • Turn L downhill to track
  • Turn R onto track as far as ruins of a farm house, here go over stile on the left.
  • Go down field heading slightly left to a stile into woods. Go down through wood to kissing gate.
  • Go through kissing gate and walk up slanting path to ruins of Higher Ridge
  • Pass with ruins on your L to follow unmarked FP down to metal gate which can be seen in the distance
  • Through gate follow stony track downhill, crossing stream on high stepping stones
  • Keep following track up hill passing Simon Sundial Cottage on your L
  • Follow tarmac lane to sharp L bend, on this bend turn R down FP through undergrowth then over stile and across boardwalk
  • After stile head diagonally across field to distant stile, pylon is on R of stile
  • Over stile turn L on tarmac lane with the option of forking R onto ‘Old Lane’, both meet at the cattle grid
  • Cross cattle grid to main road
  • Turn L at road
  • In front of first cottages cross road A676 to go over stile onto FP along grassy track, then follow FP passing 2 pairs of big stone gate posts on L before crossing to stile next to tree.
  • Keep following FP through wood to emerge in front of house
  • Go through gate, turn R
  • Continue on tarmac lane at T junction turn R pass School.
  • Turn first L passing converted church on L at far end of cottages take FP R
  • Go over stile and down field following hedge on L, then cross footbridge and straight on
  • Pass old ruins and over next stile then turn R and follow fencing to go over next stile.
  • Cross field and stile to join tarmac lane, turn R down lane
  • Continue down to cottages on the R. (here take care to choose the correct FP) Take 1st FP left opposite the cottages. This FP is narrow with small brook on R and goes very steeply uphill crossing some wooden boardings. (Don’t go on FP between gate posts)
  • FP eventually comes to the main B6213 road. Go straight across and take lane opposite up towards cottages
  • Just before cottages take FP L following stone wall then in front of more cottages, after these turn sharp R to go steeply uphill to Windmill farm
  • Passing in front of farm take FP L
  • Shortly after stile turn R at single stone gate post (FP not clear). On reaching top of slope head slightly L towards single large stone gate post.
  • Keep on in same direction to go over stile ahead.
  • Here there is an option to take concessionary FP to avoid farm yard which is usually very mucky. To do this follow field boundaries to first corner then turn L still following fencing as far as hawthorn hedge to the R of farm avoided. Then turn R to cross field to next stile near tall conifers hedge

or

  • To go through farm, head straight on towards farm and over stile then pass a few sheds on R before taking FP R which is well hidden between gable end and sheds.
  • Continue to end of hawthorn hedge. Then cross field to the next stile near tall conifer hedge
  • Go on FP in front of farm house onto road
  • Turn R up road passing Pack Horse Inn
  • Continue to ancient stone cross on L
  • Take FP through Village Green and over stile, then over next stile
  • FP follows line of telegraph poles then over stile and straight on passing a farm
  • Continue down farm track to main A676 road
  • Straight across road and take track leading to Fisheries and Jumbles
  • At corner turn off the Fishery road to take FP R through gap next to gate and continue down track with wall on left
  • At junction of paths turn R and follow FP up to Jumbles car park