Breathtaking and imposing, and just a fraction short of a mountain, the 557-metre summit of Pendle Hill stands watch over East Lancashire. It’s an atmospheric peak, shrouded in tales of witches covens, and the perfect spot for a bracing walk. Albeit a challenging one.

Fell runners train on it and seasoned hikers have the sandstone in their blood. You don’t have to be fit as a fiddle to tackle Pendle Hill, though; embarking on the ascent at your own pace is all part of the fun.

As you tread the steeply-sloping trail, don’t forget to look up from the ground beneath your feet: the higher you venture, the more beautiful the view becomes. More fields, forests, reservoirs and towns appear with every step, until finally, with the wind whipping your face, you reach the summit.

As the ground flattens out, take the opportunity to catch your breath before the sweeping panorama of the county below rises to snatch it away again. On the clearest days you can see right to Blackpool tower, while misty, winter afternoons cast their own kind of magic.

Images by Andy Rothwell on Flickr & Charlotte Varela