Mary Towneley Loop – JaksTrips

MTL Holme Chapel to Hurstwood 14th May 2017

The last section. Very glad to have Babs with me to finish it off. After a bit of confusion on my part at the Ram Inn and giving the man who was minding the pub car park a good laugh, we set off. The morning’s hail storm was a memory and my wet clothes soon dried off in the heat of the sun.

The route takes you to the Long Causeway via lots of lime hushings which are the hillocks caused by all the flushing of the stone they had to do. There were once 50 kilns in this area but now dismantled and turned into walls.

Then it’s across to Cant Clough reservoir and a short hop to Hurstwood reservoir and Babs’s car. Back to the Ram where we had a drink which I had promised the publican we would do!

Now it’s over. The route is only 47 miles and tough cyclists do it in a day. I’ve walked nearly twice the miles. Babs and I did the 2 car thing twice. I did a short and not very nice section by bike. I walked in all weathers. So what’s next? I’m probably going to walk the full Calderdale Way because Carol and I never actually finished it when we did it about 12 years ago.

The last few sections from Lumb were top notch and I feel sure Chris would have loved it too. Here’s to you my darling love.

Babs says I have an invisible dog on a lead!,

Please visit Map and Compass and learn how to interpret a map and use a compass with me and my navigation partner, Cath.

MTL Deerplay to Holme Chapel 13th May 2017

This was a back to front chunk. I parked in the Ram Inn at Holme Chapel. Once under the railway line the way goes past a couple of farms, one with far too many dogs, thankfully all chained up. One was massive and scary. A train passed by. Then up quite a steep hill to Mary Towneley’s stone. Up a bit more to another farm and then along past lots of sheep and lambs including some black ones that looked like Gnasher the dog, scrawny with spindly legs.

Turned back at Deerplay for the clockwise experience. There were young cows out near the railway but they ran away from me! A train went past. And then I was back at the pub. Just a couple of hours.

Please visit Map and Compass and learn how to interpret a map and use a compass with me and my navigation partner, Cath.

MTL Lumb to Deerplay 7th May 2017

Fabulous day. Warm at last. Out with Babs. We started off with a visit to Babs’s sister who lives near Lumb.

From Lumb it’s a lovely section of the Loop through rolling hills. And at last some horses on the bridleway! It had seemed as if I was going to walk the entire Mary Towneley Loop without seeing a horse on it. And today we were rewarded with a bunch of 4 and then a man and boy with the horse pulling them in a slo mo version of a quad bike.

We had a bite to eat at Deerplay (great name) no deer in sight and then returned by the same route.

First horses actually on the Pennine Bridleway

Please visit Map and Compass and learn how to interpret a map and use a compass with me and my navigation partner, Cath.

MTL Waterfoot to Lumb 6th May 2017

Back on foot for this little section. Still very chilly in the dry east wind. The first part is through a built up area. But soon out onto the hills with the sheep.

It took an hour to walk to Lumb and then I turned round and went back. I knew Carol’s dad was from Rossendale but hadn’t realised he was from Lumb. Will see a bit more on the next stretch.

Please visit Map and Compass and learn how to interpret a map and use a compass with me and my navigation partner, Cath.

MTL Summit to Watergrove Reservoir 26th March 2017

Snatched a few hours whilst C dialysing at LGI. I parked up by the Summit pub and rejoined the Mary Towneley Loop. Heading west now. Very pleasant route contouring through the hills in the warm sun. Down to my t shirt!

Felt a bit stressed and tense because of all the anxiety at work and my legs are sore now even though only a 5 mile walk.

All the dogs I met barked at me. Why? And why don’t their owners sort them out and why don’t they apologise?

Got to the reservoir, had a drink, no not direct! Set off back. A man on a motorbike was clearly hoping I would hold a gate open for him. I pointed to the No Motor Vehicles sign and told him he had no right of way and shut the gate on him. He came through so I hopped off the path so as not to be run over. I suppose I did what I needed to do and he was happy breaking the law on his unregistered bike. He tore off up onto the moor making a big racket and scaring the sheep. What a tosser.

Please visit Map and Compass and learn how to interpret a map and use a compass with me and my navigation partner, Cath.