With a helicopter roaring just above our heads, it felt as if we had strayed into a James Bond movie. But instead of 007 swinging from the rope there was a hopper of stones being delivered to the Groundwork Trust who were repairing the Pennine Way. Alas we spent so long admiring the skill of the pilot that the refreshment van had gone home by the time we got back to the layby. Our next visit was quite a contrast as, on a grey September day, we had the moors to ourselves, save for the occasional hardy biker and a solitary lady who ran up the hills with the greatest of ease and it stayed dry until we arrived back at the car when the heavens opened and it poured with rain!
LOCATION: A672 layby, half mile south of M62, Junction 22 (Grid reference SD983142)
START: A672 layby, half mile south of M62, Junction 22
Grid ref: SD983142 Postcode: OL3 5UN
DISTANCE: 7 miles
GRADE: Moderate
TIME: 3 hours
MAP: Explorer OL - South Pennines Landranger 109
REFRESHMENTS: Rams Head
EN ROUTE: Rapes Highway, Piethorne Reservoir, Readycon Dean, Marsden
This walk was originally published by
The Manchester Evening News