Lancashire
159 km / 99 miles
(click to enlarge)
The Eastern Loop is the fourth part of the Lancashire Way, which is now 468 miles long. Whilst it can be completed in one epic walk it is divided into five more manageable loops. At just under 100 miles long and with an ascent of over 14,000 feet, the Eastern Loop is the most difficult of all. Even though it has only one summit above 500m, Boulsworth Hill at 517m on the border with Yorkshire, it is much more of an “up and down” route. It is estimated that it will take on average just over 44 hours walking.
It is a little different again from the other four Loops. It is dominated by moorland walking with great vistas and of course has a good deal of interesting history. It is more of a summer walk as East Lancashire can be very wet and therefore boggy underfoot out of season. It uses parts of the Rossendale and Pendle Ways, which are well established walks in this part of the county. Therefore, perhaps complete the other loops first as it can be an acquired taste.
It begins and ends in Burnley, arguably the 'capital' of East Lancashire, which again helps with logistics, being easy to reach with good rail and road links. There are seventeen stages in total. The first four stages make their way north to Barnoldswick, linking with the Central Loop at Newchurch-in-Pendle and visiting Barrowford and Weets Hill, with super views across the Ribble Valley.
The walk then begins to turn south and from Earby there is over 30 miles of moorland walking following firstly the Yorkshire and then the Greater Manchester borders to the village of Whitworth, the most south-easterly point of Lancashire. On the way beautiful villages such as Wycoller and Hurstwood and the first Panoptican – the “Atom” are visited.
From here its west across wind turbine country and on to the three reservoirs near Edgworth. A brief transgression is made into Greater Manchester to visit the iconic Peel Tower. Then north back to Burnley via the second Panoptican the “Singing Ringing Tree” and Towneley Hall.
Detailed route information is available on the Lancashire Way website (link below).
Details:
| Path Type: |
Other Paths |
| Attributes: |
Other Paths
Challenging
Moorland
|
| Start and Finish: |
SD837321 -
Manchester Road, Burnley, Lancashire |
| Open Date: |
2022 |
| Web Sites: |
Lancashire Way - Eastern Loop
|
