The Rossendale Rambler

I'd like to describe one of my favourite moorland footpaths. This one is a right of way but seems to be hardly ever used. But what a delightful route to reach Waugh's Well. Most people who walk up there from Edenfield use the Waterboard Road which runs up from New Hall. That's fine. My footpath is an alternative for the top part of this route.

You may have noticed about a mile above New Hall the Waterboard Road passes through a cluster of ruins (at SD820203). This was Brown Hill Farm, built around 1625. Not far away and slightly below is another ruin (at SD822201). This was Back o' th' Lowe Farm. There are so many of these ruins scattered about the moorland fringes where the 17th century hill farmers eked out a meagre living.

The path originally came all the way up from New Hall to Foe Edge (another ruin now), near Waugh's Well but the first mile is now coincident with the 'new' 20th century Waterboard Road. From point 'A' (SD818201) it cuts off to the right of the Waterboard Road and contours round the hill to pass Back o' th' Lowe, as shown on the sketch map. The path may have come into existence when the farms were built and was probably also used by the Waterboard workmen engaged on the construction of Foe Edge reservoir early this century. That's why its there - so why not use it and enjoy it ?

The path is hard to see on my OS 1/50000 Landranger maps because it meanders annoyingly across the edges of sheets 103 and 109 and if you look at the larger scale 1/25000 Pathfinder Maps, the path does not seem to be accurately placed. It's quite hard to spot on the ground at first until you know where it lies !

Point 'A' is in fact only about 100 yds. west of the cattle grid where a north/south wall crosses the lane. Then look for point 'B' some 40 yds. below the cattle grid. Here you cross the fence/wall. There isn't a proper stile but stones have been place to facilitate stepping over and the top strand of the wire just here is without barbs. After 'B' continue onwards with another wall above you on your left. The path is better defined now and you can follow its narrow line easily round the hill. There are steep bracken slopes below. You go round the top of a tiny clough then continue on with a wall still on your left. Just before Back o' th' Lowe you pass through a 50 yds. patch of bog and rushes but your good hiking boots will keep you dry. Beyond the ruin you can see the scratchy line of the path going up the left bank of a narrowing clough. A tricky place where you cross this at the top, point 'C' (SD826200). The old path has collapsed and there are two or three awkward steps through the rushes. Then you are nearly up and you can spot the ancient paving stones sunk into the turf. It's great fun to locate this little-used path.

It is perhaps easier to find the route when going in an upward direction but I think it's more pleasant when you walk down, for you teeter high on the lip of the valley of Dearden Clough and the perspectives and views from this precarious hillside are quite splendid. so why don't you try it out and add another route to your repertoire - then walks up to Waugh's Well will become much more interesting.

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