Day 4 - Grandpa's Blog

Despite the heat it was a truly memorable day. Hebden Bridge basked in sunshine and flowers.

As it was so hot we chose a route up through Hardcastle Crags, which was shady and very beautiful.

After the hot tramp over the moors, Tom needed a spot of rest under the only tree, it seemed, for miles around.

As it happened, this was in the croft of Top Withens, reputed to have been the inspiration for Emily Bronte's "Wuthering Heights".

The biggest surprise of all occurred when Tom and I went down to eat in The Old Silent Inn. The proprietor put his arms round both of us and said, "Which one of you has a Birthday?" With that, Meg, Adam, Finn, Hugh, Jean, Maire appeared, closely followed by Iain and Sue. We had a specially-decorated table and I even got a birthday cup-cake with a sparkler!

A birthday to remember!

Day 4 (Hebden Bridge - Ponden)

Distance: 12 miles
Cumulative: 55.5
Gates: 12
Stiles: 11

Today was even hotter than yesterday, reaching at least 25 degrees (according to John).

We set off at 9:00 from the B&B, and wandered via the canal into Hebden Bridge to stock up on various things from the pharmacy, and soming for lunch.

As it was John's Birthday, we had a drink at Sauce Coffee in the town, before taking a round about route through some woods to rejoin the Pennine Way on a moor, shortly after lunch in the lee of a barn.

We met an american airline pilot who worked for United Airlines, who had decided to come up by train and bus to Howorth, and walk back via the Pennine Way to Hebden Bridge in time for a train back Manchester, some sleep, and his next flight, 24 hours

The rest of the day passed uneventful in the swealtering heat, and we arrived at the Old Silent Inn at 4:45, just in time for a drink; John recommended the Silent Ale, a beer brewed on site.

I have still got mild sunburn on both arms and the back of my neck, only it's a little less mild, and a little more burning now than it was before. However, all is well as we bought some after-sun in the phamacy in Hebden Bridge, and I am working on applying that regularly.

Day 3 (Standedge - Hebden Bridge)

Distance: 17 miles
Cumulative: 43.5 miles
Gates: 17
Stiles: 7

The sun beat down on us all day today, and left Tom with mild sunburn on each arm, despite his best efforts to keep it off via suncream.

The first 7 miles to Blackstone Edge wen by quickly in 3 hours, having had a snack on top of Robin Hood's Bed.

We made quick time on the second leg, having not accounted for quite how flat the tracks alongside the reservoirs were, and arrived in Hebden Bridge almost before we knew it.

We had lunch at the end of the second reservoir we passed after Blackstone Edge.

Day 2 (Torside - Standedge)

Distance: 11 miles
Cumulative: 26.5 miles
Gates: 12
Stiles: 7

We set off in overcast weather, making a fast accent up to Ladow Rocks, before which we stopped for a light snack.

Most of the way up to Black Hill was paved, and made for easy going. we stopped for lunch at a cairn just before the top.

The path down was half paved, and half grassy, but we still made fairly good time and were over and well past the road before long.

Taking a shortcut recommended by our host, we followed the old route of the Pennine Way over a damn, saving ourselves a vicious decent followed my a steep climb.

The sun had come out while we were on Black Hill, and shone brightly all day.

We arrived at the  Carriage House, a very nice inn, and Tom enjoyed a relaxing bath before tea. The food was very good, and we slept very well in comfortable beds.

Day 1 (Edale - Torside)

Distance: 15.5 miles
Stiles: 5
Gates: 19

We set off today at 10:00 ish, with Tom, Meg, Finlay (the dog), and I. The weather was cloudy, with light drizzle.

As we climbed Jacob's Ladder onto Kinder, the weather deteriorated into rain. At Edale Rocks, Meg and Finlay left us to return to the car and North Yorkshire.

Tom and I continued on the path, stopping for lunch in the rain just before Mill Hill at about 1:00 pm.

The weather cleared as we went over Bleaklow, and we made good time to Torside, where we received a warm welcome at The Old House.

We enjoyed a great meal at the Peel's Arms, a delightful family owned local pub.

At Edale

Arrived at the start of the Pennine Way, The Old Nag's Head

The Narrow Road to the Deep North

I've come across a reference to a Japanese poem 'Oku no Hosomichi' which translates into English as 'The Narrow Road to the Deep North'. The line best-known to most Japanese is 'Every day is a journey, and the journey itself is home'. This seems a perfect description of a walk along a long-distance footpath, day after day. I can't wait to get to Edale to start 'The Narrow Road to the Deep North'