West Pennine Moors (Day 1)

West Pennine Moors

Despite an early start, by the time John Lenehan & I had collected more framed photographs for his latest exhibition at 'Botany Bay', plus the time taken to hang them and eat a Full English Breakfast, it was too late to hit the motorway and head north for one of our adventures in the Lake District. So while washing down Egg, Bacon, Sausage, Hash Browns, Black Pudding, etc. with copious amounts of coffee we sensibly decided on a much more sedate local walk. 

Through years of fell running John & I both know the West Pennine Moors well , so it didn't take us long to decide on a location and a route, sort of! Even when we go to 'The Lakes' nothing is set in stone and we never decide where we are going until we have eaten 'bacon butties' at one of the roadside caravans, which we also know very well. It has been said 'that man doesn't think or march on an empty stomach' and it is important to have the right amount of carbs & protein on-board or is it simply an excuse to over indulge? 

So we parked up at Yarrow Reservoir and started to walk up through Lead Mines Clough towards Spitlers Edge. Lead was discovered here in the 1600's and the definition of the word 'clough' can mean 'a sluice used for draining water after it has deposited its sediment' a method often used to extract lead, or it also means 'a ravine or a narrow valley', either of these definitions seem to fit here. 

Before the final ascent to Spitlers Edge we noticed a guy assembling what looked like a hanglider or paraglider just off Rivington Road so we diverted in order to take a look but before we arrived he had taken off. 

John photographing the Paramotor...                                                         and my image of the Paramotor in flight.

It turned out to be a para-motor this is were the pilot suspended from
the para-wing, sits in a harness that includes an engine and a propeller. 

You can only imagine what it must feel like

This diversion meant we missed Spitlers Edge so we crossed over the moor towards the old track known as Belmont Road giving us one last opportunity to photograph the paramotor heading towards Winter Hill TV mast, he was obviously searching for thermals to gain height.  

Please mind the mast

One of the things I enjoy about the West Pennine Moors is that it is a great outdoor recreational area and on any day you will see mountain bikers, cyclists, runners, walkers, horse riders, rock climbers, yachtsmen as well as hangliders, but at the same time solitude can also easily be found. 

The West Pennine Moors covering 90 sq. miles and surrounded by towns from 'the old industrial north' provides a 'wild space' and an adventure playground for many. However it must always be treated with respect, in winter and sometimes in summer it can be bleak, inhospitable and a lonely place that can feel far from any form of civilisation. Conditions in winter can be similar to the Cairngorms with sub-zero temperatures, snow, wind, and poor visibility. 

Back to the walk, at this time of year the sun never seems to shine on the Belmont Road track and following this years near constant rain and recent freezing temperatures, on this day it was covered in sheet ice.  We made our way precariously toward Rivington and one of Lord Leverhulme's follies 'Dovecote Tower' or 'Pigeon Tower' as it is more commonly known . Apparently the first two floors were home to ornamental doves and pigeons and at the top there was a small sitting room that was used by Lady Lever as a sewing and music room that overlooked the boating lake.

Pigeon Tower - high on the moor and silhouetted in the afternoon sunshine.

Lord Leverhulme was the founder of the soap empire Unilever, and his estate at Rivington included terraced Italian and Japanese gardens, waterfalls, bridges, towers and even a castle. 

We dropped straight down from Pigeon Tower to Rivington Hall Barn and across Rivington's Village Green cutting through to follow up the west side of Yarrow Reservoir where we were treated to some beautiful reflections in the water.

Across Yarrow Reservoir to Winter Hill TV Mast

But where ever you go there is always another photographer trying to muscle in on the action....

John Lenehan - Enjoying his photography and the great outdoors.

Unfortunately at this time of year the days are short and by
mid-afternoon the sun was low and it was time to head out of the
hills and into the direction of home. We had a grand day, a full
English Breakfast, rare winter sunshine, that actually gave us both
a tan and the expectation of some great photographs to look at later.