David and Jacinta's Walks- 2023

 Black Hill from Crowden (David) I set out from Crowden on a relatively misty and slightly drizzly morning for one of my favourite walks. Bareholme Moss and Hey Moss just out of the clag There were plenty of sheep to admire on the way up to Laddow Rocks. I passed what appeared to be a Palaeolithic footprint in one of the rocks on the side of the Crowden Great Brook. Palaeolithic footprint? As I passed Laddow, the mist was beginning to lift a little and I had a good view of The Castles. Crowden Castles from Laddow At the Black Hill/Soldier's Lump I took a quick selfie before having lunch. I was there... I always like to go via the Hey Edge trig point on the way back; the path makes it relatively easy to spot from a distance. Although the trig point looks quite white from afar, it's a little forlorn when you get to it! Hey Edge trig point in its puddle On the final descent back to Crowden, I stopped to "admire" Crowden Great Quarry. Paul and I climbed there once- never ...

  Black Hill from Wessenden Head It was a spectacular day in terms of the weather- bright sunlight. We did the usual walk from Wessenden Head, crossing the Wessenden Reservoir dam where the ducks were enjoying the occasional slide down the spillway. Ducks having fun We had a brief break at the point at which our path rejoined the Pennine Way (marked by a water tank with a solar panel on a mast) and, by coincidence Rob Naylor and Caroline McCann came by with a group of friends out for a walk! We continued up, passing between the Black Moss and Swellands reservoirs with a great view over to Pule Hill. Swellands Reservoir with Pule Hill in the distance We crossed Dean Head Moss relatively uneventfully (this was the section of the original Pennine Way where people tended to get lost) and stopped for a relatively late lunch at the ruin just below the final walk up to Soldier's Lump with its trig point. A well-deserved lunch with a view We were in good time to get back to the car before ...