| “It’s Grim Up North - Not!!" |
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Date : 15th November 2009
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Leader : Robert Eccles |
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Report by : Robert Eccles |
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Photos © : Phil Bedson |
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| The dam of Baitings Reservoir | |
“It’s grim up North” can easily apply to the South Pennine Moors in November but a 12 miles walk based on Rishworth Moor pleasantly surprised three Hyndburn Ramblers.
Starting in the sunshine from Baitings we headed east to Ryburn reservoir. The occasional shower was so light it could be ignored and in fact prompted a game of hunt the rainbow rather than hunt the brolly. Ryburn is supposedly one of the prettiest reservoirs going and whilst the autumn colours were just past their best it provided many photo opportunities. (Maybe too many as the leader started to wonder if we would EVER get to Blackstone Edge.)
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left:
Ryburn Reservoir |
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right: Rainbow! |
Rounding the reservoir we headed south through a mixture of farmland and tracks to the access land at Pike End, on to Blackwood Edge and then down to Booth Wood Reservoir. At this point the rain started and it looked like it was here to stay. Waterproofs and brollies were deployed and of course the rain promptly stopped never to be seen again for the rest of the day. Cresting the hill the M62 was in front of us just at the point where it splits with the farm in the middle. (A split due to logistics rather than a grumpy farmer.)
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Along tracks... |
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right: ...and moorland paths |
The next part of the journey along Spar Clough had little promise from the map sandwiched as it was between the motorway and the A672 but it proved to be a little gem. The autumn colours helped but the whole valley was both picturesque and interesting with a number of contenders for Britain’s skinniest reservoir.
Leaving the clough at Oxygrains Bridge we followed Green Withens Clough to its reservoir. Various spots along the way were tested as potential lunch venues but all proved too draughty. Eventually, as starvation was setting in, we reached the dam and a shaded spot.
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left:
Skinny reservoirs... |
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right: ...and autumn colours |
The plan was to head south and eventually pick up the Pennine Way as these are the only marked paths to Blackstone Edge. There were hints of a more direct route, probably a consequence of the Right To Roam, but it was decided to stick to the plan and leave exploration for another day.
Once on the Pennine Way we were soon at Blackstone Edge itself and the trig point was just a hop away. The views were a bit mixed. North, east and south was essentially moor land interspersed with the likes of Stoodly Pike and Pendle Hill but to the west were the towns of Littleborough, Rochdale and the start of Greater Manchester.
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left:
The Pennine Way |
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right: Trig point at Blackstone Edge |
Continuing North on the Pennine Way brought us to the medieval guidepost known as the Aiggin Stone and the Roman Road that may not be Roman.
Turning east we started the journey back to Baitings over Blackstone Edge and Rishworth Moors. The Old Packhorse Road proved a challenge in parts where it had been churned up by motorbikes but this was nothing compared to the journey to Warm Withens Hill and Cat Moss. This time four-wheel drives had joined the motorbikes to simply destroy the footpath. The path did improve the closer we got to home until we were back on solid ground. A drop down the hill brought us to the rather impressive Baitings dam and the cars.
All in all a good days walking in the South Pennines helped by the good weather, autumn colours and a pint on the way back.
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| The Aiggin Stone - a 600 year old waymarker for Ramblers of old | |
