Check website 2 days before walk. Oh dear, no competition within 50 miles this weekend, except Norovirus of course. And I haven't done a recce! Gulp! Never mind, they won't find the car park, will they?

 

Get there early. Car park already half full. Still over half an hour before start. Second car park and on street parking brought into play. Local residents haven't seen this much action since VE day.

 

Instead of our usual eight or ten hardcore supporters we have suddenly acquired twenty three. Plenty from across the border (Yorkshire) and one from as far away as Stoke. Anyone willing to backmark? What do backmarkers do? Glenn, who claims to be feeling a bit worse for wear, offers, and I hasten to add, does a first rate job all day. 

 

Pingot Quarry with its waterfall gets the day off to a good start. Over Crompton Moor to Old Tame and a valley walk to Denshaw. Several reservoirs follow before reaching Pennine Way and trig points on White Hill and Blackstone Edge. Packhorse (or Roman?) Road down to Whittaker and on to Hollingworth Lake.Cafe stop - who says I am inconsiderate? Cross M62 at Tunshill Farm and back via Moy Hill and Newhey. Some off piste  but a little bit of rough never did anyone any harm.

 

At Windy Hill (county boundary) photos taken showing where loyalties lay.

 

Weather superb all day and light just starting to fail as we reached cars. 19 miles in 7.5 hours and 3000' ascent. Loads of laughs and no hurt feelings. Where were all the slower walkers the walk was devised for? None on this walk.

 

John

 

Photos (thanks to Andy):