Boulsworth Hill from Trawden
Boulsworth is the whaleback that dominates every view around Trawden, and standing on Lad Law at 517m you look across Pendle, the Dales and, on a clear day, out to the coast.
Effort: Good distance, solid climb
Underfoot: Technical, navigation required
E3·T4 — how we grade routesA 13.9km loop from Trawden onto Boulsworth Hill, the highest of the South Pennine moors here at 517m. Farmland tracks give way to open, boggy moor and a big summit at Lad Law.
Boulsworth is the whaleback that dominates every view around Trawden, and standing on Lad Law at 517m you look across Pendle, the Dales and, on a clear day, out to the coast.
The route
Start in Trawden and climb out through farmland towards the moor, gaining around 450m over 13.9km. The lower half is enclosed field track and lane; the upper half is proper open moor, where the path onto Boulsworth crosses wide, wet, tussocky ground. It is a short route by distance but a genuine moorland outing in character, and it should be treated as such.
The summit
Boulsworth Hill tops out at Lad Law, 517m, marked by weathered gritstone tors on a broad plateau. The trackpoints on this route run right over the summit, and the reward is one of the biggest views in the South Pennines: Pendle Hill filling the west, the Yorkshire Dales on the northern horizon, and the Lancashire plain rolling out below. The plateau is exposed and featureless, so it is a place that changes fast when the weather comes in.
Why it works
This is the local classic: the hill everyone can see, done as a compact loop. The appeal is honest moorland running, big skies, peat, gritstone and solitude, rather than fast, dry trail. The ground is boggy for much of the top and stays wet even in summer, so expect wet feet and pick your line. Navigation needs care on the plateau, where the paths fade and mist erases the horizon, so carry map and compass and know how to use them. Save it for a clear, settled day to get the view, and after heavy rain accept that the moor will fight back. Trawden has a community pub for afterwards, and the loop pairs naturally with the Atom above Wycoller if you want to link the two. Treat it as a stepping stone towards the bigger Pennine days, since the skills it asks for are the same ones the long moor routes demand.
The Boulsworth plateau is exposed, boggy and featureless, and paths fade near the top, so map and compass skills are essential in poor visibility. Expect deep peat and standing water even in summer. Grouse shooting affects the moor between August and December.
Summits on this route
Safety on this route
- No signal? Text 999 — pre-register first: text register to 999
- Tell someone your route and expected return time before you head out
Leave No Trace
- Leave nothing but footprints, take nothing but memories.
- Please respect the countryside and all its inhabitants.
- Dogs on leads near livestock, and around ground-nesting birds from March to July.
- Gates as you find them — open or closed, leave it that way for the farmer and the next runner.
- Take it all home — wrappers, peel, tissue, the lot. It doesn't count as biodegradable if you can still see it.
- Stick to the path where the ground either side is wet, planted, or nesting habitat.
Common questions
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