Pennine Way Day 3 - Standedge to Hebden Bridge

After saying goodbye to Tubs - We setoff from where we stopped the day before, with the two newbies (Brian & Ste) setting the pace.

Millstone Edge

Not a summit - just a trig point with Cattleshaw Reservoirs in the distance

Oh dear - 7 of us all chatting and we went the wrong way ! We missed a gentle right turn on Castleshaw Moor and veered off down towards Denshaw. A mile had passed before I realised something wasn't right and then with the aid of my flagging GPS arranged a detour to meet back up with the PW. The correction cost another 1.5miles - that's about another 2 miles additional walking on the day when the path is regained. Plus it was a mundane slog back up the B6114. This is going to cost me big time as I'm sure it won't be forgotten - Poor Ste, he was at his walking limit without any errors and I managed to do two today !

Finally - We're back on the path

Between Standedge and White Hill you’ll pass a significant boundary marker. An interesting fact is the most easterly point of Lancashire is actually slightly further east but the marker has been put on the Pennine Way so more people will pass it.

Due to the remote and bleak nature of this Long Distance Walk - it seemed most appropriate to celebrate the arrival at a momentous point - Here we all are crossing the M62 !

I've driven underneath this so many times and yet didn't realise this was the Pennine Way footpath _ Cheers to Ernest Marples.

Pretty impressive for a footbridge mind.

Blackstone Edge with Gren Withens Reservoir in the distance

Blackstone Edge summit trig point. Now to move into West Yorkshire and its sweeping green hills.

The Aiggin Stone

Mistake number two - The Aiggin Stone (600 years old) - Pennine Way clearly signposted downhill. We all did a check and it seemed clear enough. However, we should have kept to the top - I'm prone to the occasional navigation mistake I accept this, but this seemed clear enough - It's certainly confusing. Having said that the second error of the day was easier to rectify, this time another yomp back uphill via the A58. It must be said, not my finest few hours of my walking career - Add another mile onto the day, Ste's gonna love this.

Happy everyone ?

White Holme Reservoir. Easy flat walking for an hour or so.

Overlooking the town of Todmorden

Approaching Stoodley Pike Monument. You can actually go inside the monument which was originally built in 1814

One happy chap - with the towers of Hebden Bridge coming in view, Ste mustered up enough energy for a little jig of joy

The Calder Valley and the start of the Industrial Revolution. Hebden Bridge - A pretty nice place, somewhere I would be happy to visit again - a really great stopover.

Not satisfied with our 'higher than expected' mileage today - we decided to accompany Ste to the railway station as he was headed for home. I'm not sure he was entirely genuine when he asked if next year we could make the walk slightly longer for him, as he was just beginning to warm up?

The picturesque Rochdale Canal

The Stubbing Wharf situated alongside the Rochdale Canal - A really nice place for food and real ale, the five of us enjoyed a good night here as we also said our farewells to Rob & Arch who were heading back to Portsmouth in the morning... and then there were three.