Standedge RFM Blue Line Walking with Peter

 

Standedge

RFM Blue Line 

Walking with Peter

24/04/26

It has been a warm couple of days in the latter part of April and today promised to be even better. I was in shorts, with sun tan cream already applied and insect repellent sprayed on my legs. I had an extra emergency bottle of water in my rucksack. I was looking forward to the day heating up nicely and pleased we had an early start. Setting off from home it was dense fog and the temperature was only just above freezing. Second doubts were screaming in my brain but I was only equipped for a warm to hot day not cold. On arriving at Marsden I had to search for the rendezvous layby but eventually found it. Peter had similar issues but again he found it.  

It was bright sunshine but a bank of fog hovered close by. This is another long tough walk getting us ready for the CtC stages to come.

This dilapidated building, we walked past, had a dilapidated blue plaque commemerating the fact it was the first house in the Colne Valley to have electricity generated by water power. Time has treated this building badly.

The bridge with the vine hanging over the river Colne was very pretty.

We left the road and followed the path through the wood next to the river until we came to this fantastic pack horse bridge at Easter Gate. 

The view from the bridge, looking up to the moor and capturing our shadows. Its very hard to explain the happiness we share at the start of these epic adventures but this weather definitely magnifies it. My stock phrase is how lucky am I and on this day I feel it intensely. 

We head up the side of Close Gate towards Stack End on a flagged path reminiscent of the Pennine Way. The ethereal fog filled valley behind us is magical. 

It is a short sharp ascent but pretty soon we are on the higher moor stretching to the horizon. 

The view of clouds in the valley bottom behind us is something we come across now and again and it is always a wonderful sight.

This is a steady climb up the moor and we know that pretty soon the view of the fog enrobed Colne Valley will be lost as we head into the Lancashire side of the Pennines. By the time we return to the valley the sun will have burned off the fog.

We meet a guy with a dog that scared up a deer. The deer wasn't too scared and calmly made his way south into the wilderness.

Just look at this high moor, its just so beautiful.

A last look at the sea of fog before we cross the watershed and start to descend on the other side of the Pennines.

Looking towards Manchester and the west there was a low level kind of gloom that looked a bit like the sea. We speculated as to this being a presage of the view in the all too near future when the sea takes over much of low level England. A gloomy if inevitable ponder. Peter insisted it couldn't be the sea as he could see details in the gloom. He was right of course but in my head it looked like the sea. 

We followed the Pennine Way for a while until we found a nice banking to sit on for a breakfast sandwich and coffee as this was the first hill top on this walk. Whilst we sat a chap with a dutch accent paused his walk for a brief chat. He was heading for Kirk Yetholm so obviously we had tales to exchange. 

Leaving the Pennine Way we headed down over Castleshaw Moor passing several reservoirs.

It was relatively easy going but in places muddy.

We picked up Moor Lane which was a nice track to follow. There were no other walkers up here so we had the area to ourselves.

I would be happy sharing these views but I am also happy just to experience them with my brother.

A slow wonderful descent.

The plane over the hill was close but didn't detract from the view. Low Gate Lane was heavily rutted but we soon got to the road at Castleshaw. 

There were plenty of new lambs.

We headed down to the Castleshaw Lower Reservoir. There was a well sign posted sensible detour which we followed happily.

As we approached the farm next to the res a very young lamb looked in distress on the lane as it was not moving just lying down. We encouraged it to move and it followed Peter towards its mum. A heart warming little event.

From the dam wall we could see the whole of the hillside we had just traversed and descended from in all its glory. On the other side of the dam we could see Delph in the distance and a couple of walkers in the valley below.

The short sharp hill to the top of Hunters Hill started extremely steep and grassy.

The stile was tall and a bit wonky but solid. This was the second hill on our 3 hill walk and we knew from the map it would be steep and we were not dissappointed.

We paused at the top for a coffee and were passed by a few walkers and runners. We had obviously come into a more popular area. Probably just easier to get to,

At last, from this position we could see the hillside from last weeks walk and the monument at Pots and Pans. 

Then it was up and down a couple of little hills and onto the railway bridge at Diggle one of the meeting points for last weeks blue line.

The route quickly started climbing back up the Pennines. We had an unexpected detour at the top of the lane where a householder redirected us away from his garden and to a path which actually seemd to go in the wrong direction. This felt like an unofficial closing of the paths marked on the OS and we were digruntled but took it on the chin and headed up to another lane. 

The view back down to the offending cottages was very pleasant.

From the lane we had the opportunity to regain our route by heading up this rock strewn path. It looked like an ankle breaker so we took our time. About half way up I touched the wall on our left and it nearly collapsed. I passed it and then let go allowing it to collapse so it would not collapse on Peter. A very close shave as being hit by those stones would have been disasterous. The lane was fenced off at the top with barbed wire but we pushed through with disregard to the fence ensuring our safety over the fences condition. In some areas farmers and residents are walker unfriendly and this is one of them.

Last week we had descended this section of the Oldham Way today we were ascending it.

Passing the house at the bottom of the quarry we forged on up the hard core road to the A62 close to the top of our third hill of the day.

We paused at Brun Clough Reservoir for our lunch. This is the view from our lunch spot. Wonderfully green and blue with Swallows drinking on the wing from the water. 

For a short distance we followed the Pennine Way again passed a blackened moor destroyed by the discarding of a instant barbeque. When will people learn not to be so stupid. On the descent we had a few more dog walkers and ramblers passing us and it was good to see a variety people enjoying the warm, now hot, day in the countryside.

We considered diverting to climb Pule Hill but we just did not have the time and anyway this walk is long enough.

I could see the sea again in the distance although it was only gloom.

It is never a straight descent there are always little ups and downs.

The Standedge Trail had a lovely walking surface and more friendly walkers passed us.

Looking down onto the mills at Marsden was so emblematic of the Heavy Woolen West Riding. It was in its own way quite beautiful.

The lambs were crowded round the heritage trail sign until we approached then they ran to mamma.

We left the trail and headed round the hill. It would have been easier to head down to the road and back to the car but my blue line heads round the hill so that is where we go. We were unhappy with the horses in this field being left in thick coats and even more unhappy when we saw the unfenced huge drops edging the field. You just hope they stay safe. 

Marsden was now on our right as we edged around the hill. 

It was a tough little section at the end of a long walk with more uphill than we needed.

Finally after passing throug a deserted farm and buildings we crossed an area of demolition waste and descended to the main road.

We were crossing the other end of the Standedge Canal and Railway tunnels and then a short walk along Waters Road and back to the car.

Over 12 and a half miles long with 3 hills totalling over 2100 feet is a challenge but actually went very well. It took 6 hours but we did have a few breaks. It was a hot and happy walk. Looking forward  to next weeks section of the CtC over Borrowdale. We are ready now.

os map

https://explore.osmaps.com/route/31655131/standedge-rfm-blue-line?lat=53.60469&lon=-1.95534&zoom=14.9088&overlays=os-obstacles-layer&style=TopoAuto&type=2d