GPS Cycle and Walking Routescycle iconwalk icon

Hail Storm Hill and Scout Moor Wind Farm Walk

7.8 miles (12.5 km)

Ordnance Survey Map Open Streetmap This circular walk in the Rossendale Valley climbs to Hail Storm Hill and the Scout Moor Wind Farm. The route uses sections of the Pennine Bridleway and Rossendale Way to visit the hill and the nearby Spring Mill Reservoir.
The spot is significant as the highest point of the Rossendale Valley and the location of the Scout Moor Wind Farm, the second largest onshore wind farm in England.
There's some remote moorland scenery with excellent views towards Lancashire and Manchester from the high points.
You can start the walk from the public car park in Broadley next to the Healey Dell Nature Reserve. The reserve is another nice place for a stroll with woodland trails and lots of wildlife to see.
From the car park you head north west to Whimsy Hill where you can pick up the Pennine Bridleway. Follow the shared cycling and walking trail north west to Bagden Hillocks and Rooley Moor. Here you will pass the old Ding Quarry before coming to Hail Storm Hill and the wind farm.
From the summit continue north to Cowpe Moss before turning east to Top of Leach where you pick up the bridleway again. This will take you to Hamer Hill and Bagden Hillocks where you can pick up the Rossendale Way. Follow it south east to Spring Mill Reservoir before looping round to return to the car park.

Hail Storm Hill OS Map Ordnance survey map - Mobile GPS OS Map with Location tracking

Hail Storm Hill Open Street Map Open Streetmap - Mobile GPS Map with Location tracking

Further Information and Other Local Ideas

Just to the west of the hill you could visit Waugh's Well. The structure was created to commemorate local poet Edwin Waugh who is known locally as "the Lancashire Burns". There is also a small reservoir and more excellent views from this interesting spot.

Cycle Routes and Walking Routes Nearby

Photos

Hail Storm Hill - geograph.org.uk - 3937738

Hail Storm Hill

Ding Quarry, Hail Storm Hill - geograph.org.uk - 264628

Ding Quarry, Hail Storm Hill. The desolate landscape of this derelict quarry looks over towards Knowl Moor (centre right) and Manchester beyond.

Hailstorm Ridge trig point - geograph.org.uk - 3990408

Hailstorm Ridge trig point

Pennine Bridleway, Rooley Moor Road - geograph.org.uk - 806575

Pennine Bridleway, Rooley Moor Road

Stream running off Cowpe Moss - geograph.org.uk - 2987298

Stream running off Cowpe Moss

Spring Mill Reservoir, near Rochdale, Lancashire - geograph.org.uk - 854005

Spring Mill Reservoir, near Rochdale, Lancashire

Small reservoir near Broadley, Lancashire - geograph.org.uk - 133511

Small reservoir near Broadley, Lancashire. This reservoir was constructed in the mid-eighteenth century to serve a small woollen mill (now long gone) situated just below. Of equal interest is the old paved road of a type once common in Lancashire and the West Riding.

Scout Moor Wind Farm - geograph.org.uk - 3937742

Scout Moor Wind Farm

Video

GPS Files

GPX File

Hail Storm Hill.gpx (On Desktop:Right Click>Save As. On Ipad/Iphone:Click and hold>Download Linked File)