Having set off from my house, I was soon at Walkerwood Reservoir to start the climb into the hills - as you can see it was pretty windy that day.
The early going is helped by water-board service roads
I was soon at Swineshaw (I love that name), which is the highest of the reservoirs that serve Stalybridge.
The next part is probably the toughest terrain of the whole walk, I was joining the Pennine Way north of Crowden and there is no direct path from where I was to the the Way, so its plenty of clambering over rough moorland. As there is lots of direction changing to avoid gullies and bogs a map and compass are essential.
My first sighting of Chew Reservoir, some of you may know Dovestones which it feeds into, was a big spirit-raiser as there is a proper path from here onwards.
When I finally reached the Pennine Way proper, I was treated to some of the most spectacular scenery as the path took me north along a narrow path along the top of a steep valley. I was having to be very conscious of my balance during this part due to the combination of large rucksack and high winds.
After a long gradual descent the green valley gives way once more to open, coarse moorland. You can see some of the path in the distance, which is laid out with flagstones which is a good-send as there is plenty of boggy terrain here. I later discovered most of these were laid between 1992-1995, having been air-lifted in, and were reclaimed from demolished mills.
Having crossed the A635, high above Holmfirth (half expected to see the ghosts of Foggy & Compo up to no good), I began the descent towards Marsden. I had just been startled by six Tornadoes flying low in close formation, I had not heard them as I had the radio on and by the time I'd picked my jaw off the floor and grabbed my camera, they had disappeared over the horizon.
Before getting to Marsden, I managed to get a photo of these two, for the benefit of those who love animal photos.
I finally reached Marsden after 9 hours 15 minutes, 17 miles covered, very grateful for the direct train back to Stalybridge.
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