Taking to the Open Moors (Accidentally)

This morning I went to the UP at the UT and met with John, Ed, Pauline and Julie. 

We headed off up to the top barn and then along through the fields and woods to Dangerous/Ammunition Corner.  We then ran a short way down the road, before turning left onto the path to Higher and Lower Hempshaws.  We were heading to Great Hill but, unfortunately, Ed and Julie decided that they were going to stay on the path and head for Lead Mines Clough instead so we left them where the trail forks and we headed up to the right whilst they continued onto the left.

Pauline and I were nattering away and I suddenly thought to myself I’m sure there’s usually a clear path here.  I said that to Pauline and then John came up behind us and said ‘you do realise we have left the path don’t you?’.

We then spent about half an hour trudging through overgrown moorland and occasionally accidentally stepping into drainage channels which we couldn’t see!  We were heading in the direction we presumed to be Great Hill when John said ‘isn’t that Great Hill over there?’ and pointed off to our right.  Indeed it was but we were all very bemused at how we had assumed it was to our left. 

We had thought that when we had lost the path earlier, we had gone too far right but, looking at my Strava trace later on, it appeared we had actually gone too far left, which had resulted in us heading even more left and not in quite the right direction for Great Hill. 

Amazing how you can get temporarily misplaced so easily in a place you think you know like the back of your hand.  Just shows how easy it is to get into trouble – it’s a good job it was a clear day!

Eventually, we made it to Great Hill which was very cold and windy and we just wanted to get back down again.  We ran along to Drinkwaters and then down the boggy path to White Coppice. 

Once in White Coppice, Pauline was heading straight back to the barn but John and I were heading over to Healey Nab.  We ran along one side of the goit and Pauline ran along the other.  We saw her half way down but she was too in the zone to notice us. 

John and I headed up to the cairn at Healey Nab and then went back down again and back into Rivington.

When we neared the barn, we saw John Coope and Hazel walking along.  Poor Hazel was holding her arm and looked in pain, saying that she had had a fall.  It turns out she had broken her collar bone!  Hope you’re on the mend Hazel!

Total distance – 11 miles