A walk with the occasional team of Paul, Andrew, Chas and Julian. There was a degree of confusion about the starting point, as I'd suggested a possible two, hoping that Carol's snack waggon would be where the Pennine Way crosses the A635. Unfortunately, the snack waggon wasn't there and my imprecise suggestion for the alternative parking spot near Wessenden Head weren't very helpful. However, it was a clear, crisp day despite the unpromising drizzle as I left home.
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| Wessenden Head Reservoir at the start of the walk |
I had promised mud, and this was potentially a taste of what was to come.
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| Contemplating the mud above Wessenden Reservoir. Photo: Chas |
We followed the Pennine Way north past Wessenden Head Reservoir and Wessenden Reservoir and up to the Swellands and Black Moss Reservoirs.
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| Passing Black Moss Reservoir |
This was our turning point and we then followed the original route of the Pennine Way south, crossing back over the A635 for the plod over Dean Head Moss. It seems that I'd oversold the boggy nature of this section. Either that, or there just hadn't been enough rain recently to turn the peat into black quagmires. The original Pennine Way had been re-routed to avoid this section as, apparently, too many walkers had got lost in the relatively featureless moors. A few waymarkers remain but they're generally pretty rotten and won't last much longer.
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| The Original Pennine Way route over Dean Head Moss |
Our final objective, where we stopped for a snack, drink (and a ciggie, in the case of one of us) was Soldier's Lump at the possible summit of Black Hill. One guidebook suggested that Soldier's Lump wasn't necessarily the highest point- it was just the most solid to support a trig point pillar. That hasn't stopped the trig point from acquiring something of a list!
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| A break at Soldier's Lump on Black Hill |
The return to our starting point was down the extensively flagstoned new route of the Pennine Way- an enjoyable 11 miles with excellent company.
