Pendle Hill is a popular walking route for locals and visitors to Lancashire, but some people have been left less than impressed when completing the walk to the top.
The Lancashire landmark is “most famous for its links to the now notorious witch trials of 1612”, combining “stunning scenery” with a touch of history.
While many appreciate Pendle Hill and the views it provides from the top, there’s always one (or a few) who just don’t get it.
Pendle Hill criticised for having no cafe at the top
One disgruntled visitor took to Tripadvisor to complain that they didn’t see any of the Pendle Witches and informed fellow walkers that Crocs are in fact not a suitable shoe to wear on this adventure.
@peaksandpubs Pendle Hill & Ogden Reservoir Circular📍 A fairly easy route, besides the 1KM steps. Good one for the family. Chances are you'll never see the car park that empty so get there early. Cafe at the end is a blinder too👌 Distance: 8KM Time: 2.5-3.5 hours Elevation gain: 360M Difficulty: 4/10 Parking: The Avenue Car Park (BB12 9LD)📍 #pendlehill #ogdenreservoir #burnley #hike #hiking #hiker #outdoors #hikestodo ♬ original sound - 𝙇𝙭𝙪𝙞𝙨𝙨𝙤𝙪𝙣𝙙𝙯 🫶🏻
That’s not all, though, as the hill was also (brace yourself) “very hilly”.
They also commented on the lack of food and drink options at the top of the hill: “Not suitable for Crocs. Well, what can I say. It was too steep, and very hilly throughout. The walk was long, longer than I expected from what is inaccurately described as "a hill"!
“When I got to the top, there was nothing to do, or see as it was foggy. There was no sign anywhere near the bottom of the "hill" to suggest it would be foggy? We couldn't find a cafe anywhere, or anywhere we could buy a drink. I was lucky I had brought some mint cake, otherwise we could have starved up there.
“As previously stated, the view was poor. When the fog did eventually lift, all we could see for miles was grass and other hills in the distance. Not sure where the "so called witches" lived up there, but there were no signs of anything.”
@lancashirelad.walks Never fails to disappoint does a ramble up Pendle Hill... Lancashire's STEEPEST hill climb! 🥵 Hands up if you've been up those steps before?! 🙌 🎥 Watch the full film over on YouTube. #ukhikers #ukwalks #fyp #walkinguk #hillwalking #pendlehill #lancashire #walktok #hiketok ♬ sonido original - Kindlmuller
They suggested others not “waste” their time as Pendle Hill to them is “just a big lump on the floor”: “Really disappointed tbh, we couldn't find anything to do up there at all. People with cameras were taking photos of grass for goodness sake!! Don't waste your time, it's just a big lump on the floor, takes ages to get up, then ages to get down again, and my feet got wet.”
Someone else shared their experience, claiming to be disappointed by the lack of Pendle Witches.
They also suggested there should be a gift shop or an ice cream van at the top of it: “We went to Pendle hill was expecting this magnificent place it was just a hill…..people were going on about witches never saw a single one , it was difficult to climb needs some sort of lift I nearly died ( twice ) going up it no gift shop at the top not even an ice cream van”.
Recommended reading:
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Areas of Lancashire locals associate with witchcraft including the Pendle Witches
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The 'cosy' cafe at the bottom of Pendle Hill that serves 'delicious' food
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'Starkly scenic' Lancashire village named among Britain's most beautiful
What is the story behind the Pendle Witches?
Visit Lancashire explained the history of Pendle Hill: “History and legend has woven a spell over Pendle.
“Pendle Hill rises above this ancient hunting ground, once the home of wolves and wild boar and to this day dotted with tiny hamlets and farms.
“It is still an untamed place, full of mystery and infamous as the home of the Pendle Witches who were tried and executed for witchcraft in 1612.”
It continued: “The landscape, carved out by man and by nature, welcomes walkers and countryside enthusiasts. Long distance walks, such as the 43-mile Pendle Way and parts of the Bronte Way, combine history with stunning scenery, with plenty of country inns and farmhouses to provide most congenial rest and refreshment along the way.”
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