I woke up this morning all nice and snugly tucked up under my duvet, I put one foot out and the icy cold air hit me. And for one moment I thought “sod that, I’m staying put today” but somehow, twenty minutes later I was checking my camera and checking that I had everything in my backpack and then I got ready and an hour later I was on the bus to New Mill.
Today, I was planning on walking up to the top of Tinkers Monument, a very large hill that dominates the skyline over the little villages of New Mill, Jackson Bridge, Hepworth and finally Scholes, the place I lived for the first 30 years of my life. The last time I was up there was probably whilst a kid in the 1980’s, sadly like most people a time when I took everything for granted and didn’t appreciate the natural beauty of where I was born ‘n’ bred.
Today, I was planning on walking up to the top of Tinkers Monument, a very large hill that dominates the skyline over the little villages of New Mill, Jackson Bridge, Hepworth and finally Scholes, the place I lived for the first 30 years of my life. The last time I was up there was probably whilst a kid in the 1980’s, sadly like most people a time when I took everything for granted and didn’t appreciate the natural beauty of where I was born ‘n’ bred.
As I reached the bottom of Tinkers, I looked up then looked down at the winding road on my ordinance survey map and the panic started, the panic that it was going to take all day to walk up there. This panic disappeared when only half an hour later I reached the summit. I was puffing and panting when I got there, but I turned around whilst slipping my pack off to see the stunning views before me and like on most walks I do these days, the panting and puffing gave way to a real sense of amazement, even though I’ve seen these views most of my life, it still really does take me back to the days of being a kid and seeing something or experiencing something new for the first time. After a short break and a drink from my water bottle, I started to make my way along the paths that traverse along the Hill. It was busy compared to what I’m used to with it being a Saturday, but everyone I crossed paths with had a smile and said Morning or Hello so it wasn’t too bad. I did keep having to stop to take in the fresh air and the beautiful views, especially over Scholes where I grew up and over towards Holme Moss which had a little covering of snow.
It didn't felt like I had walked even a mile so by the time I reached Hade Edge, I was shocked to see that I had in fact walked 8.5miles, by the time I had reached my dads house in Scholes it was 9.9miles and I had been walking for 5hours and 49minutes, but best of all, I’d had another great walk which ended with a stunning sunset!!