Local Life - St Helens - Nov/Dec 2021

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The bad news is it’s very steep indeed, but on the plus side,
the climb is made easier by the fact that the many steps
are robustly built and help a safer ascent. It’s certainly a
challenge, but when you stop, turn and look at the views
behind you, you’ll want to take a photo break or three!
Once the sharp gradient subsides, you’ll be faced with a
drystone wall. Turn left just before you get to the wall and,
shortly afterwards, you take the left fork of a path away
from the wall towards the trig point uphill in the distance.
When you’ve posed for the obligatory selfie at the trig
point, carry on walking in the same direction for 1/3 of
a mile. You’ll reach the signpost indicating a dog-leg
left turn to Barley (down the curvier route mentioned
previously). Ignore this and go straight on. The path’s
gradient gets steeper, but never overbearingly so as you
descend for a further ½ a mile, enjoying great views of the
Ogden reservoirs on the way down.
Barle
You arrive at some wooden gates. Take a 90-degree left
turn and then, almost immediately, take the right fork and
follow that path downhill until you reach a small wooden
gate. Go through the gate and follow the path downhill
along the left-hand perimeter of the field. Carry on in the
same direction down a track that joins up with a second
track.
At this point the path becomes less well-defined, but
head straight on in the same direction, initially towards
the field to the left-hand edge of the wooded area and
then carrying on in that direction up Barley Hill and
through a succession of fields for 1/3 of a mile.
Once you get to the field just past the end of the Lower
Ogden reservoir, look out for a wooden gate on the right
hand side. Go through the gate and straight downhill,
looking out for the footpath sign on the left. Follow the
footpath through another gate and you’ll end up by the
village hall. Turn left and then first right into the car park
from where you started the walk.