Twizle Head Moss Walking with Lacey
Twizle Head Moss
Walking with Lacey
07/08/24
This promised to be a tough walk and the weather forecast was not great, rain showers.
In the car park another car pulled up whilst we were getting ready and a big brown short haired dog jumped out and came at me barking. The owner a surly elderly man called him off without comment. I think the dog reacted to my 'good morning', interesting start to the day. It did return to us and wanted Lacey to stroke him. What's going on? Straight out of the car park at Ramsden Reservoir and up a steep slope through Tinkerwell onto the massively eroded waterboard lane.
At this point the weather was very cloudy but warm. The path ascending quickly was equally as fast in giving rewarding views.
After another steep section we reached Crow Hill and could see Castle Hill and Huddersfield in the distance with Holmfirth below us. The lanscape nearby was dotted with reservoirs. So far we had just passed one runner who exchanged greetings.
Onto Ramsden Road where we passed a couple and their teenage son who exchanged pleasantries. Take note we were to see the trio again later.
The first field had a couple of horses who were happy to see us. We went to the wall and one of the horses came over briefly allowing me to rub his nose but pretty quickly moving over to Lacey for his picture taking (you can see the lens in the photo) and more nose rubbing. It seems to me that animals prefer Lacey, what have I done wrong?
Another field another curious horse. If ramblers do nothing else we give the farm animals something to look at and sometimes interact with. Win win.
We started to get views of the hill tops we were going to go around and the weather was deteriorating.
Around Ramsden Clough we scared up a grouse and the views down to Yateholme Reservoir were spectacular if a little weather worn.
The Cairn at Ramsden Clough is substantial and well built. It must have had a function maybe connected with the vanished house?
We were happily windswept but the weather was still good for walking.
Around Ramsden Clough we scared up a grouse and the views down to Yateholme Reservoir were spectacular if a little weather worn.
The views from Ramsden Clough were beautiful though the drop on the right side of the path was precipitous. Definitely a path to keep the eyes on and stop for the views.
The valley was rushing up to meet us as we continued around the edge.
The valley eventually reached our contour and staying to the left of the stream we followed the grouse butts onto Bleakmires Moss. We followed the fence line across this bleak moor to Britland Edge Hill. At this point flurries of cool showers were many. Looking west we could see the hills where the Pennine Way ran from Crowden to Black Hill.
We battled the deteriorating weather towards what was to be our lunch stop at the viewing areas of Holme Moss TV aerial. This walk around Twizle Head Moss was hard work, the underfoot being wet and very wet, the wind being strong and cold and the distance being long. It was a real challenge and I am glad to say Lacey endured it without complaint.
The weather at the viewing point was dreadful, wet, cold and extremely windy. We were the only people there. We decided to delay our sandwiches until we could find a more sheltered place. We set off along Great Dike Edge and saw all the sheep were taking whatever cover they could behind walls, in hollows or behind clumps of vegetation. They were enduring the weather and unlike ourseleves could not leave the hill. Pity the hill sheep.
Moving along Great Dike Edge, Kaye Edge and Cliff Edge to the end of the spur we battled to keep our hoods in place and had our heads down most of the time against the weather though we did stop occasionally for views. We descended down to the top of Cliff Road, which was a green track, we found a corner wall for shelter and sat on a broken wall for lunch. The weather had improved markedly as we dropped off the hill.
Whilst eating we discussed the fact that we had not passed anyone since Ramsden Road though we had seen a runner who was on our path but turned back on a different path before he caught us up.
The pattern of walls in front of us was confusing but it became clearer later when we realised that there was meant to be a road up to here.
We followed Cliff Road down the hill until it met Issues Road which was still just a track.
Walking on the main road A6024 for a few hundred yards we could see Holmfirth with Emley Moor TV mast in the distance.
We dropped through a lane and fields into the woods next to Netherley. A welcome change of scene after the long moorland adventure.
The road became tarmac topped just before we passed the school.
We dropped through a lane and fields into the woods next to Netherley. A welcome change of scene after the long moorland adventure.
Its always nice to see a waterfall. This one is marked on the map. It had a large plunge pool so I suspect in the winter it has a lot more flow.
After the dam we met a couple with their son who turned out to be the people on Ramsden Road. We had a longish chat. They were from the North East and had found the area by accident whilst travelling on a detour. They had returned and were following a geo-caching app that had actually taken them on an iteresting walk into the hills. Not as far as us but still a good distance. As to geo-caching my view is whatever gets you out into the country walking can only be good for body and soul.
Typically just before the car we came across a group of about 20 older ramblers. We saw hardly anyone on the walk until we got back to the start when we saw plenty.
This was a really tough walk mainly due to the weather and rough long crossing of the high moorland. We both agreed though that it was fun and there was a real sense of achievement.
Lacey's photos follow
Comments