Elslack To Pinhaw Beacon

Starting point  and OS Grid reference: Car park opposite the Tempest Arms at Elslack (SD 926498)		Ordnance Survey Map OL21 - South Pennines. Buy this map from List of OS Maps Commission from map sales is used to fund the website, so keeping it free to use.
Distance:  7.4 miles
Traffic light rating:  (For explanation see My Walks page)
For advice on .gpx files see         My Walks page	Click the PDF logo above to give a printable version of this walk without the photos.

To view route as a dynamic Ordnance Survey map click here.

Introduction: This walk takes you over some of the same ground, on the Pennine Way, as the Lothersdale Loop walk but in reverse order and overall is a shorter walk to Pinhaw Beacon where there are 360° views and in particular long distance views to Ingleborough and even the Lake District on a clear day. A bonus is that on return, welcome refreshment can be had at the Tempest Arms (check opening times).

Start: The walk starts at the car park opposite the Tempest Arms (SD 926498). To get there turn off the A56 signposted “Elslack” and “Lothersdale 5 miles”. The car park is immediately on the right.

Turn right out of the car park and walk along the road. Cross over the brook, ignoring the finger post to the left and at a large stone barn at Black Hall Farm, turn right over a stile where indicated by a fingerpost (SD 929493).

Continue to the far end of the field and in the left hand corner, go through a gate where indicated with a footpath arrow. Once through that gate, turn right through the second gateway on the left on to the obvious broad track indicated by a yellow footpath arrow. Stay on the track ignoring any turns and as the footpath ends, go through the narrow stile. Follow the line of the wall then fence and across the ladder stile at the end of the field.

This ladder stile has a footpath arrow indicating straight ahead (and slightly left) but ignore this and once over the stile, turn abruptly left and follow the field edge. You will see a kissing gate on the left bearing an acorn sign indicating the Pennine Way. Go through this gate and ascend the field keeping to the right hand side but stay on the higher part of the banking.

At the top of the field, go through a small gated stile turn 45° right and ascend this field until you see two finger posts to the right hand side. Cross the footbridge at this point and turn left.

Continue the gentle ascent via the wooden stepping. Follow the wall and over a stone step stile with PW and an arrow on one of the treads (indicating Pennine Way). Over the next ladder stile takes you to the road where you turn right (SD 935475). At the ‘T’ junction, keep straight ahead on to the bridle way signed “White Hills Lane 1¼ miles” and the “Pennine Way”.

At the next finger post, just stay on the main track.

You arrive at the trig. point, a pleasant spot for lunch with great views (SD 944472). The route then continues straight ahead on the obvious path. Ignore a fainter path on the left at a wooden post.

The path descends gently and at the corner of two walls, turn left to follow the wall walking over flagstones. These run alongside the wall and turn right at a wall corner. Walk down to a gated stile and as you do, note the stone wall running parallel on your left. You are going to walk up the other side of this.

On reaching the gated stile, do not be seduced by the footpath arrow and clear path straight ahead but after crossing the stile, turn immediately left and follow the wall. Next to a concrete water tank, there is a simple stone stile to the left. Cross this and walk alongside the wall up the field on the narrow footpath. Follow this path as it turns the corner and ignore the small gate you come to in the wall. The wall leads you to the road where you turn left over the cattle grid.

Walk along the road to Standrise Plantation but ignore the broad gated track at its corner. Instead, walk a further 30/40 yards looking out for a finger post on the right which indicates your way through the trees (SD 950484).

The path arrives at a broad track. Turn left as indicated by a footpath arrow. Stay on the main track ignoring any side turnings. It eventually swings sharp right at a footpath post giving the option to go straight on but you go right on the main track. Elslack Reservoir should now be visible through the trees.

Follow the track round the reservoir fording the outflow from it. If the volume of water was such as to prevent you crossing, there is a concrete bridge above the dam which could be utilised with a little fence climbing.

Stay on the main track as it curves below the house and exit into a track through a metal gate. Turn left over the cattle grid and exit into the road at the entrance to Standrise House. Turn left along the road.

At the next road junction, turn left in front of The Grange and Grange Cottage and right at the next. You will shortly see the large stone barn where you turned off the road on the outward journey. Continue down the road to your starting point.

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