2015 11 26 Bloody Nora ... We Must be Batty


Windscreen wipers going ten to the dozen,thoughts of an empty car park loomed.Climbing up to Holme Moss mast the rain stopped and my spirits lifted.A beautiful sunrise welcomed 12 hardy souls,plus Johnny,Julie Gardeners dog to Summer Wine country.

Losing height quickly,we soon dropped down into the valley,skirting Yateholme,Riding Wood and Brownhill reservoirs. A short climb took us through the village of Holme on our way past the bottom of Digley reservoir,with Bilberry res to our left. Onto the Kirklees Way for a few miles led us up then onto Magdelen Road....a very old donkey track.Threatening weather chased us down into Meltham. Crossing the golf course,the sun won through just in time for our first stop at Snake Pit Wood.

Netherthong, Wolfstone Heights and Upperthong were soon ticked off.A few ollercoaster miles through fields and woods brought us to the village of Long Walls.Lunch was postponed till we made the climb out of the village. It was worth the wait,we all enjoyed the views towards Dobbs Dike.

The two minute bell soon came round,off we set for the final section.Skirting Cartworth Moor down into Fox Clough then up through Hades Clough.Onto the forest path we quickly joined the tarmac stretch heading for our moorland crossing home. Climbing over Cook's Study Hill brought Snailsden reservoir into sight.....well just about.

Shrouded in mist, Ramsden Clough still managed to deprive us of the magnificent view of the valley,so we soldiered on snaking along the ridge back to our start point.

21 miles....3,8000ft of accent ...6hours 45 mins. Big thanks to everyone for an enjoyable day.

Ron

Pictures by Ken Noble - click here