Training Weekender Day 3 - Todmorden to Oldham

Distance: 19 miles
Ascent: 950m ish
Weather: clag
Bunnies, lapwing, curlew, crows, jackdaws, flocks of others possibly starlings, mallards, goldfinch

We were well looked after at the Staff of Life Inn, as usual ate too much.

We left just before 10am out into the light drizzle, which became claggier as we climbed up the hillside up Robinwood Hill and around Todmorden Edge. Up by the wind turbines we could hear the blades rotating but barely see even the bases of the turbines, only brief glimpses when the clouds thinned momentarily.

It remained mostly dry all day, the dampness of being in clouds rather than rain but the grass was very wet, therefore shoes, socks and trouser legs were wet through. We even managed to find some proper bog up on Dobbin Hill.

Dry socks were put on when we stopped for lunch at the rat bench* at Hollingworth Lake, feet staying reasonably dry along the track under the motorway and over to Ogden Reservoir. We met a friendly horse and some cows up near the cattery, and then came home via the track complete with more friendly horses and up to the co-op.

*bench with a big carved rat-badger-mammal-type-thing  on it, not an actual live rat.

Training Weekender Day 2 - to Todmorden

Distance: 19 miles
Ascent: 900m
Weather: cloudy start, warm and sunny later

After yesterday's walk there was much excitement listening to England beat South Africa in the cricket and then with the unexpected appearance of a beetle.

After breakfast we set off just before 10am,   down the road to the bridge over the motorway, before crossing some fields of very long wet grass. Shoes, socks and trouser legs quickly became pwt. Thankfully we were soon into sheep fields with short grass and on to a track.

The first five miles today were through fields of confusion,  with fences and locked gates and paths not being where they were shown on the map. A chap mowing his lawn came over to assure us that the path was open,  after we'd aborted with the fear that the footpath would be impassable.

A potentially boggy stream crossed, after being barked at for a long time, in a little meadow next to a small waterfall which seems to be being incorporated into gardens, when a female pheasant jumped out at me and ran around while her baby hid in the bushes.

The field confusion ended with us emerging from an overgrown, nettley footpath in front of a cottage with a blue plaque to John Stancliffe, Horologist.

A track led downhill alongside woods, where we heard a green woodpecker, then took a lane which led to Fiddle Lane (no fiddling experienced)  and on to the Calderdale Way. We had to do a bit of extra up here, but were rewarded by seeing a donkey, goats and chickens.

We bought provisions at the  Co op in Ripponden,  stopping for first lunch at the memorial gardens opposite. Heading up from town we saw a bunny and a squirrel, and as we got up onto moorland there were swallows, curlew, lapwing, raven, jackdaw and housemarten.

Second lunch was had by Round Hill, on a wall by a sheep field, where it was quite breezy, but there were fine views over buttercup fields to Studley Pike. We crossed the hills to Todmorden along the Calderdale Way and Centenary Way passing Catherine House, which has an impressive chimney, along Coppy Nook Lane and passing by Withins Clough reservoir.

The route took us around Todmorden, through woods on a cycle track above the town. before dropping down near the sports centre to head under the tall arches of the railway bridge and up to the Staff of Life Inn.

Training Weekender Day One - to Outlane

Distance: 16.5 miles
Ascent: 800m
Weather: sunshine and showers
Peering at the sky: lots
Thunder: rumbly
Pipets, golden plover, buzzards, mallards

We were eager to to get off early due to the bad weather forecast for today, after a week of hot dry there were yellow weather warnings for rain, hail and thunder and lightning. Rob forgot his watch, so we went back, and then I realised I'd forgotten my Fitbit but didn't bother going back to get it.

We headed over Strinesdale and passed the Roebuck to go over Badger Lane to Ship Lane and down into Delph. Provisions were got at the Co Op, then we took a footpath over the fields passing Jacobs sheep up to Heights where we joined the Oldham Way. There was a brief shower but the sun was still shining. Along the path to the moors, the clouds began to look threatening and the wind got up. We saw meadow pipets and a golden plover flapping in a plovery way.

From the Pennine Way we took the pack horse track down into Marsden, stopping to add a hydration tablet to some water in an experimental effort to drink more water. The day was hot and humid, getting hotter and more humid after lunch when the thunder and lightning rumbled around us for a long while. We were walking along the canal, having decided to stay low for this very reason. It was very atmospheric. Quite literally.

The sun had come out again as we made our warm way through Slaithwaite and up Scapegoat Hill to the hotel. There was a pretty little footbridge that we had to cross to get over the canal, but I didn't get a picture of it as there was a dog owner trying to negotiate with her labrador to let go of its stick so it would fit through. Doggo was having none of it.

London

Weekend in London to see Twelfth Night at The Globe, managed to get a bit of walking in around town and to and from tram stops.

Wessenden Reservoir

Distance: 12 miles

Ascent: Weather: sunny, showers later

Tufty ducks, mallard, wren, swallow, tiny hairy caterpillar, pied wagtail, Mr Squirrel.

After a lie-in, we were ready to set of at about 1pm! We went up to the A62 car park near Brun Clough Reservoir, with the plan to simply walk along the Pennine Way for a while and then turn back.

There were a lot of people out enjoying the day, and we saw curlews and pipets, plus something small and pale with a toowit call that will probably never be identified.

We had lunch by the stream above Blakeley Reservoir (big fish splash, type unknown) where there were lots of people carrying big rucksacks. Rob had his new rucksack dribbled on by a dog but lunch survived.

Walking along the track up to Wessenden Head Reservoir, we noticed people up on a higher path and decided to come back that way. This was a narrow grassy path that led around the edge of the hill, joining a wider track near to Holme Bank Wood, which was very pretty and had a little stone bridge. We met some lively little lambs at Rams Clough, where a narrow walled path led us down to the the main track.

Very dark threatening clouds gathered as we headed back up towards Black Moss Reservoir, and I got to try out my new coat . It's blue.

Warland Reservoir

Distance: 17 miles

Ascent :

Weather: warm and sunny

Setting off from the car park up by the aerial at about midday, after a late night and morning spent on not fun stuff (work), we decided to go along from Hollingworth Lake and up to the Pennine Way and back.

It was quite windy as we got out of the car, but we soon warmed up and the going was dry underfoot, even though it had rained last night it has been very dry of late. There were plenty of meadow pipets flying and, higher up, a small airplane pulling an election banner for George Galloway. Good luck with that..

Crossing the M62 at Hollins Farm, we followed Pennine Bridleway along to Hollingworth Lake, stopping for tea and sandwiches at a handy bench. After a slight change of plan, we decided to go through the small nature reserve at Cleggs Wood and along the canal at Littleborough, heading up to the Pennine Way at Warland Reservoir.

Along the canal we heard a very noisy pheasant, saw a heron and lots of Canada geese, some of whom hissed, and some fluffy goslings. A couple of chaps were fishing, one of them asking us if we had seen any of those big carp, as they'd not had any luck and had only seen bream. Must remember google this when we get home.

We did see some goldfinch, what was probably a great tit, an enormous rhea with two little rheas, a donkey, a few llama, goats, chickens, swallows, sandpiper, mallard, ringed plover and curlew.

At Warland Reservoir, it turns out that they are doing work on the embankment and the path has been diverted around the back along Stony Edge. It wouldn't add much if you were walking the Pennine Way, but added almost two miles on to our walk because we had to go practically the whole way around the reservoir to get south.

It was a lovely evening and we had good views from Blackstone Edge and over the moors on the way back.

Loch Bad an Sgalaig

Distance: 4.8 miles
Ascent: 280m
Weather: warm and sunny
Heard cuckoo, saw pipets, crow, bee, bogs aplenty
Bogs: tastic
Feet: wet

We crossed the road from the carpark, where there's a little bridge and a hut with some walk information,  including slightly worrying news that two of the footbridges are now gone. Undeterred we set off. The walk started through the newly planted native forest (trees now 30 years old and looking fairly well established) along a stony track that led up gently, under unpronounceable hill (Meall a Ghlas Leothaid) towards unpronounceable river (Abhainn a Gharbh Choire.)

The route along the river was wet, following posts passing a couple of waterfalls and heading into a small gully which was quite steep on the other side. Thankfully the bridge was intact and functional when we reached it. Had lunch on a rock at the bottom of the waterfall.

The path continued wet and muddy around the shore of Loch Bad an Sgalaig, then headed up through a gully back to the rocky track.

Back at the cottage, we sat out in the sunshine and watched the birds in the loch. Red breasted mergansers, possibly red throated divers and the now familiar gannets.

Dinner in Millcroft Hotel, complete with vension, scallops,  cranacon,  Glenmorangie, Glen Scotia double cask from Campbelltown.

Inverewe and Loch Fiion

Distance: 12.5 miles
Ascent: 450m
Weather: warm and sunny
Cuckoo, pipets, wheatear,  skylark, mallard, golden eagle, stonechats.

Late morning at Inverewe Gardens, where the rhododendrons, azaleas and anemones were in fine flower, followed by lunch in cafe where international tourists sampling local beer.

From carpark at gardens, walked through the nature reserve towards the village and then took the path out towards Loch Kernsary, very pretty and rocky. Meeting the track we turned left up the track through Kernsary Forest to Fionn Loch, passing Bad Bog near to Loch an Eilin. A distant golden eagle was spotted,  amongst mostly small birds.

We returned via the track to the farm and then carried on towards the River Ewe (at the end of Loch Maree) along the tarmac lane. The river becomes more visible as you get closer to the village. We then had to walk back to the carpark, it was quite late by then and the shops were closed, no ice-creams for Robs and Helens,  but we did have a bit of a sit in the wildlife hide,  seeing some greenshank and oystercatchers.



Whale Watching to Shiant Islands

87 miles boat trip in Orca 1
Skippered by a dour Yorkshireman
Seats very uncomfortable after 4 hours at high speed.
Amazing experience.

We saw:

Minke whale

Puffin
Guillemot
Black guillemot
Razorbills
Kittiwake
Shag
Gannet
White tailed (sea) eagle
Porpoise
Grey seals
Dolphins

Fairy Lochs

Distance: 14.8 miles
Ascent:
Weather: warm and sunny

Fairy lochs, fairy mallard, roe deer, heard cuckoo, wren, golden eagle, small fish, Highland coos.

We walked from Strath to the harbour in Gairloch, calling in for additional bottles of water and boat trip information,  before taking the Old Road (now forestry track) to the road junction to Shieldaig. 

The road is single lane with passing places, with a flower edged stream with little fish in it.

Near the hotel, the path heads up on to the hills, a little rocky mostly dry but obviously one that is usually very wet. Especially on the tops near to the memorial site to the crashed WW2 plane and towards the loch. The aircrash site is very poignant, also stunningly beautiful.

We crossed the boggy moorland (that was relatively dry) between the lochs towards Loch Braigh Horrisdale,  where I attempted to inhale water, saw a wren and then a golden eagle. And then another.

The walk back to the road was mostly spend scanning the skies for more eagles. Did see a deer's bum.

A couple of beers and dinner at the Old Inn were most enjoyable,  before walking the two miles back to the cottage, calling in at the shop for disappointing milk.

Rubha Rèidh

Distance: 9.3 miles
Ascent: 430m
Weather: warm and sunny

Buzzard, pipets, wheatear, stonechat, shag, gannet, otter, seals, great skua, swallows heard. Cuckoo

We parked at Melvaig and walked along the coastal road to the lighthouse at Rubha Rèidh which is about three miles of single track road with passing places. It was a bit busier with cars than I'd expected, more people going by car than on foot, although later on the return we saw more pedestrians. From the lighthouse,  the route is paths over peat moorland, looking inland seemed quite similar to the Peak District, the other way steep cliffs with sea birds, rocky stack, arches, caves and deserted beaches (Camas Mòr - large bay, apparently called Troll-Vik - troll bay - when the viking were here.)

After lunch on a little midgy pile of rock, we headed back by the same route we'd come, rewarded by seeing an otter running up the stream, and then later seals swimming in the waters around the lighthouse.

As we walked back along the lane it had warmed up considerably, the sun bright, the sea shining, Skye and the other islands in the distance were hazy on the horizon.