Pinhaw Beacon from Lothersdale
Pinhaw Beacon is a tiny hill with an outsized view, looking into Lancashire one way and the Yorkshire Dales the other, and the trig carries a topograph with a sonnet to the NHS.
Effort: Moderate distance, manageable climb
Underfoot: Some uneven or off-path ground
E2·T2 — how we grade routesMostly runnable with some steep sections you'll likely walk.
Pinhaw Beacon is a tiny hill with an outsized view, looking into Lancashire one way and the Yorkshire Dales the other, and the trig carries a topograph with a sonnet to the NHS.
A 5.7km loop onto Pinhaw Beacon above Lothersdale, following a stretch of the Pennine Way to a 388m trig point, with around 230m of climbing. A short, punchy moorland outing with a big view for little distance.
The route
Start from Lothersdale or the Elslack Moor road and climb onto Pinhaw Beacon, making a 5.7km loop with around 230m of climbing, much of it on a stretch of the Pennine Way. It is short but not soft: the climb is steady to the trig point at 388m, and the ground is open moor rather than manicured trail. The summit comes quickly, leaving most of the loop to enjoy the views and the run back down.
The beacon
Pinhaw Beacon overlooks Lothersdale from the moor between Skipton and Colne, a modest 388m top with a trig point, a cairn and a plinth. Beside the trig sits a topograph installed in recent years, complete with a Shakespearean-style sonnet paying tribute to the NHS. The view is the draw: west into Lancashire and towards Pendle, north to the Yorkshire Dales, a lot of country for such a small hill. As a beacon site it was once part of the chain of signal fires that ran across the north to warn of invasion.
Why it works
This is a route for a quick hill fix or a first moorland run. The distance is short, the Pennine Way gives a clear line for much of it, and the summit is easily reached, so it suits an evening loop, a recovery run or a family outing with older children. The moor is boggy off the main path and the top is exposed, so navigation still matters in cloud and wet feet are likely. The Hare and Hounds in Lothersdale and the Tempest Arms at Elslack give you a pub at either end. Save it for a clear day and the view repays the short climb many times over. It makes an ideal introduction to moorland running before you take on the bigger South Pennine days.
The moor is boggy off the main path and the summit is exposed, so navigation matters in cloud despite the short distance. Expect wet ground after rain. Open moor with possible grouse shooting in season.
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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