Pendle Hill is widely regarded as one of the best walking destinations in the whole of Lancashire.
Located in the east of the charming county, the towering hillside is popular among locals and visitors alike for its challenging climb, breathtaking views, and dark history steeped in witchcraft.
The area also frequently attracts history buffs, supernatural fanatics and even ghost hunters – most notably the Most Haunted TV crew who visited Pendle Hill for a live investigation back in 2004.
Growing up in the local area, Pendle Hill and Barley were always regular visiting spots with my family, and I still thoroughly enjoy walking the very same trails to this day.
This blog post will run through all you need to know about the Pendle Hill walk – from the history, surrounding area, routes to take, difficulty, length, parking and much more!
Where is Pendle Hill?
Arguably Lancashire’s most impressive landmark, Pendle Hill is situated to the east of the county in the borough of Pendle between the towns of Burnley, Nelson, Colne, Brierfield, Clitheroe and Padiham.
How high is Pendle Hill?
Standing at a striking 557 metres (1,827 feet) above sea level, Pendle Hill dominates the surrounding landscape for miles and miles – falling only 53 metres short from being classified as a mountain.
It’s speculated that the commanding presence of Pendle Hill even captured J.R.R. Tolkien’s imagination whilst he was writing The Lord of The Rings trilogy during his time in the Ribble Valley!
Where did Pendle Hill get its name?
Funnily enough, the name Pendle Hill can literally be translated to ‘hill hill hill’.
This was after the Saxons added the suffix ‘hill’ to the original British name ‘Penno’ (meaning ‘steep hill’), creating the name ‘Pennehill’.
Overtime, language organically changed and this eventually formed into the term ‘Pendle Hill’ that we now commonly use today.
History of the Pendle Witches
The trials of the Pendle Witches in 1612 are some the most well known and well documented witch trials in all of English history.
Twelve individuals local to the Pendle area were arrested and accused of murdering a total of ten people through the use of witchcraft.
Only one of the accused was found not guilty, another died in prison before the trail – the rest were all found guilty and sadly sentenced to death by hanging.
It’s been speculated that these allegations of witchcraft may have simply come from locals making a living through herbal medicine and traditional healing.
The sad and gruesome folklore of the Pendle witches has lived on through the years and still frequently appears in literature and TV shows, even recently serving as the plot for an episode of Doctor Who.
Continuing to attract visitors with an interest in the paranormal, it’s not surprising that Pendle Hill is particularly popular around Halloween time!
A stunning discovery was made as recently as 2011, when engineers unearthed a 17th Century witch’s cottage during a construction project in the local area.
Found hidden beneath a grass mound in the village of Barley, the cottage even had the bones of a cat bricked into the wall, which was said to help ward off evil spirits…
Spooky stuff.
Pendle Hill walk route info
Route Difficulty: Easy/Medium
Distance: 8 km (5 miles)
Route Elevation: 380m
Route Time: 2 hours 30 minutes
Start Point: Barley Picnic Site, Barley, Lancashire, BB12 9JX
Finish Point: Barley Picnic Site, Barley, Lancashire, BB12 9JX
Weather: Barley – BBC Weather
How long is the Pendle Hill walk?
The time it takes to walk up and down Pendle Hill largely depends on which route you choose to take.
One of the more popular walks – Pendle Hill from Barley – comes in at 5 miles (8 kilometres) and should have you up and back down in no longer than 2 hour 30 minutes.
This is the route I most often take when coming to Pendle.
It’s even been stated by some that this circuit is one of the best short walks in the whole country!
Can’t say I disagree.
How difficult is the Pendle Hill walk?
The path is well laid out (although quite mucky depending on the weather) and takes most walkers only around half an hour to reach the summit of Pendle Hill once reaching its base.
Overall, I’d say the walk isn’t that challenging apart from the short climb up the ‘steps’ of Pendle Hill. This brief but steep section is guaranteed to get your legs burning, but the views from the top are always worth it.
While the walk is relatively easy, the footpath can be quite uneven at times and isn’t suitable for prams, wheelchairs or those unsteady on their feet.
Where to park for the Pendle Hill walk?
My usual parking spots for Pendle Hill are either at the local carpark or by the laybys on Barley Lane.
The carpark doesn’t cost much at all and is just adjacent to Barley Picnic Site – a great spot for families which provides picnic tables, a playground, toilets and an onsite café.
The car park is also conveniently situated next to both the Pendle Inn and Barley Moor pubs – perfect for some food and a pint after you’ve finished the walk!
The postcode for the carpark is BB12 9JX.
The laybys on Barley Lane are another alternative popular parking spot for those tackling Pendle Hill.
The general postcode for the laybys area on Barley Lane is BB9 6LG.
Pendle Hill walk – Step by step guide
Starting at Barley Picnic Site, make your way past the cabin, along the path through the picnic site and crossing the bridge where you’ll be standing opposite the Pendle Inn.
Follow the road to your right until you reach the Methodist church, where you then take a left turning up the signposted footpath.
Follow the path and pass through the gate, staying on the trail which leads you over a small bridge.
Take a left after crossing the bridge, following the country road until you’ll see a signpost signaling you take a right turn.
Keep along the path until you reach an open field. Cross the field, heading towards the top right corner and through the gate.
Keep heading up the path until you come to another gate with a sign post labelled ‘Ice Cream’ and ‘Drinks.’
Head through the gate and turn right, crossing the field until you join onto the footpath, leading you to the base of the Pendle Hill steps.
Begin the steep climb up Pendle Hill…
Continue along the footpath up towards the trig point and admire the views from above.
Continue past the trig point and follow the path until you come across a signpost signaling you to turn left for Barley.
Take the left and begin the descent down Pendle Hill.
Once you reach the base of Pendle Hill, simply return along the same path you came from to arrive back in Barley.
Top Tips
Be sure to pack snacks and water, though alternatively you can grab refreshments at the Cabin located beside the Barley Picnic Site Carpark.
It’s also worth getting here early if possible. On our last visit we arrived at 9:30am and the carpark was already starting to fill up. By the time we came back from our walk a few hours later there were no spaces left, with many cars hovering around eagerly waiting for a spot to snag.
Other Walks In The Area
Interested in discovering more great walks near Pendle Hill? If so, be sure to head on over to our ‘6 Spectacular Walks In Pendle’ and ‘9 Best Forest Of Bowland Walks’ blog posts.
Likewise, be sure to trawl through the Lancashire section of the site – I’m sure there’s something that’ll tickle your fancy!
Happy walking 🚶🚶