...............................................................................................................'On the Black Hill'
Only about 12.5 miles to walk today, so I was looking forward to taking my time a little. An easy day, I told myself. I set off just before 10 a.m. and again the sun was shining. Its a steep climb out of Crowden, but the views looking back are excellent. I'd made sure my water was secure today and stopped for a drink near the impressive Laddow Rocks. The terrain became increasingly bleak and wet now, and I climbed on towards Black Hill.
The approach to Black Hill (1910 feet) is quite impressive - I'd never seen landscape like it before. Cotton grass is widespread here and brightens the rather drab ground, which is increasingly peppered with large areas of black bog. I continued upwards and, as the bogs became more prolific, joined the stone slabs which traverse the summit and continue for some way on the descent the other side. In good weather, at least, there is no longer any reason to be daunted by the reputation and prospect of Black Hill. There are far greater challenges to come, in my opinion.
...............................................................................'Being led up the Garden Path' to the Summit of Black Hill
The area around the summit looked to me as if it had received a visit from Alan Titchmarsh and Groundforce! It was sad to see a truly rugged and wild place with the dark reputation of Black Hill tamed in this way, however necessary it may be. These paths, to me, are far uglier and intrusive than anything a million tramping boots could ever achieve.
Having said that, I could have walked (or swam) a yard either side through the sticky black ooze and experienced a little of what past walkers had to endure. I chose not to, and noticed many others also choosing not to! A little about this in the Guardian newspaper.
I carried on past the summit, leaving Derbyshire for Yorkshire, admiring good views all around and I stopped at Black Dike Head for lunch before descending to the road at Wessenden Head. The character of the walk changes completely once across the road and a pretty section past several reservoirs and cascading waterfalls follows.
................................................................. ...............................Wessenden Head reservoir
Just past Wessenden Reservoir I found Matt and Tim resting on a grassy slope. It was 2.30 in the afternoon and they were planning to walk that day to Blackstone Edge reservoir - still a long way to go. I left them resting and carried on in the hot afternoon sun. I never saw them again and so don't know if they completed the walk for, if they did , they hadn't signed the 'walk completed' book in the Border Hotel in Kirk Yetholm as most walkers traditionally do.
It was a pleasant descent down to the rather unpleasent A62 road at Standedge.
Prince Charles visited the tunnel here in 2001. The Standedge tunnel, which takes the Huddersfield Narrow canal under the Pennines, is the longest, highest and deepest canal tunnel in Britain.
I stayed at Globe Farm which is situated about half a mile along the busy main road but a quiter route initially following the Pennine Way across the road and then turning left along a track and left again, southwards down a lane, avoids the need to risk life and limb in the traffic making its way between Huddersfield and Manchester.
I'd enjoyed the days walk. It had been challenging at times, although only 12.5 miles it had seemed a lot longer taking 5.5 hours actual walking time - rather a long time by my standards but indicative of the terrain and effects of carrying a heavy rucksack!
That evening I walked a mile or so each way to the pub beside the Redbrook reservoir, east along the A62 . The road was quieter now, luckily, and as this was the only available eating place within walking distance, it had to be done! . Had a good steak and 2 pints of Arizona beer, walked slowly back to Globe Farm, had an early night and slept like two logs!
Rating for day out of 10 :-