Boulsworth Hill

Infobox Mountain
Name = Boulsworth Hill – Lad Law
Photo = BoulsworthHill.jpg
Caption = Boulsworth Hill and the Upper Coldwell Reservoir
Elevation = 517 m (1,696 ft)
Location = Lancashire, ENG
Range = Pennines
Prominence = 323 m
Parent peak = Kinder Scout
Listing = Marilyn
Grid_ref_UK = SD929356
Topographic
OS "Explorer" OL21

Boulsworth Hill is a large expanse of moorland, the highest point of the South Pennines of south-eastern Lancashire, separating the District of Pendle from Calderdale.

Its summit, Lad Law, is 517 m (1,696 ft) above sea level, and commands views over Pendle Hill, the Forest of Bowland, the Yorkshire Dales, and the South Pennines [cite web |url=http://www.lancashire.gov.uk/environment/countryside/sites/view.asp |publisher=Lancashire County Council |title=View Points] . On an exceptionally clear day it is possible to see Scafell Pike and Helvellyn to the north, Ferrybridge power station to the east, High Peak to the south and the Big One at Blackpool Pleasure Beach to the west. The Brontë Way and the Pendle Way both pass along the slopes of Boulsworth Hill, providing routes of ascent from Nelson and Wycoller. A further possibility is to climb from Trawden, the nearest town to the summit, and it was originally intended that Boulsworth Hill would be a highlight of the Pennine Way [cite news |publisher=The Observer |title=Cool hikes for UK stile gurus |date= 2004-09-19 |url=http://travel.guardian.co.uk/article/2004/sep/19/unitedkingdom.walkingholidays.observerescapesection |author=Nick Redman] , which instead passes to the east of the hill. Following the CRoW Act, Boulsworth Hill can now also be legally climbed from the Yorkshire side, near Hebden Bridge [cite book |title=Forest of Bowland: With Pendle Hill and the West Pennine Moors |publisher=Frances Lincoln |author=Andrew Bibby |id=ISBN 0-7112-2502-8 |year=2005] .

The underlying rock is millstone grit, which is seen outcropping in several places cite web |url=http://www.english-nature.org.uk/citation/citation_photo/1007196.pdf |publisher=English Nature |title=South Pennine Moors SSSI |format=PDF] and forming a steep scarp face along the summit . The hill is covered by acidic grassland [cite web |url=http://www.lancswt.org.uk/Learning%20&%20Discovery/wildlifeandwildplaces/wildplaces/grasslands.htm |title=Grasslands |publisher=The Lancashire Wildlife Trust |date=2006] , which provide a valuable breeding ground for red grouse, twitecite web |title=A Landscape Strategy for Lancashire - Landscape Character Assessment |publisher=Lancashire County Council |year=2000 |url=http://www.lancashire.gov.uk/environment/landscape/landscapecharacass/characterassesment.pdf |format=PDF ( [http://www.lancashire.gov.uk/environment/landscape/landscapecharacass/charcarea1.asp HTML version] )] , golden plover and other birds.

It lies just inside Lancashire, although the county boundary with Calderdale passes just a mile to the south-east of Lad Law.

References