Sunday November 12th

 Wessenden Head and the outer reaches of Marsden

After our very wet trip to Wessenden Head last week, and as the skies at PLG were clear and blue, we thought that we'd give Wessenden another try. As we approached Carol's tea waggon on the Isle of Skye (A635) road there was an distinct demarcation line- the road- between ground-level cloud or mist to the north, and absolute clarity to the south. We stopped for a tea at Carol's, admired the view and decided a plan of action.

View to the southeast- Black Hill to the right

View to the north- our proposed route is on the left
Despite the sunny aspects of Black Hill with its paved path glittering in the sun, we kept to our original plan- to follow the Pennine Way northeast and down past the Wessenden Head and Wessenden Reservoirs.
Our route- descent into the murk
The last spot of clear sunlight allowed a picture of Jacinta with the Pennine Way sign to be taken.
A great label for the signpost
The track is very familiar to us, but the mist added a very special atmosphere to the surroundings.
To avoid an unnecessary loss of height and having to regain it by following the official Pennine Way route, we crossed the Wessenden Reservoir dam and followed the contouring path via the waterfall and weir of Short Grain round to the aerial  where we rejoin the Pennine Way. We had a brief taste of the division between clouds and sunshine looking over Butterly.
Clear sky and mist over Butterly
We followed the Pennine Way up to the Swellands and Black Moss Reservoirs. The watershed must run between the two as the Swellands drains to the east and Black Moss to the south and southwest but I've never been able to perceive it!
In and out of the mist on the way up to the twin reservoirs
At the junction with the Standedge Trail we turned northeast up it, leaving the Pennine Way and following it down to Netherly and across the (extremely muddy!) Butterley Reservoir dam, after which we stopped for lunch having given up hoping for a lunch spot with a view. After refreshment, we worked our way up to Binn Edge and the line of the conduit which works its way, almost level, all the way up to Leyzing Clough just below the Wessenden Head Reservoir. There was the occasional spot of sunlight. Despite the breeze picking up a little, the sunny spots appeared to be fairly static.
Sunny spot on Binn Edge

Sun just sifting through
The occasional piece of waterwork ironmongery appeared, along with stone bridges over the conduit in varying states of repair.
On our return over the Isle of Skye road it was still a distinct dividing line between clear skies to the south and cloud/mist to the north- sorry, no photos as we were driving.

A very different, and enjoyable, walk of 10.6 miles with 540m ascent.

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