And the very moving ex Penlee lifeboat station which is always somewhere to pause for thought...
Indeed. Worth reading the information board if heading past there.
And the very moving ex Penlee lifeboat station which is always somewhere to pause for thought...
Head into the hills above Old Kilpatrick to reach tranquil Loch Humphrey. The historic hill tracks that criss-cross the Kilpatrick Hills are ideal for walking or mountain biking. Watch out for waterfalls along the way, spot waterbirds on the loch or simply sit back and soak in the views over Glasgow and the central belt.
There are no formal trails here but the forest road that climbs up to the loch is easy to follow, if steep and - occasionally - quite muddy.
If anything, they're going the other way - on the South Downs a group of Explorer maps have been renumbered as OL series, with the same coverage but less logical numbering. West to east along the coast now goes 118, OL22, OL3, OL8, OL10, OL11, OL25, 124. Previously only OL22 (New Forest) interrupted the numerical sequence from 118 to 124.One snag is that the area sits on the edge of Explorer 277; while Mossley station is in OL1, but if you still have Pathfinder 713 (SD 80/90 Oldham), you can find it all on one map. I often wonder why the OS missed a trick and did not renumber the OL maps into the Explorer series, as they don't differ in any essentials.
On the other side of Hartshead pike is the Medlock Valley which is well worth looking at. There is Park Bridge heritage site and Daisy Nook country Park. A linear walk I did a 2 years ago was an 11mile linear walk along the Medlock Valley. Catch a tram to Shaw and Crompton, climb up to Bishop Park and follow the Medlock Valley to Daisy Nook county park and it a short walk across some field to catch a tram Home from Ashton West.Today I continued my exploration of the green and hilly bits in between the built-up areas of Greater Manchester. I took the Southport to AlderleyEdge 769, my first ride in one, partly for that reason and partly because it gave me a longer connection time at Piccadilly. As it happened, the later train direct to Stalybridge would have made its 6 minute connection there. Connections between the Huddersfield stoppers and the Stalybridge -Southports are surprisingly good in both directions.
West of Mossley is a ridge of high ground, rising to just over 300 metres, called Hartshead, about 4 km from north to south and less than 2 km from west to east.
The stiffest climb is right at the start from Mossley station up to St George's church through the back streets; cross the road after the church and take the path left of the Billy Goat pub, which rises up the side of a steep area of access land, reaching 308 m at a trig point with fine views of the valley in which Mossley lies. I then walked north and west to Top of Lane and Kiln Farm, then back along Back Lane, a bridleway, to the superb viewpoint of Hartshead Pike. Unfortunately it was too hazy to see Jodrell Bank , let alone the Welsh Hills 78 miles away, according to the toposcope. But still worth going up. From the Pike I headed south to Hartshead Green and at Lily Lanes took a footpath south to a very pleasant wooded area around the old Knott Hill reservoir. From there across a golf course to Mossley Road, Luzley Brows and down a steep hillside back to Mossley station. I changed at Stalybridge for a direct train back to Southport. Good weather all day, and the whole walk is highly recommended.
One snag is that the area sits on the edge of Explorer 277; while Mossley station is in OL1, but if you still have Pathfinder 713 (SD 80/90 Oldham), you can find it all on one map. I often wonder why the OS missed a trick and did not renumber the OL maps into the Explorer series, as they don't differ in any essentials.
It's around 4 decades since we were in the area of the 3 peaks, and our memories are of work being done on the high paths making them more suitable for the "high street" than somewhere "in the fells"... Your photos suggest that either the work wasn't done well, or it was in a different area.I had a very nice 14 mile hike today on the two highest of the three Yorkshire Peaks - Whernside and Ingleborough:
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It's around 4 decades since we were in the area of the 3 peaks, and our memories are of work being done on the high paths making them more suitable for the "high street" than somewhere "in the fells"... Your photos suggest that either the work wasn't done well, or it was in a different area.
Did you use designated footpaths? And were they reasonably accessible? I don't do much country walking now, but when I did, I remember some footpaths being rather hostile! (And away from here in central Wales, I found public footpaths quite rare.)Made a start on the Stort Valley yesterday; in fact we did a bit more than we planned - having originally aimed for Sawbridgeworth, we got there much sooner than expected so we carried on a bit further to Harlow Mill. The next stage will therefore start from there - it won't necessarily be next week; we will see how things go. We do intend, however, to do the whole distance to Victoria Park in London in stages over the next few weeks.
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Yes, the towpath is fully open and signposted for the whole distance - it's even advertised as a "station to station" type walk that can be done in as many or as few sections as you wish.Did you use designated footpaths? And were they reasonably accessible? I don't do much country walking now, but when I did, I remember some footpaths being rather hostile! (And away from here in central Wales, I found public footpaths quite rare.)
Many thanks - when I'm fit, I must give it a go.Yes, the towpath is fully open and signposted for the whole distance - it's even advertised as a "station to station" type walk that can be done in as many or as few sections as you wish.
Everything in the earlier walks I have posted maps for in this thread has also been 100% on public footpaths.
How many miles was that? Looks like something you'd want good weather for!Lovely walk from Snake Summit over Bleaklow to Penistone today...
At least 12 miles as the crow flies, so somewhat longer on the ground. Presumably the latter half of the walk would have taken in a section of the Trans Pennine Trail.How many miles was that?
It was about 18 miles. For the last bit I walked down to Langsett and over the hill to Penistone.At least 12 miles as the crow flies, so somewhat longer on the ground. Presumably the latter half of the walk would have taken in a section of the Trans Pennine Trail.
Not bad on a warm day! So maybe along the "Barnsley Snow Road" rather than the TPT? (Daresay not much snow yesterday!)It was about 18 miles. For the last bit I walked down to Langsett and over the hill to Penistone.
Very well done, did it myself a few weeks ago (although it was over two days because of public transport).Completed the Yorkshire 3 peaks today. My feet hurt like hell right now, but absolutely worth it to tick it off the bucket list. Got up at 1am to do it, but the upside was we caught the sunrise.
We did it backwards from Horton in Ribblesdale which is apparently easier and conferred the advantage of us being able to drop our packs back at the car before doing Penyghent with just a bottle of water, which was nice.
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Managed to catch the LSL charter too
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Congrats. I've only done the three peaks at one peak per day, and they weren't even consecutive days!Completed the Yorkshire 3 peaks today