great hameldon (a rambling route)

This walk is not for little children and if it has been very wet(due to 2 potentially boggy areas), If this ok read on....

In brief I walked up from the avenue parade area of accringtonia, took in the monument atop the coppice having climbed up the path through the trees huncoat side from bowling green/small car park. On reaching a t-junction at the top of this path I briefly went left to take in a good view of pendle hill and then about turned to head for the monument. As ever stunning views from the monument.

With the monument to my back, I turned right and headed down the path. Taking a rough path of to my left (a more major one can be taken to the same destination at a junction where the main path goes down to the right.).

Following my route go under the dual carriageway by-pass and follow the road round the bend. Just before a farm take the style to the left and go up over the minor rail track.

At the next junction take the rough track to your left (the photo shows the scene after a hundred metres on this faint path)

follow my route keeping a wall initially on your left before going over the hill (in the past I have met cows on this area but never had any issues with them). Heading for a stile I crossed this and turned right up a track (the kings highway) for a few hundred metres (you could at this point cross the road/kings highway and take a track to your right). Anyhow after following the kings highway 

i came across the above scene. I took the right hand style, then kept the fence on my left quite close to me (this bit can be boggy, go higher to your right if needed before rejoining). the path goes over a small stream and becomes faint, head up to the fence gates that can be seen below.

go over the fence but don't take signed footpath to your left instead go straight on up hameldon.

the photo shows the view behind me ascending this section of hameldon. Soon the trig point will be yours!

After enjoying the views from the trig.

Take the path that appears to be in the direction of pendle hill (northwards). Follow this down the slope keeping straight ahead/if a decision is needed keep a slight left rather than right. At times be careful this area can be boggy. When you come to an abandoned small brick building, take the path to your left (your are now above hameldon scouts). Keep on the path that keeps you at the same altitude. In the scene below

take the left of the 2 paths, do the same a bit further on (you do not want to lose altitude just yet). Follow the path around the edge and then cross a stream. The path follows the kind a cliff edge before turning left to join the kings highway. Turn right and after a hundred yards or so look for scene

now take the track of to your left. Past a caravan. At the next junction turn left and then right into farmers field. Follow the path to join up with our road under the dual carriageway. 

Once under I turned right and at the next junction turned left. Following a path till just past a reservoir on my left. From here I took the main path to my left and dropped down past the reservoirs, I crossed a small bridge before turning right following a stream (keep an eye for a little waterfall on your right). Follow the path towards accrington (you can turn right like I did into some nice woods as you go down the cobbled plantation street) (Arden hall area).

The whole walk took me 2 and a half hours (allowing for little stops atop the coppice monument and hameldon hill). Involved 10.2 km/6.3 miles and 997 foot/303 metres climbing. Enjoy!