~Thieveley Pike to Hapton~
28th August 2021
Thieveley Pike Summit
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Holme Chapel, Cliviger
This corner of East Lancashire is richly endowed with many layers of beautiful countryside. This weekend, staycationers will have filled every corner of the Lake District; Blackpool will relive the glory days of the packed beaches last seen in the 1960's; the M5 will be gridlocked with travellers going to and fro' Devon & Cornwall. Here, all is quiet and I'll let you know if I encounter any problems with crowds or littered ground.
Railway Flowers
There is a charter train due on this line soon and whilst it will not be the drama of smoke and steam, it will be unusual and worth a lineside view. This is one of my favourite views in the whole of Lanashire, it is almost timeless - the railway line would have had telegraph poles running along the route for many decades; most lines now have high steel fencing protecting the public from harm and keeping metal thieves away. This is the line from Burnley to Hebden Bridge, reaching vast numbers of other towns and cities beyond these two places.
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I learnt that the charter train would be 20 minutes later than scheduled. My usual vantage point on a bridge parapet was not ideal due to the strong, direct sunlight so after watching a train or two in tunnel action, I decided to try viewing from the other side, gaining a better photo, but losing the drama of the train coming through the tunnel.
Double-Headed Class 37 Diesel Locomotive
This is a Chesterfield to Workington train. I think the journey will be more rewarding than the destination. There is an option to get off at Ravenglass and presumably take a ride on the narrow gauge railway into Eskdale. Bill Shankly was once manager of Workington A.F.C.
Class 57
The train is rear-ended by a Class 57 diesel. These started life as Class 47's but gained 10 somewhere along the way. Apparently the carriages don't have the correct braking facility, so the extra engine was there to help with shunting and to hold onto the carriages as and when the leading engines were unhooked to run-round.
Dean Scout
After all the rail excitement, Molly and I head up alongside Dean Scout for Thieveley Pike. By this time of the day, Pendle Hill will be busy, but here just a few locals, runners etc. quietly populate the fell.
Thieveley Pike Summit
Deerplay Moor
No rush today, so I decided to head north-west along Deerplay Moor and postpone a decision on where to end up until the A671 Burnley to Bacup road is reached.
Red Moss
I initially decided to head for Crown Point and The Singing Ringing Tree, but persuaded myself that even this was not enough, so we took the path off Crown Point Road across Red Moss with a plan to reach Clowbridge Reservoir. This kind of cross-country track walking might not suit everybody, but I find it very relaxing and obviously free of hazards.
Cross
Viewers may notice that Molly is sat on the foot of a stone cross. Just now, I have no idea what it represents or how long it has been here, but it has been restored.
Padiham to Bradford West
Pylon enthusiasts will know this already, but here is the Padiham to Bradford West electricity route. Padiham used to have a coal-fired power station, as for Bradford West, well I have no idea, but maybe they also had one. They'd make good zip wires if and when we no longer need to trunk our power in this fashion.
Clowbridge Reservoir
There is a permissive footpath around the water's edge, but the permission does not extend as far as dogs. Molly and I head for the track which leads up to the A682, Burnley to Rawtenstall road.
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A682 |
Weather Station Road |
The A682 (was the A56) used to be the main road between Burnley and Rawtenstall and hence Manchester; now it's a combination of motorway and the revised A56 route. Soon, we find the tarmac road up to the weather station on Hameldon Hill.
To Hameldon Hill
More carefree safe and pleasant walking on what is a very fine late-summer's day. On the OS map, the assemblage up there is described as a "Radar Weather Station".
Hameldon Hill - 399m (you do the maths)
This trig point is a little unusual in that it is relatively inaccessible and unpainted, but in very good condition. It is on Open Access land, but the open accesseeers failed to tell the local fence builders about weirdos who like visiting these little concrete monoliths. Torn clothing and an episode of dog wrestling later, we head for the "Burnley Way" and a route for Hapton.
On the Burnley Way
Padiham sits between us and Pendle Hill. The large white buildings are industrial enterprises; wind is generated locally.
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The plan is now to catch a train from Hapton to Brierfield and then walk home. Hopefully someone will give me lift for the car later.
To Hapton
So, here we are on our doorstep, so-to-speak. Good init?
Hapton
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Manchester Road ,Hapton |
Hapton Railway Station |
Note the red car....you probably have these in your neighbourhood just like we do. Cars with their engines tweaked so they backfire at low speeds and make plenty of loud noises. I call them dickheads, do you have a special name for such folk? I hope you don't find my term offensive and even if you do, it ain't half as offensive as these idiots on the roads. This could well be the first time I have caught a train from Hapton, it is a request stop, so you have to make a hand signal to the driver....
Walkers: Molly and Me.
Time taken: 5hrs 10mins over a distance of about 10 miles.
Route: Roadside parking in Holme Chapel; rail underpass near Buckley Wood for the walk up by Dean Scout to Thieveley Pike. Deerplay Moor to Crown Point Road, path alongside White Hill for the "cross" where many paths meet. Clowbridge Reservoir and the A682 for the road up to the Weather Station and Hameldon Hill. The Burnley Way down to Hapton and the railway station. In the event, we got off the train in Burnley Central and cadged a lift home from a local shopper (the missus)!
Weather and conditions: Warm and Sunny!
All photos copyright Richard Ratcliffe 2021 ©
Take me back to the start ....