The plan today was to walk from Milnsbridge to Slaithwaite (pronounced locally as Slawit) along the canal then walk up to Cop Hill high above Slawit, but this ended up like most of my plans recently, out the window. I got up an hour later than planned and walked up to Manchester Road and caught the bus into Slawit. Once there, I excitedly got my camera out and set up, wrapped up as warm and snug as I could then set off up Nabs Lane under the viaduct and onto Holme Lane past Slaithwaite Reservoir, climbing higher as I pushed forward. I turned around to see the amazing view of Slawit with the Titanic Spa in the distance, which I enjoyed for a few moments then set off again. It didn't take as long as I had expected to reach the top of cop hill and the Rose and Crown pub which looks like it has the best view from any beer garden in Huddersfield, a pub I now plan to visit in the summer.
I then turned onto Marsden Lane for a few yards before turning off the road onto a country track, again climbing higher, but it was like a trench in here, I couldn't see any views but then I came across a part of the track where a little path had been eroded away up to the top of the trench next to the dry stone wall, so I made my way up there, and this is where I had the 'breathtaking' moment of today's walk, from here, I could see all the way down the Calder Valley towards Marsden and the beautifully stunning Pennine Hills beyond. I could also see up the valley towards Huddersfield with Castle Hill, Emley Moor Mast and the power stations at Drax and Ferry Bridge all in one view. I was probably here for a few minutes when a lady and her dog came into view, the dog barking the lady said “don't worry, he thinks its his lane as we never ever see other people on here” which I thought was cool. She stopped and we must have chatted for at least 5 minutes, she said that she has a cottage down in Cornwall or Devon, I cant remember which, but the views down there don't even get close to the views around us in Huddersfield and I totally agreed with her. After she and her pooch started walking again, I just stayed a few more minutes, it was like I was paralysed, all I could do was take in the fresh beautiful air and the views, I looked at my watch and thought I best get a move on and after snapping a few more shots I once again set off.
At the top of the track I turned left onto Old Ground and made my way to the end of the road where there was another track that took me onto the moorland, muddy moorland at that so I was finally able to fully test my new walking boots (Karrimor Bodmin Mid III) which my dad just bought me for Christmas and my birthday, the first boggy part I took a wrong step and ended up almost upto my knees!! I managed to pull myself out, half expecting me to bootless but no, my boots were still firmly attached to my feet and there was no water leaking in at all so my feet were still bone dry, I've had boots before where my feet were soaked after just stepping into a little puddle so I'm very happy with these Karrimor boots so far. About 15-20 minutes I reached Cupwith Reservoir and again enjoyed the views, with hardly a cloud in sight over Marsden or down the valley at Slawit and Huddersfield. Noticing a few snow flakes slowly falling around me, I checked my map and the route I was to make next, walking up to New Hey Road and to make my way along to the Pennine Way, but, BUT.....
I then put my map away and turned around to see a huge snow cloud bearing down on me and before I knew it, I was virtually covered in snow and could hardly see a foot in front of me. For one moment, part of me thought it will be over in a minute, just hang on then set off for the Pennine Way, but then another part of me thought it was best to forget about the Pennine Way and make my way down into Marsden. I decided to go with walking back down into Marsden, once I had set off though, the snow stopped and the sun came out and again, for a moment I thought about turning around to make my way to the Pennine Way, but by now I was freezing so carried on. I'm now one of those people who think things happen for a reason, and even more after today as I found a beautiful view over Marsden which I had not seen before and found myself stopping now and again to snap away with the camera...
I then put my map away and turned around to see a huge snow cloud bearing down on me and before I knew it, I was virtually covered in snow and could hardly see a foot in front of me. For one moment, part of me thought it will be over in a minute, just hang on then set off for the Pennine Way, but then another part of me thought it was best to forget about the Pennine Way and make my way down into Marsden. I decided to go with walking back down into Marsden, once I had set off though, the snow stopped and the sun came out and again, for a moment I thought about turning around to make my way to the Pennine Way, but by now I was freezing so carried on. I'm now one of those people who think things happen for a reason, and even more after today as I found a beautiful view over Marsden which I had not seen before and found myself stopping now and again to snap away with the camera...
Once I got down into Marsden, I did feel a little disappointed with myself for not carrying on but then when I got home and looked at the views over the village that I had shot, this disappointment soon vanished and the excitement of planning my next outing soon...
Hmmm....
where next??
where next??