On saturday we decided to leave the car at home and set off on a walk around the places where I grew up. Before I moved to the great Metropolis that is Clitheroe, I lived in the shadow of Pendle Hill on a hill farm called Little Mearley. Nope I never did move to far away…or make my fortune! Not to worry. 😉
Our walk took in a few country lanes, a bridle path/farm track and some farm land. I think we walked about 8 miles or so, so not too shabby. I imagine Hugo our labrador covered even more milage, as he definitely runs circles around me….
We started off by walking through the fields toward Standen Hall and then crossed the busy A59 and headed for the pretty village of Pendleton.
The folks of Pendleton have decorative Imaginations! I’m not sure about the Egg Wreath ,but I do like the Flower Pot Bees. 🙂
We walked through Pendleton and crossed the Sabden Road , then ambled along a bridle path through the tiny hamlet of Mearley. This eventually turns into a farm track and passes the farm where I grew up.
It felt strange walking past the old place. Little Mearley dates back to 1590. My bedroom growing up, was the mullioned bay window room. The glass has names of past residents etched into it. I might have shared my ivory tower with their ghosts , but I was happily oblivious! Pendle Hill with it’s legendary associations with witchcraft fades into the mist behind.
We then cut through some fields and passed Angram Green Farm & Campsite and walked into the beautiful village of Downham, where my sister and I went to primary school. I didn’t take many photos here, but If you would like to see more, here is a post I did a while back called Downham delights. 🙂
We had lunch in Downham , sat outside a former collegues cute little ice cream shop, that also sells brews, sandwiches, baked goodies and other bits and pieces.
We decided to look for an alternative route back , which would take us through fields ,so Hugo could have a lot more off lead time. There is a footpath just over the road from the Ice cream shop that took us through some meadows and past the bottom of Worsaw Hill.
Even for a non- hill climber like me, Worsaw Hill, which reminds me of a mini volcano, looked far too tempting not to climb. At 725ft it’s tiny compared to Pendle, but offers gorgeous views of the surrounding countryside.
After scrambling down the hill ,we continue through fields toward the village of Worston. As a teenager I was a saturday girl at the local pub ,The Calf’s Head. On the way we pass a farm with a movie connection!
Have you ever watched the 1961 film Whistle Down The Wind ? It tells the tale of three farm children who discover a fugitive hiding in their barn, and mistake him for , well, Jesus! Worsaw End Farm is the farm. Local children from Downham and nearby Chatburn starred alongside such acting luminaries as Hayley Mills and Alan Bates.
Once in Worston we take refreshment in the Calf’s Head Beer garden before crossing back over the A59 and heading home.
Thanks for accompanying me on a bit of a journey through my past….
ps It’s Hugo’s 3rd Birthday today. Time is certainly flying by. He will be celebrating later with a bottle of doggy beer from Millie & Ruby’s Dog Bakery. 🙂
sunshine and celandines 
Looks beautiful. Oddly enough, it’s a place I keep meaning to visit as my mum’s side were distantly related to two of the Pendle witches. 😊 Happy birthday Hugo!
Oh wow! You will have to visit the area oneday. Lots of witchy legend going on round Pendle. Hugo thanks you for your greeting. 🙂
Happy Birthday Hugo. Must get that beer for Boris 😊
I keep seeing doggy beers everywhere now….and puppy prosecco!
Whistle Down the Wind is a favourite film. The local kids are dressed and talk just like me and my childhood friends – they’re a similar age and I don’t come from too far away. Always brings back memories. The young lad who plays Hayley Mills’ brother is brill.
Not been over that way for a while. Seeing your photos reminds me a visit is overdue
Its a while since I have seen the film , but yes I love the accents. The kids who are in it are just great in their roles. Its very pretty round here, especially when it’s not raining! 🙂
I guess if you can’t see Pendle it’s raining 🌧. If you can see Pendle it’s about to rain 🌧 😉
Absolutely right. 😉
Whistle down the wind, most certainly I recall the film and recognise the farm. I think it made me cry! Don’t I recall that Hayley Mills brother and sister were played by local children, and the boy became a milkman? What a lovely house you grew up in, it looks very grand! And the countryside is amazing. And the Pendle witches too. Oh my, what a post!
Hi yes the brother and sister were local children as were them all, apart from Hayley herself. I wouldn’t be surprised if some of them still live in the village!
The house was great to grow up in.Very drafty though! My Grandad and Dad were tennant farmers there. Its in a new family now though, as none of my generation of the family wanted to take it on. Thanks for your comment. X
I still live close to my childhood home, I’ll never move away from ‘my’ area – not unless I inerit enough money to retire early and go and live somewhere really remote and wild in Scotland or something.
I really enjoy walking around Pendle when we visit Clitheroe 🙂 Not had the time for it this year with the house but maybe next year. This looks like a lovely walk, thanks for taking me along.
Happy birthday Hugo – same age as my dog – Moss! Have walked there years ago as some of my OH’s family live nr Clitheroe (West Bradford). Good walking weather today, we were out too – up behind Langcliffe near Settle, there is a good view of Pendle from there 🙂
Aw time flies doesn’t it. He is still a big pup. And its a small world too. X
Happy birthday to Hugo!
Thanks for the Birthday Greeting!
Happy birthday Hugo! I only moved next door to the home I spent my childhood, so didn’t move far either. Lovely pictures, always nice to reminisce 🙂 x
Thank you. 🙂 There’s no place like home. Xx
I’m not the only one who gets homesick for places that seemed like they’d be home forever. You are lucky still being on your home territory. Who needs to seek your fortune with all that on the doorstep!? I loved that film. Such innocence. Happy Birthday to Hugo x
To be honest although I love discovering new places and I especially love the sea, I do love waking up everymorning and seeing Pendle Hill in the distance from my bedroom window. Hugo is happy to be 3. Lots of treats for him! X
We went on a Sunday School Camp to Clitheroe once (or maybe twice) and I remember climbing Pendle. Maybe we saw your house! It looks very romantic but I imagine it had its drawbacks. I grew up in big Victorian manses that were impossible to heat and that looks as if it could be similar.
Happy birthday to Hugo!
Thanks Annabel.
Yes the house was big and pretty cold. But having no central heating meant we were pretty tough growing up. I’m such a softy now. 🙂
It’s amazing how many replies to this post have Pendle Hill connections! You may have seen my old house..
My novel is set in that area
well ‘novel’ in inverted commas