DAY 6 – 7th July 2022
Barrowford to Slaidburn – 20.5 miles
Ascent 3,582ft
Part of Stage 45 (E2) to Roughlee, short cut via Thorney Holme to Barley to pick up Stage 21 (C5) of the Central Loop and then Stage 22 (C6) to Slaidburn.
After the previous disastrous day, I was determined to get back on schedule. Although I had spent the night in Barley and could have just set off on Stage 21 over Pendle and on to Slaidburn, where I was booked into the Hark to Bounty pub, I was determined to complete the route as properly as I could. My new objectives had to be firstly to recover and secondly no matter what route I took it should be a continuous walk around Lancashire using as much of the Lancashire Way as possible. I came to appreciate whilst staying in Barley that night that walking Loops of the Lancashire Way had been designed to “showcase” the county and has a result had a number of detours, which when walking almost 400 miles could be a little annoying and un-necessary. The latter became my guide for the remainder of the walk. So with this new principle I reluctantly ordered a taxi to take me back to Barrowford and followed Stage 45 to Roughlee and then back to Barley. Strictly I should have walked on to Newchurch and then down to Barley but instead I followed Pendle Water along the valley via Thorney Holme to Barley. Again this was a sensible option considering that I still had over 250 miles of walking still to do.
Lunch – the Spread Eagle in Sawley. There is also a small shop in Downham, which mainly sells ice creams but does have other provisions.
As you can see from the number of photos, it is a great walk and with the improving weather my spirits were improving too!
The descent into Roughlee with Pendle Hill in the distance.
The Alice Nutter statue in Roughlee
The lower Ogden reservoir on the climb up to Pendle Hill. Weather improving!
The unmistakable summit of Pendle Hill.
The descent into the Ribble Valley from Pendle – next stop Downham.
The Monks bridge between Downham and Sawley – one of my favourite spots in Lancashire.
The River Ribble at Sawley
Looking back to Pendle Hill on the outskirts of Grindleton.
The cairn just above Grindleton Fell with a final view of Pendle before descending into the Hodder valley
One of the many beautiful properties in Newton-in-Bowland
Made it to Slaidburn with its brilliant War memorial.
