...............................................................................Looking west towards Rochdale from Blackstone Edge
I ate a good breakfast and was on the road by 9 a.m. I had met another 'Pennine Wayer' staying at Globe Farm, Dave from Loughborough, and we were to meet again many times between here and Greenhead.
It is a fairly hard climb at first, as far as Millstone Edge, but then most of the day is level and high (1400-1500 feet) and affords great views at times. It was another dry day for me, often sunny and very warm , but I could sometimes see rain in the distance.
To the west of Millstone Edge there were fine views of Bolton and Rochdale and to the north and east of wild moorland. It was mostly easy walking for me today, not boggy as this section can sometimes be. I made good time to Blackstone Edge (1549 feet) , described by Daniel Defoe in 1724 as the "Andes of England", and soon reached the Aiggin Stone. The track you join for a short way west from here is reputedly a Roman road, although some believe it has more recent origins. It certainly looks Roman and caused my mind to race ahead a week or so to when I (hopefully) would be walking the 10 mile Hadrians Wall section.
............................................................................. ...............................The Aiggin Stone
This section of the walk is full of packhorse tracks and 'corpse' roads and it was a pleasant change to be able to look around as I walked. The terrain of the preceding two days had necessitated constant monitoring of the feet, as does most of the course of the Pennine Way!
There is no problem route finding here and soon Stoodley Pike came into view, a landmark for many miles around and a very handsome one it is. It was originally buit to commemorate the Battle of Waterloo.
...............................................................................................................Stoodley Pike
It was a fairly steep descent from here down to the main road west of Hebden Bridge but then, as I was staying in the town, an easy last mile along the Rochdale canal. The sun was shining as I passed the attractive terraced houses backing onto the canal, the tiny gardens, window boxes and hanging baskets were a picture and a real credit to thir owners.
I arrived just before 4 p.m. and had time for a look round the town and a good rest before eating . Hebden Bridge was not awash with eating opportunites but I managed to find a fairly decent pub and and ate an adequate meal washed down with two pints of Timothy Taylors. It had been an enjoyable days walking, nothing too demanding, and another good nights sleep followed!
Rating for day out of 10 :-