This route leads through the bewitchingly beautiful countryside between Sabden and Barley
This walk starts in Sabden, a small village that once was dominated by the textile industry and was home to number of mills. Most of them have now been demolished and the land used for housing. Prior to the clattering sound of looms that echoed in the deep valley where Sabden lies, there would have been a more pastoral theme as farming was the mainstay of the area.
In these times the word ‘witchcraft’ would be heard and villages like Newchurch in Pendle and Barley became synonymous with witches and the magic spells they were said to have used. Women like Old Mother Demdike, Elizabeth Chattox, Alice Nutter, Alizon Device, and others were denounced as witches and sent to trial at Lancaster Castle. Many were executed by hanging.
It seems astounding today that superstition and fearmongering could lead to the horrific demise of these probably harmless women, but the story is true. Fear of the devil, witches, and sorcery extended from peasants to the church and judiciary and even to royalty. This is a walk from Sabden to Barley and the route takes in Newchurch in Pendle on the return leg.
1: Leave the car park and turn right then immediately turn left just before the river bridge into Stubbins Lane. Keep on the lane and pass the entrance to the church, there is a sign on the roadside: ‘Badger Well Cottages’.
Reach Cockshots Farm directly in front, then turn right and follow the tarmac track and pass New York Farm on the left. Keep on the track and, when this forks, keep left and carry on to Ratten Clough farm. Enter the yard and turn left then turn right and, with the farmhouse on the right, carry on and go through a gate and keep on the track and when this forks keep left and on to the house Stainscomb.
Keep on the track until it bends sharp right and at this point keep straight on following a wooden fence on the left to reach a gate stile on the left. Cross the stile and go downhill left to a wooden cabin, then cross the stile next to it and cross the stream.
Carry on straight uphill to reach a wall then turn right and with the wall on the left reach a step stile crossing the wall. Cross the stile and, bearing slightly left, cross the field to a stile and cross this then, keeping a wall to the right follow the path to Sabden Fold.
2: Reach a metal gate with a stile to the right. Cross the stile into a small wood and turn left then, after a few metres, turn right through the trees to a stile leading out of the wood.
Cross the stile and go downhill to a rather rickety footbridge. Once across the bridge, bear left uphill to a gateway with two stiles. Cross either stile then turn right, passing the gateway, and with a wire fence on the right, carry on and cross a ladder stile over a wall then bear diagonally left across the field.
Reach a post with a footpath sign on it. Keep on the path with a wall on the right and when this turns right keep straight on to reach a yellow post with a footpath sign, pass this and enter the main road and turn left and follow the road past a Christian Centre.
A track with a footpath sign is on the left, go through a gate and follow the track as it runs parallel to the road before turning away. Keep a wall on the right, pass some sheep pens and cross the step stile over the wall ahead. Follow the ruined wall on the right then bear diagonally left to reach a stile at a wall corner, but do not cross it.
To the left of the stile is a gate with footpath signs, go through the gate and bear right downhill towards Barley passing a four-pointed footpath post. Follow the pointer towards Barley. Reach and cross a step stile in a wall, that has been repaired with white concrete. Cross the stile and go steeply downhill to a stile and once over this cross a footbridge to a road and turn right.
Note: Before staring the next section of the walk it is worth walking the few minutes to The Cabin cafe on the main village car park where you’ll find excellent food and friendly staff.
3: The road joins the main road, with Barley Village Hall on the right. Turn right up the main road, Cross Lane, and then turn left into Bridge End and follow the track past the cottages to reach a wooden gate and a stile on the right.
Cross the stile and go uphill to reach a gate stile leading into the yard of Black Rock Cottages.Turn right and follow the road to reach the main road, then turn left and follow the road into Newchurch in Pendle. Follow the road sign to ‘Burnley 5 Miles’, then as the road forks keep left towards Burnley.
Note: It is well worth visiting the shop Witches Galore in Newchurch in Pendle to get your fill of Pendle Witches information.
4: On the right, opposite St Mary’s School, there is a gate stile, cross it and carry straight on to and cross a gate stile in a wall then follow the path to another gate stile, cross this and carry on downhill following the path.
Cross a stile leading into the yard of Moss End and keep on to a stile on the right of a double wooden gate, cross this and follow the track, crossing two more stiles by gates, to reach a metal gate and stile leading into a track leading to Bull Hole and turn left and follow the track up to Tynedale House Farm then turn right.
Pass the front of the house and, as the track enters the farmyard, go through the gate on the left and follow the path and cross a stile by a metal gate. There is a sign saying ‘Pendle Way’. Follow the path crossing two more stiles to reach the buildings of Higher Town and carry on down the track to reach the main road and carry straight on until the road bends sharp left.
There is a track to the right and just before the cattle grid there is a stile on the right. Cross the stile and keep straight on and eventually reach a wire fence and, with this on the right, keep on and reach a gate with gate stile on top of a stone stile. Cross this and, keeping a wall on the right, keep on and reach a metal gate. This could be mistaken for not being a footpath as for some reason the footpath arrow is on top of the gate post and not readily seen. Go through the gate and bear left and cross stile that leads into a path going around the perimeter of Stone Fold. Join a track and turn left and follow the track until it reaches a stile, cross this, and then follow the path to another stile and cross this.
5: Keep a wall on the left and reach a metal gate. To the left of the gate a step stile crosses the wall, cross this and turn right then right again and follow the muddy track towards Dean Farm, then turn left and follow the track all the way back to Sabden. At the end of the track, turn left and retrace the route back to the car park.
COMPASS POINTS
START AND FINISH: Pay and display car park, Sabden.
DISTANCE: 8.2 miles/13.2 km
TIME: 4.5 hours MAP: OS Map OL21, South Pennines.
TERRAIN: Good tracks and footpaths, walking boots are the best option.
FACILITIES: Public toilets in Sabden and Barley
