I wasn't supposed to be going walking today, I had planned on going the day before but because the weather was so bad, wet and windy I thought I'd leave it for another day. I woke up at 6:30am and looked out of the window and saw it wasn't raining and it looked on the weather app on my phone that it was going to be a good day for walking and photography, so I dragged myself out of bed and started packing my backpack. I set off from Milnesbridge an hour later and soon regretted my choice of route, within 10 minutes of setting off, the pain in the lower part of my legs started and I did think about turning back when I looked up the long nether ending straight road before me, Cowersley Lane. I pushed myself forward and as soon as the pain started, it ended and the light started lifting enabling me to enjoy the views more and even though the area was still a little built up, there was a stunning view between the buildings.
About 40 minutes after setting off, I had left the buildings behind me and I was into the open countryside, from here I could see up to Blackmoorfoot in front of me, Slaithwaite and it's viaducts to my right, behind me was Linthwaite and Milnesbridge and to the left was just open fields, and yes, only 40 minutes and my breath was again taken away by the scenery.
About 40 minutes after setting off, I had left the buildings behind me and I was into the open countryside, from here I could see up to Blackmoorfoot in front of me, Slaithwaite and it's viaducts to my right, behind me was Linthwaite and Milnesbridge and to the left was just open fields, and yes, only 40 minutes and my breath was again taken away by the scenery.
I reached Blackmoorfoot with a few tears in my eyes, it is the first time I had managed to walk through this village since March. The villages pub, The Bulls Head is where I last had a meal with my mum, a week later she had passed away after her fight with cancer and I have walked miles to detour the village on my walks ever since as I couldn't bring myself to pass through it. Today I was glad I was able to finally walk through it as it is a beautiful village with stunning views, and The Bulls Head is a nice pub with good food, so hopefully I'll be able to call in for a meal now. I did think about my mum whilst walking through as I've been thinking about her a lot recently with it being Christmas....
After Blackmoorfoot, I turned right onto High House Edge, a road I had discovered whilst researching today's walk. From here, the view was stunning, it was the same views over Slaithwaite and Linthwaite but it was more open and I found my finger pushing the camera's button so much I thought the camera was going to burst into flames!
This is also where I bumped into my first fellow walker of the day, looking a bit lost checking his map at the crossroads, he looked up and with a big smile on his face, saw me and said “good morning” and carried on his way. It's times like that make me smile, I've said it before but everyone whilst I'm walking seem to be very friendly. You could be miles from civilization in the middle of a blizzard but when you cross paths with a fellow walker, you'd still get a “good morning” or “good afternoon” followed by “nice weather isn't it?” with a big grin on their face like a Cheshire cat. But back in a town, you wouldn't even get eye contact, the most you could hope for would be a groan as you see a human body with a mobile phone as a face scuffle past you!!
I then made my way along Jerusalem Road, Holt Head Road (more stunning views) then onto Chain Road with Marsden Moor stretching out before me. I had seen someone post a photograph of an old farmhouse near here, it is in the middle of a field (reachable by a public right of way) and I just felt I had to pay it a visit the next time I was passing. With wide sweeping views looking over Marsden towards the Pennine Hills, it looks like it could be a beautiful home for someone if they bought it and showed it the love it deserves by doing it up. But for now it's just a wreck, half the roof missing, no windows or doors and with a tree growing out of it, I still managed to see it's real beauty...
I then made my way along Jerusalem Road, Holt Head Road (more stunning views) then onto Chain Road with Marsden Moor stretching out before me. I had seen someone post a photograph of an old farmhouse near here, it is in the middle of a field (reachable by a public right of way) and I just felt I had to pay it a visit the next time I was passing. With wide sweeping views looking over Marsden towards the Pennine Hills, it looks like it could be a beautiful home for someone if they bought it and showed it the love it deserves by doing it up. But for now it's just a wreck, half the roof missing, no windows or doors and with a tree growing out of it, I still managed to see it's real beauty...
From Chain Road, I turned left and joined another public right of way, this time going onto Marsden Moor itself and thankfully away from the idiot drivers speeding on the road. Now, my poor camera was starting to get some proper use, snap, snap, snap, snap, SNAP the camera went as my finger was working overtime on the button. Every time I turned around or looked left, or looked right I saw something that I wanted to capture, one second it was sunny, almost like summer then the next it would be chucking it down with hail stones. One second there were no clouds apart from in the distance, then the next it would be as dark as night as a huge black cloud hovered over me. With the walk that I had planned, I was due to turn around here and make my way down into Marsden then up Pule Hill but for some reason, I saw a track expand off into the distance and I just couldn't make myself turn around and off into the distance I went. I soon found myself thanking the photography gods for making me carry on as I saw the amazingly stunning views before me, even with the clouds it still made my spine tingle, especially with the sun rays pointing out of the clouds as if they were laser beams from some cheesy sci-fi film. I also found another waterfall which I have never seen before, and even with being pounded yet again by hail stones, I threw off my backpack and retrieved my tripod and spent another age setting it up for some shots. I was also being blown away by what must have been gale force winds whilst making my way along the track with what felt like it had a sheer drop to my right, I did feel a little embarrassed by not being able to keep on my feet at times when I suddenly saw a few sheep just walking along the sheer drop, I couldn't believe my eyes but then I remembered, I'm in Marsden and Marsden sheep are like mountaineers!!
In the distance, I could see the familiar sight of the Pennine Way, I thought once I got down there I would make my way to Marsden and the next bus home as I thought I'd taken enough photographs but then I noticed a few little spots moving along the Pennine Way towards the waterfall that had defeated my friend and me back in October (see Taking Minty (Stephen) Walkies on Marsden Moor) and I quickly took out my binoculars to see what it was. To my surprise it was some more walkers, I watched them make their way to the waterfall expecting them to be turned back by the rough water as me and Minty were, but I then lost sight of them and thinking they must have turned back I carried on. Then I noticed them again, but they were on the other side of the waterfall and river and the light bulb in my head switched on. I decided to walk to the waterfall and see if I could get past it this time, I thought, even if I couldn't cross myself, at least I would be able to take more pics of the waterfall. After half an hour I reached it and my heart sank as it did look a little risky, so I again set my tripod up and started to take pictures when a family suddenly came round the corner on the other side and started to successfully cross so after a few photos, I decided to cross although I went down the river a little as it looked easier and yes, I managed to get across, full of confidence I now decided to carry on along the Pennine Way and up towards Black Moss Reservoir and what I call, Marsden Beach.
Again it was on and off with the weather but I managed to see a few rainbows, including one that look so close I could easily walk to the end of it to search for a pot of gold, but I thought, nah, times cracking on and a huge black cloud was heading my way so pushed on forward. After I had passed the reservoir and Marsden Beach, I found myself with yet another choice to make, turn right and walk into Marsden then go home or turn left and carry on along the Pennine Way towards the views over Diggle and Manchester, I seriously stood in one place trying to make my mind up. By now my feet had started to ache and I was starting to feel a little tired so yes, I turned right and walked down into Marsden, reaching the village just in time for my bus home.
Walking into my flat, I was wet, tired, hungry and with feet that felt like they were going to kill me from the aches and pains but...
I had a huge grin on my face!!
Happy Christmas x
Walking into my flat, I was wet, tired, hungry and with feet that felt like they were going to kill me from the aches and pains but...
I had a huge grin on my face!!
Happy Christmas x