Clougha Pike
Encyclopedia
Clougha Pike is a hill in the Forest of Bowland
in Lancashire
, England
. From the west it looms over the Conder
Valley, the city of Lancaster
and Lancaster University
. It is visible from as far away as Barrow-in-Furness
, South Lakeland
mountains such as the Old Man of Coniston
, and Blackpool Tower
. From the west it appears to be a large dome shape with a cliff like section at the very top. From the south-west a series of notches or cloughs are visible in its flanks giving this hill its distinctive name. The notches vary in size and run across the side of the hillside, not down it. The largest notch has had part of its floor filled in by a small lake and swamp and is a dramatic gritstone boulder-strewn feature. These notches are thought to have been cut by meltwater flowing south west from the area of Littledale, along the side of a glacier which occupied the Quernmore
valley. They are known as marginal notch channels are among the best examples of these features in Britain. Clougha can be accessed from the west by a nice path that travels up its slopes and then diagonally up the final steep broken rock section. It can also be accessed from the east from Grit Fell
along a muddy path over bog land that is difficult to distinguish sometimes.
A small car park is also available close to Clougha Pike just off Rigg Lane. Another starting point to ascend Clougha is from the Victorian folly of Jubilee Tower where there is also a car park.
Its summit furniture includes an Ordnance Survey
trig point
and a wind shelter. The view west from the top is over Morecambe Bay
, and on a clear day extends to Snowdonia
, the Isle of Man
(directly behind Barrow-in-Furness
) and the fells of the Lake District
.
Forest of Bowland
The Forest of Bowland, also known as the Bowland Fells, is an area of barren gritstone fells, deep valleys and peat moorland, mostly in north-east Lancashire, England. A small part lies in North Yorkshire, and much of the area was historically part of the West Riding of Yorkshire...
in Lancashire
Lancashire
Lancashire is a non-metropolitan county of historic origin in the North West of England. It takes its name from the city of Lancaster, and is sometimes known as the County of Lancaster. Although Lancaster is still considered to be the county town, Lancashire County Council is based in Preston...
, England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
. From the west it looms over the Conder
Conder
A Conder, in fishing, was someone who stood on the shore – usually on high ground – and signalled fishing boats as to the direction and location of shoals of fish, such as herrings, mackerel and pilchards.-People:* Charles Conder, Australian artist...
Valley, the city of Lancaster
City of Lancaster
The City of Lancaster , is a local government district of Lancashire, England, with the status of a city and non-metropolitan district. It is named after its largest settlement, Lancaster, but covers a far larger area which includes the towns of Morecambe, Heysham, and Carnforth, as well as...
and Lancaster University
Lancaster University
Lancaster University, officially The University of Lancaster, is a leading research-intensive British university in Lancaster, Lancashire, England. The university was established by Royal Charter in 1964 and initially based in St Leonard's Gate until moving to a purpose-built 300 acre campus at...
. It is visible from as far away as Barrow-in-Furness
Barrow-in-Furness
Barrow-in-Furness is an industrial town and seaport which forms about half the territory of the wider Borough of Barrow-in-Furness in the county of Cumbria, England. It lies north of Liverpool, northwest of Manchester and southwest from the county town of Carlisle...
, South Lakeland
South Lakeland
South Lakeland is a local government district in Cumbria, England. Its council is based in Kendal. It includes much of the Lake District.The district was created on 1 April 1974 under the Local Government Act 1972...
mountains such as the Old Man of Coniston
Old Man of Coniston
The Old Man of Coniston is a fell in the Furness Fells in the English Lake District. It is high, and lies to the west of the village of Coniston and the lake of the same name, Coniston Water. The fell is sometimes known by the alternate name of Coniston Old Man, or simply The Old Man...
, and Blackpool Tower
Blackpool Tower
Blackpool Tower Eye is a tourist attraction in Blackpool, Lancashire in England which was opened to the public on 14 May 1894. . Inspired by the Eiffel Tower in Paris, it rises to 518 feet & 9 inches . The tower is a member of the World Federation of Great Towers...
. From the west it appears to be a large dome shape with a cliff like section at the very top. From the south-west a series of notches or cloughs are visible in its flanks giving this hill its distinctive name. The notches vary in size and run across the side of the hillside, not down it. The largest notch has had part of its floor filled in by a small lake and swamp and is a dramatic gritstone boulder-strewn feature. These notches are thought to have been cut by meltwater flowing south west from the area of Littledale, along the side of a glacier which occupied the Quernmore
Quernmore
Quernmore is a village and civil parish in the City of Lancaster in Lancashire, England. It is located about east of Lancaster. The parish of Quernmore had a population of 532 recorded in the 2001 census...
valley. They are known as marginal notch channels are among the best examples of these features in Britain. Clougha can be accessed from the west by a nice path that travels up its slopes and then diagonally up the final steep broken rock section. It can also be accessed from the east from Grit Fell
Grit Fell
Grit Fell is a lonely hill between Clougha Pike and Ward's Stone in the Forest of Bowland in Lancashire, England. Covered by heather and large bogs it is difficult walking country. The path from Jubilee Tower car park in the south is difficult and treacherous, with sheer sided bogs 6 feet deep...
along a muddy path over bog land that is difficult to distinguish sometimes.
A small car park is also available close to Clougha Pike just off Rigg Lane. Another starting point to ascend Clougha is from the Victorian folly of Jubilee Tower where there is also a car park.
Its summit furniture includes an Ordnance Survey
Ordnance Survey
Ordnance Survey , an executive agency and non-ministerial government department of the Government of the United Kingdom, is the national mapping agency for Great Britain, producing maps of Great Britain , and one of the world's largest producers of maps.The name reflects its creation together with...
trig point
Trig point
A triangulation station, also known as a triangulation pillar, trigonometrical station, trigonometrical point, trig station, trig beacon or trig point, and sometimes informally as a trig, is a fixed surveying station, used in geodetic surveying and other surveying projects in its vicinity...
and a wind shelter. The view west from the top is over Morecambe Bay
Morecambe Bay
Morecambe Bay is a large bay in northwest England, nearly due east of the Isle of Man and just to the south of the Lake District National Park. It is the largest expanse of intertidal mudflats and sand in the United Kingdom, covering a total area of 310 km².-Natural features:The rivers Leven,...
, and on a clear day extends to Snowdonia
Snowdonia
Snowdonia is a region in north Wales and a national park of in area. It was the first to be designated of the three National Parks in Wales, in 1951.-Name and extent:...
, the Isle of Man
Isle of Man
The Isle of Man , otherwise known simply as Mann , is a self-governing British Crown Dependency, located in the Irish Sea between the islands of Great Britain and Ireland, within the British Isles. The head of state is Queen Elizabeth II, who holds the title of Lord of Mann. The Lord of Mann is...
(directly behind Barrow-in-Furness
Barrow-in-Furness
Barrow-in-Furness is an industrial town and seaport which forms about half the territory of the wider Borough of Barrow-in-Furness in the county of Cumbria, England. It lies north of Liverpool, northwest of Manchester and southwest from the county town of Carlisle...
) and the fells of the Lake District
Lake District
The Lake District, also commonly known as The Lakes or Lakeland, is a mountainous region in North West England. A popular holiday destination, it is famous not only for its lakes and its mountains but also for its associations with the early 19th century poetry and writings of William Wordsworth...
.