26th June 2014   A Taste of Le Tour

We were a bit thin on the ground for a pelleton! (  Brenda, Ian, Dave, me and Brenda's dog! That's five!). But it was a lovely day for a moorland walk and that is what we got. Left Littleborough on some obscure field paths that were new to all the party. Up Hoar Edge to contour round Blackstone Edge and join the Old Packhorse Road past the Aiggin Stone and then down to join Le Tour route on Rochdale Road, Ripponden. Up Manshead End for a panoramic birds-eye view of Le Tour route.

Down to cut the cycling route again in Cragg Vale; our walk was just too early to see the 'longest bunting in the world' strung up along the valley, which appeared a few days later. Touched the route of the Hebden in the steep steps down to the river and round Withens Clough Res to Withens Gate. Then the long (old tramway?) route (photo) to the Shepherd's Rest. A bit squelchy, plenty of spaghnum on that stretch, good job there had been a dry spell!

Then we dropped down to Todmorden, took the canal to Gauxholme and then followed the route of the Long Causeway, nice long stretch of through track, till we had sight of Watergrove, then turned towards Shore and back into Littleborough.

A fine day for a moorland walk and a leg stretch. Plenty of larks. And it came out as 22 miles - that's a 10% bonus on the advertised 20, but it was mostly good walking so everybody seemed happy!

Andrew