Cowling to Gargrave

Weather today: Cold and cloudy

Daily Miles Covered: 12.00

Total Miles Covered: 514.90

Things of Interest: Fox and Deer (No, not a pub!), Panoramic Pennine Views

Personal Comments: Picked up the Pennine Way from Cowling and quickly gained hight heading for Cowling Hill. Stayed high until dropping down into the extremely attractive hamlet of Lothersdale - described by Alfred Wainwright as "one of the jewels of the northern England".
We climbed from here on to moorland heading for Pinhaw, a well known popular trig point summit.
We descended from here heading for Thornton in Craven where we were met by my two friends Michael Frost and Keith Prosser (fell running friends from Clayton-le-Moors Harriers).
They joined us for our walk as we continued on the Pennine Way finally arriving at East Marton on the Leeds and Liverpool Canal. Here we crossed paths with two guys both called John (one a vicar), who were travelling from John O'Groats to Land's End and has reached this point after only 43 days - inspirational!
From East Marton, we marched on to Gargrave - our overnight stopping point.
My lower shin problem had improved slightly, thank goodness making the walking easier!
We met our walking mates Frank Mitchell and Mick Wolstenholme in Gargrave for a drink or two! - They are spending the next few days with us on some of our walks and social activities!!
On route today we saw a fox, some deer and splendid views of Pendle and in the distance could pick out Peny-Ghent and Ingleborough.

Todmorden to Cowling

Weather today: Overcast cool

Daily Miles Covered: 18.4

Total Miles Covered: 502.9

Things of Interest: Top Withens

Personal Comments: The van is now sounding like a van again, not like a traction engine, well done Peter Lynch (Broadfield Garage, Oswaldtwistle). Back at Todmorden, a little later than normal, we set off down The Rochdale Canal at 9.40 am. Today we pick up on the famous Pennine Way, some say infamous PW. The path down the canal is easy walking, so for 3 miles we made good progress. Once on the PW. the path became really steep, passing little hamlets of all shapes and sizes, where people exist on the hillside overlooking The Calder Valley. There are fantastic views over the valley, for little effort when climbing.
Once on the top where it levelled off, the views over to Hebden Bridge and Heptonstall were unsurpassed. We don't have time to dally as the wind from the north east is quite cool. By lunchtime we make Gorple reservoir, so we take 30 minutes for sandwiches, and time to reflect on what was ahead.
4 miles further on we arrive at Top Withens where Emily Bronte conceived the idea for the novel Wuthering Heights. I haven't read it myself, but I know the tale. The area is perfect for a story like this, bleak moorland, millstone grit, and streams pouring down every gulley. I'm sure all the sisters loved it around here.
Down past Ponden reservoir, and on over Ickornshaw moor, to Cowling, where Ross had the kettle on, a good brew after 18 or so, went down well

Delph to Todmorden

Weather today: Bright, cooler with strong cold wind on the hills

Daily Miles Covered: 13.70

Total Miles Covered: 484.50

Things of Interest: Hollingworth Lake, Rochdale Canal, Canadian Geese Goslings

Personal Comments: Walked today with painful lower shins plus a strained left groin sustained at the end of the walk in Todmorden. Climbed high out of Delph and crossed large areas of moorland and reservoirs before descending under the M62 and into Hollingworth Lake near Littleborough.
Picked up the Rochdale Canal on north side of Littleborough and walked (or in my case 'hobbled') along this very attractive canal path for approx. 6 miles before arriving in Todmorden. I made a quick dash to the chemist to buy some full strength 'Ibuleve' to hopefully ease my painful lower shins (by now hot and swollen).
The campervan has recently developed an engine problem! and because of our close proximity to home, is going into Broadfield Garage, Ossy for a couple of days for repair so 2 days off walking. This will hopefully give my body chance to recover sufficiently enough to continue our journey from Todmorden on Friday.

Charlesworth to Delph

Weather today: Warm Sunny

Daily Miles Covered: 12.00

Total Miles Covered: 470.80

Things of Interest: Falcon tunnel

Personal Comments: Another warm start to the day. It was a day for map reading all day, we had to head to through Greater Manchester area, via paths, bridleways, and canals. It's an area full of heritage from an industrial age when coal was king. Railways were built to tranport coal to woolen mills, the canals were also built to transport everything including coal over the Pennines. We left Charlesworth to find The Hudderfields Canal 5 miles away which would eventually take us to Uppermill. Gradually by way of paths and minor roads, we found ourselves in Mottram in Longendale, trying to cross the busy A57, it makes you glad that you're not working anymore when you see all the traffic that is around.
Over the road, sanity returned as we climbed towards Matley and on to Millbrook. A young man pointed us in the right direction to the canal, and from there on it was plain sailing!. Towards Mossley we suddenly came across the Falcon Tunnel it followed the canal for 2oomts. or so it was relic of a time gone by, pitch black, if you have fear of damp dark places, don't go there. Back in sunshine we continued on the towpath to Greenfield and then to Uppermill for lunch. Afterwards we found something called the Delph Donkey, a disused railway to take us all the way to Delph. It was a victim of the times when Dr Beeching swung his axe sometime in the early '60s. The late Queen Mother apparently rode on it once, and slept on it in a quiet siding. Once in Delph, a quiet village, we phoned Ross, and he was there in no time. Phil had arranged for us to stay the night in Shaw, at Rob and Ruths place, longstanding friends of his. Ruth welcomed us with a beer how nice is that.

Miller's Dale to Charlesworth (Nr. Glossop)

Weather today: Very warm and sultry

Daily Miles Covered: 18.20

Total Miles Covered: 458.80

Things of Interest: Views of the long Pennine Range ( 270 miles long! )

Personal Comments: We left Miller's Dale in the Peak District and quickly found ourselves in a real jungle called 'Monk's Way'. We battled through this tough,rocky terrain(we ended up climbing up a dried up river bed full of great bolders) to pick up the Limestone Way.
Following this, we arrived at Peak Forrest in the high Peak District, well aware of sweating bodies and sunburnt legs and arms. Frank is getting brown legs for the first time in living memory!
We picked up the Pennine Bridle Way and soon faced a "severe" climb up onto the high Pennines to arrive at 'South Head', well into the high peak district.
This area was being roasted in strong sunshine as were we. We finally started a descent into the very picturesque village of Hayfield. Loads of folks were supping lager, but we resisted (having such strong willpower!) and marched on. Through Little Hayfield, we started a serious climb once again and ended high up ducking to avoid incoming planes making their approach into Manchester airport.
Following the Pennines, we finally walked into Charleswoth (Near Glossop), where I was able to wash my feet and legs under a pub hosepipe before applying loads of Ibufen Gel to sooth and relieve my suffering leg/ankle tendons which had been "complaining" to me for most of the day.
My internal medication for very sore tendons was 3 pints of Robinson's bitter in the hostelry where we are staying over night!