Day 3 Diggle to Hebden Bridge

 We clocked up almost 18 miles today. Lots of Trig points and reservoirs today.  We started from our accommodation in Diggle where we had a mile and a half uphill to rejoin the Pennine way where we left yesterday.

Love the dog friendly areas and this doggy station was great. 

 once we got high up the mist came down and we could see very little I was told the path today would lose the sense of remoteness  that we’ve had so far with the conurbations of Lancashire and Yorkshire squeezing the Pennine way into a narrow corridor but with the mist we still felt like we were in the wilderness. Millstone edge is the first of the several gritstone edges that we took first and is a long old way, unfortunately, we could see nothing 

 

 Soon we reach  the 640 Road then we have an airy path across the White Hill with a trig point

we spot this

 then across the M62 motorway. The bridge we cross on is perhaps the most impressive motorway crossing for any footpath.

Then we cross Redmires which has been improved by using the slabs and then climb up to the grit down splendour of Blackstone edge another trig point,

Then this modern stone marker

Which is in stark contrast to the ancient aiggin  stone just beyond which has been guiding travellers for 600 years

Eventually we reached the Blackstone edge reservoir

Thiswas the first of many Reservoir and it was a long monotonous track that never seem to end eventually we reach Warland reservoir 

Here we turn left and get our first view of Stoodley Pike. It seemed to take an age to reach it but was well worth a visit.

You go up the inside where 39 pitch black steps lead to a gallery with extensive views

From here we have a couple of miles down hill to the canal where we leave the Pennine way to divert to Hebdon Bridge 

From here we take a lovely stretch of the tow path to the Pub. 

We had originally booked a B&B in Hebdon bridge but unfortunately the owner was taken seriously ill so we had a room booked in the Silent Inn a few miles away. This was difficult to sort due to late notice and dog friendly so we needed a taxi ride. We will return via taxi in the morning to where we left the route. 

This could mean a late start 

Kirsty celebrated todays long day with a pina colada 

As we continue to raise money for the mental health charity mind we thank our latest sponsors. Also a thanks to Richard Findley for his auction that will got to our charity. 

https://www.justgiving.com/page/steve-jane-kirsty-1704720779976?

Day 2 Crowden to Diggle

 Great walk today only a few drops of rain midday and about an hour to finish similar height going into yesterday so was certainly no pushover. We started from Torside reservoir after Lee from Windy Harbour Farm gave us a lift to where we left the Pennine way yesterday.

We started a series of short climbs

before we  had a really tough climb up to the Laddow rocks in a very hot sun,

half todays ascent was in the first 3 miles so this made us quite slow but we picked up time from here, high-level path soon dropped down to boggy moorland

before a long gentle climb up to the Blackhill now easier due to the slabs rather than walking on bog.

Then down from Blackhill we could see Emley Moor mast on the far horizon. Although now not the scenic beauty of kinder and Blakelow we enjoyed the walk with a few up and downs

. We now passed towards Weston head and Weston Reservoir  not too strenuous on an easy path

We passed by a waterfall with what looked a beautiful swimming spot be managed to resist the temptation

and then suddenly we found a ridiculously steep slope that we had to go up. Kirsty said it looked like the route to the church in Mamma Mia.

We had a nice track Swellands and black Moss reservoir and down to Redbrook Reservoir where we had to leave the Pennine  way for a one and a half mile detour to accommodation in Diggle

Day 1 Edale to Crowden

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• What a fabulous day to start a challenge with the sun shining and not too hot. Well the Pennine way throws you straight in at the deep end with a really tough walk and quite a lot of ascent. We now know what we have got ourselves into. 
• Having left Edale we passed through sheep pastures with the hills and crouching closer and closer. 
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• We have the odd cow but nothing to concern us 
  
  
  
• The path soon arrives at the picture bridge at the foot of Jacobs ladder.
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• This is the first stiff climb of the walk up to the towering rocks.
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• It’s not the easiest to terrain to walk on
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• But worth the effort.
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• We reach the kinder scout trig point we can hear curlews whistle away but the claim fame is so-called right to roam 1932. It was a scene of a mass trespass in which thousands of people demonstrated their belief that the wild land should be accessible to all by marching across the plateau, it took a while but the event eventually led to the national parks and access to the countryside act of 1949 
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• Kirsty admires the impressive outcrops of gritstone Kinder Downfall there wasn’t much water cascade down the edge and there was no wind so we didn’t see the upward waterfall
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• From Kinder River, 
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• we wander along the edge then Head with views to kinder reservoir 
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• We head towards Bleaklow via snake pass and Devil’s Dyke we can see our route ahead
  
  
  
•  luckily now there are many slabs over the bog which while it’s a bit of a slog it’s so much better than it would’ve been. 
• Merlin looks back at where the girls are coming from 
  
  
  
  
  The walk is now on tricky terrain
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• The exit from bleaklow isn’t obvious but a stone block guide post pointed away and it’s mostly downhill now to Torside reservoir. It’s still two hours away, but we follow Clough edge a lofty path with great views down to the destination
  
  
  
  
  
  
• From Torside reservoir we  have the 2 mile detour to our accommodation Windy Harbour Farm  
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So day 1 done, tired legs and while tomorrow is slightly less miles the height gain is similar so no pushover. 

Finally a huge thank you as our total raised is now over £8k

Good night for now comments welcome 

In Edale preparing for tomorrow

  WOW! Almost at £8k amazing beyond our wildest expectations Thank you 🙏 

We are in Edale preparing for tomorrows start😁

Once we found the B&B we walked to the aptly named pub ’The Ramblers’ for food 

Only 3 weeks to go £7k wow!

 So we have hit £7,000 for ‘Mind’ just incredible we can only say thank you from the bottom of our heart. 

A special thank you to Lintone Dance studio for making us one of their chosen charities resulting in a £500 donation ❤️

We have been training and only a couple of weekends of walking now before we travel. 

Hopefully you will follow us here. 

Our justgiving page 

https://www.justgiving.com/page/steve-jane-kirsty-1704720779976?

Update on Merlin

 Amazing! We have smashed the £5,000 thank you everyone, many of you may know Merlin had a bad cut on his Carpal Paw recently and is currently with a collar but it’s healing well and he is going to be fine for the walk. Training is still going on but we will be walking without Merlin for a couple of weeks. With just under 2 months to go let’s see how much we can increase the total we have been amazed and inspired at the support so far. Your help is helping others.

Our Total continues to rise❤️

 

The poster in my workshop shows our progress with fundraising and I have to say, we are overwhelmed with the support so far a huge thank you to you all. 

We are at £4600 and getting close to the £5000 which is the target for me to  make an additional wood turned gift to give away. 

With our start date getting closer, we continue to be inspired to get fit enough to achieve this challenge and your support and generosity has been a driving force. 

After the events that made our lives so difficult previously rising money for the mental health charity mind seemed appropriate. We have found since doing our charity walks walking is a huge boost to mental health But, just a reminder Remember it’s good to talk. It’s okay not to be okay. The money we raise will help save lives and improve others So thank you again  We will strive to Increase the total raised and do the best we can.