Complete the Pennine Way Part 2


Extend the Pennine Way?

David A and Peter S flew the flag for South Manchester group on a wet and breezy day on Sunday 26th August. The idea was to complete the walk from the Roaches, being the true geographic end of the Pennines, to Edale (details on LDP section of website). The first stage in June was via Ramshaw Rocks, Flash, Wolf Edge, Drystone Edge, Axe Edge, Burbage Edge and Coombs Edge to Doveholes. This second stage was in the form of a circular walk and started at the A6/A 623 junction and headed North via Bagshaw and Stonyford to Rushup Edge. On this stretch the wind and rain were thankfully behind, however the wind and rain strengthened over Lords Seat and Mam Tor to Hollins Cross. The descent past Backtor Farm was very “streamy” and it was almost a relief to have asphalt for a couple of kilometres before crossing under the railway and through Ollerbeck to Edale. A welcome respite in Croppers Café with hot soup prepared well for the return along the Pennine Way, Jacobs Ladder, skirting Brown Knoll, and descending above the Roych to Shireoaks. Trains passed through the Cowburn Tunnel as we passed the entrance before passing Malcoff, Ford Hall, Slackhall, Maglow Farm and over the newly installed footbridge to Bagshaw (still pretty boggy with a fallen tree nearby). The rain finally eased as the pair passed Bagshaw Hall and Blackbrook then alongside the A6 to the start. Two septuagenarians completed 16.85 miles and 3250 feet of ascent in about 10mm of rain in just over six hours!

David Allen