| Clougha Pike | |
|---|---|
 Clougha Pike from nearLancaster University | |
| Highest point | |
| Elevation | 413 m (1,355 ft) |
| Prominence | c. 3 m |
| Coordinates | 54°01′44″N2°41′53″W / 54.029°N 2.698°W /54.029; -2.698 |
| Naming | |
| Pronunciation | /ˈklʌfə/ |
| Geography | |
  Clougha Pike Location in the Forest of Bowland Show map of the Forest of Bowland Clougha Pike Location in Lancashire Show map of Lancashire Clougha Pike Location in the City of Lancaster district Show map of the City of Lancaster district | |
| Location | Forest of Bowland,England |
| OS grid | SD544595 |
| Topo map | OSLandranger 102 |
Clougha Pike (/ˈklʊfə/KLUUF-ə) is a hill in theForest of Bowland inLancashire, England. From the west it looms over theConder Valley, the city ofLancaster andLancaster University. It is visible from as far away asBarrow-in-Furness,South Lakeland mountains such as theOld Man of Coniston, andBlackpool Tower. From the west, it appears to be a large dome shape, with a cliff-like section at the very top. From the south-west, a series of notches or cloughs are visible in its flanks, giving the hill its distinctive name. The notches vary in size and run across the side of the hillside, but not down it. The largest notch has had part of its floor filled in by a small lake and swamp and is a dramatic gritstone boulder-strewn feature. These notches are thought to have been cut by meltwater flowing south-west from the area ofLittledale, along the side of a glacier which occupied theQuernmore valley. They are known as marginal notch channels and are among the best examples of these features in Britain.
Clougha can be reached from the west, by a pleasant path that travels up its slopes by Rowton (spelt variously) Brook and then diagonally up the final steep broken rock section. It can also be reached from the east fromGrit Fell, over boggy land along a muddy path that is sometimes difficult to distinguish. An approach from the north, from the direction ofCaton, is also possible. A small car park is also available close to Clougha Pike, just off Rigg Lane. Another starting point to ascend Clougha is from theVictorianfolly of Jubilee Tower, where there is also a car park.
Its summit furniture includes anOrdnance Surveytrig point and two rock wind shelters. The view west from the top is overMorecambe Bay. On a clear day views from Clougha Pike extend toSnowdonia, theRibble Estuary, theIsle of Man (directly behindBarrow-in-Furness), the fells of theLake District and many of thePennine hills. Very rarely, theMourne Mountains can be seen to the south of theIsle of Man.
Clougha Pike was one of the lowest of the 100 hills included inTrail magazine's 2007 list of "Britain's Greatest Mountains".[1][2]