Wednesday June 22nd

 Wessenden Head and Black Hill

First time this year for Jacinta- we were out on a Wednesday, a lovey sunny day and remained so for the whole way round. 

The track at Wessenden Head, with Wessenden Head Reservoir

We took the usual way up to the mast and had a snack and a drink with a view of the Blakeley Reservoir and the Pennine Way climbing up from the reservoir feed.

Blakeley Reservoir and the Pennine Way climbing to the water board track (RHS)

We walked up to, and beyond the Black Moss and Swellands reservoirs and unusually didn't stop here for lunch as it was a bit breezy. We chose a nice spot just before the road, sitting on the heather and enjoyed our lunch and a rest before the final push up to Black Hill. 

As often, we didn't see another soul on the tramp across Dean Head Moss and up to Black Hill.

The emptiness of Dean Head Moss- no-one else to be seen!

There are still a very few of the original Pennine Way waymarkers, most are very weathered and some just broken stumps. The Pennine Way has been diverted to what used to be called "The Wessenden Alternative" as lots of people got lost in the peaty bogs of Dean Head Moss. Fortunately, it was very dry for us.

An original Pennine Way waymarker with an acorn and arrow just about visible

As we were starting down from the Black Hill summit trig point, we met a man who had started walking on April 5th- the Cape Wrath Trail to Edinburgh, The Waters of Leith, St Cuthbert's Way to Kirk Yetholm and then the Pennine Way. We therefore met him on his penultimate day of his epic walk.

Black Hill summit trig (which is not quite vertical!)

We descended back to the car and home to some excellent Black House Daal (the Dishoom recipe) which DK had supervised for several hours as she worked from PLG.

The descent to Dean Head Clough before the final climb back to the car

A great walk with sighting of hare, lovely birdsong and excellent weather. 10.8 miles, 435m Ascent.



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