27th December- Gritstone Trail

On the drive up to Kidsgrove, the rain beat down on my car windscreen for all but the last ten minutes of the journey, making me think that I was going to be running all day in the rain. The rain had stopped and I parked in the Kidsgrove station car park. I got my trainers and bag on and started at the start of the Gritstone Trail.

The Start

The start followed canal towpaths for the first couple of miles, which allowed me to get my legs going. I noticed that my new Salamon pack was very comfortable even with extra weight than usual. After a couple of miles the trail turned off right and started up hill along road and footpaths until it came to the top of my first hill of the day, Mow Cop.

Mow Cop Castle

The views from Mow Cop and along the Congleton Road we’re good and then there was some fun skipping over the rocky, muddy paths on Edge Hill. The trail then went down off the hill and was followed by a boring of couple of miles along a disused railway path. The trail then turned off the path and uphill across muddy farmers fields to Timbersbrook. The muddy fields we’re very slippy and this is where I decided I chosen the wrong footwear and should have gone for more grip.

View along the trail from Mow Cop

From Timbersbrook the path ascended up the hill called the Cloud. After the ascent, I made it to the trig on The Cloud, where there we’re great views all around, including views back to Mow Cop and then further ahead to the rest of the Gritstone Trail. There was a quick descent off The Cloud and then the trail followed the Dane Valley Way, adjacent the river Dane where the path was very boggy and slippy making it hard work.

View from The Cloud

The trail then turned north off the Dane Valley Way and then uphill across farmers fields before the trail then went down into a valley and then started the ascent up Wincle Mimm. The weather turned at this moment and rain soaked me and it was cold on top of the hill and along the ridge. The trail dropped down to the road and then went sharply up to Croker Hill which had a great steady grassy descent off which was a great bit of running.

Teggs Nose

The trail passed the reservoirs at the bottom of Teg’s Nose and then sharply up Tegg’s Nose, which seemed to take a long time to get up. At the top there wasn’t much to look at as the weather hadn’t improved. I continued down to the Tegg’s Nose Visitor Centre where I hoped I could get some food as I had run out due to my poor packing as I had forgot to pack the Eccles Cake. I got very hungry.

White Nancy on Kerridge Hill

A good runable descent took me down to Tower Hill and then he trail went up Kerridge Hill and to White Nancy where there we’re good views due to the weather improving. The trail went down past Bollington before the trail took a long ascent uphill which really tested my aching legs. The trail carried on uphill to the road which I ran for a bit before taking a few minutes to change the map, take a break and wish I had some food.  

Looking back from the ascent up towards Sponds Hill

I headed back up the trail before I got too cold and continued up Sponds Hill on tired legs, as I had done about 30 miles at this point. As it was starting to get dark I didn’t hang around on the hill and continued along the hill until the trail headed down off the hill. The descent was quite sharp so it was quick running which then continued through a dark wood until it came to Lyme Hall. I stopped and put on my headtorch and finished off the trail in the dark. Having made it to the end of the Gritstone Trail at Disley Station, I had covered 35 miles and 5300ft ascent. I then took trains back to Kidsgrove after a change at Stockport. 

The End

11th November- Peaks Run, Mam Tor and Kinder

After a very good night sleep at Edale hostel, I had some breakfast and left off on my run. I headed down the hostel approach lane to the bottom of the valley. I headed down the road and then turned off and headed up the path to Hollins Cross. I struggled to the top but was then rewarded with another uphill to Mam Tor. Mam Tor was covered in the clag so I didn’t hang around at the top. After the decent down to the road crossing I made my way along Rushup Edge. At the end of Rushup Edge I followed the path across the horrible moor to Brown Knoll. The path and all around the path was very boggy (as it always is) and after going knee deep in mud a few times I made it to the trig at Brown Knoll.

Brown Knoll

I carried on and headed upto Kinder Low where the running got better as i followed the Pennine Way along the west side of Kinder Scout. I carried on along the path but missed my turn where I was meant to follow the north edge of Kinder Scout. Instead of tracking back up the hill I decided to change my route and headed down the long boggy path down to the Snake Inn. 

Path down to Snake Inn

I ran alongside the road and then made my way up the very steep Gate Side Clough back up the north of Kinder Scout. After a struggle up the hill I was rewarded with some good trail running, enjoying some views over the valley below when the cloud cleared. I followed the northern edge of Kinder which seemed to go on for ages until I came to the end at Crookstone Knoll. The weather was amazing and with the sunshine the views we’re brilliant.

Crookstone Knoll, only 90 degrees of the view

After enjoying the views I followed the path down to Hope Cross and then the bridleway back to Edale. I got back to the car at the hostel knackered after a hard 20 mile run. Just now trying to shake off some knee pain before I get back running again.

Last bit, path to YHA Edale

10th November- Peaks Mountain Bike, Hope Tour

After a last minute Saturday morning hostel booking I packed my stuff and headed upto the Peak District. I parked up in Hope and unpacked my bike and started off on my planned route, ‘The Hope Tour’ from the book ‘White Peak Mountain Biking’.

I started my ride from Hope and after a bit of tarmac I headed up the side of Win Hill on a stony track upto Hope Cross enjoying the views of Edale in the sunshine to my left. I carried straight on at Hope Cross and then had a good rocky decent down into the valley.

My bike and Edale behind

I crossed the river and the A57 and then rode up a good rideable ascent to a crossroads at Woodcock Coppice. I went left at the crossroads, which went through some woodland and then the track started to go downhill and then got a lot steeper at the end and quite tricky due to the stones and rocks. At this point I noticed my front brake was squealing. And at the bottom of the track I checked my brake pads to find out the front pads we’re worn down to the metal so I would have to ride the rest of the ride with just my rear brake.

Ladybower Reservoir below

I carried on alongside Upper Derwent Reservoir and then Ladybower Reservoir on a flat tarmac road until I started a steep stoney track uphill up Hagg Side. I struggled on some of the stones at the top, but after getting there turned right at the junction of bridleways which took me back to the crossroads at Woodcock Coppice where I turned left down a steep stony track. It was a very good decent but I had to approach the bends with caution due to not having all my brakes. 

Bottom of the decent from Woodcock Coppice, its steeper further up, really.

At the bottom I crossed the A57 and river again and followed the trail alongside Ladybower reservoir before taking a right up a good long slog uphill through the woods. At the top I stopped for some flapjack before carrying on along the trail which then headed downhill which was slippy in the mud so I couldn’t get too much speed. 

Top of the hill over Ladybower Reservoir

The trail rejoined the track by the reservoir and followed it to Thornhill where a right along a tarmac lane took me to Aston where a right took me back up a bridleway up he side of Win Hill. The start of the ascent was unrideable due to the lack of grip but soon turned into a good uphill slog back to a junction with the first track I rode up. I took the stony track and enjoyed the downhill back to Hope.       

4/5th October- Yorkshire Dales with Hayley

Hayley arrived at mine on Wednesday night and after we finished packing kit and more importantly food we went to bed.

Thursday morning we set off reasonably early and the drive wasn't as bad as expected with not much traffic and after some deliberation we ended up choosing to park at Gargrave instead of Settle or Hellifield. This start would mean that we would walk the Pennine Way for about 20 miles towards Horton in Ribblesdale. After getting boots and bags on we headed north along the P.W. which started off along a tarmac lane for a bout a mile until we had a stile into the fields where we we're greeted with very boggy ground.

The first stile. Beware muddy puddle below

We strapped on the gaiters (which ended up being an essential bit of gear for the walk) and carried on along the fields which had large muddy puddles at every stile and kissing gate. We headed over Harrows hill before heading down to where the Pennine Way follows the River Aire. The stretch of path following the river to Airton and then Malham made was even wetter and boggier and despite trying to choose the best way through the boggy bits it didn't stop getting wet feet. We made it into Malham after about seven miles of boggy paths and we treated ourselves to a coffee and tea in the Buck Inn.

H and Malham Cove

We pulled ourselves out of the pub and carried on and despite a short shower earlier it was sunny so we could appreciate Malham Cove more. After going upto the face of the limestone cliff we walked up the side to walk on the limestone pavement to rejoin the Pennine Way. We followed the P.W. to Malham Cove and experienced some more light showers but luckily they didn't last very long.

Malham Tarn

We walked round Malham Tarn through the woods by Malham Tarn House and then towards Tennant Gill. After passing the farm at Tennant Gill the path started to ascend up our first hill of the walk. We followed the long trudge upto the top of Fountains Fell where the cloud obscured some of the view from the top, so we didn't stick around as the wind made it a cold place to be. As we started to descend the cloud started to clear and we could see our next target, Pen-Y-Ghent. We walked off the side of Fountains Fell and followed the tarmac lanealong the path which heads past Churn Mill Hole and then to the foot of Pen-Y-Ghent.

Pen-Y-Ghent from the side of Fountains Fell

It was starting to get a bit darker, but we decided that we would walk to the top of Pen-Y-Ghent and then think about where we would sleep the night. We ascended and it didn't take long until we made it to the top, but we weren't rewarded with any views as the cloud had stuck to the top of the hill again. We took some photos and then made our way off the hill, looking for potential bivy spots along the way. But with the shortage of decent spots and the threat of rain n the night we decided to go with the luxury option and find somewhere to stay in Horton-in-Ribblesdale. It was getting very dark as we headed into Horton and we had to call upon our headtorches as we we're passed by a runner coming off Pen-Y-Ghent and three mountain bikers going for a nigh ride.

Brother and sister on Pen-Y-Ghent (694m)

We ended up staying at the bunkhouse at The Golden Lion Inn in Horton-in-Ribblesdale, where we had a lovely dinner of Sausages in Yorkshire Pudding and a couple of beers/ciders. I have to admit it was very different from what we'd planned which was to bivy and eat cous cous and tuna, but you have to look after yourself sometimes.

Hayley eating breakfast flapjack. Horton and Pen-Y-Ghent behind

Friday morning we packed up and got back into some damp muddy kit before heading off into the hills. We ate flapjack for breakfast while walking up the hills out of the village and walked up Sulber Nick before turning left onto the bridleway towards Clapham.

Ingleborough

Rather than just going up the most direct route up Ingleborough I decided we should go up the more interesting way following the bridleway down past Long Scar and taking the little path to join the main path to Trow Gill.

Trow Gill

We walked through the limestone Gorge known as Trow Gill and followed the path upto Ingleborough with a detour to have a look at Gaping Gill. We got ourselves as close to the hole as we dared so we could stare into the oblivion.

Gaping Gill

After our detour we carried on up the path to Ingleborough. We walked up at a steady pace and had one stop as I received a work call from a client (as it was still a weekday after all) before getting to the top. We made it to the shelter at the top where we enjoyed a break from the winds and ate nuts and Eccles cake as a reward. There weren't any views from the top due to the cloud so we took photos at the trig point and headed off the hill.

Trig point on top of Ingleborough (724m)

We walked down off Ingleborough and it started to rain as we we're coming down the steepist bit. I thought I would wait to be on a less steep gradient to put on my waterproof trousers but it was too late by that time and we both got very wet legs. We followed the path down and it took us past the maze of limestone pavements until we came to farmers fields and then to the road where we walked to the Old Hill Inn to have our first coffee/tea of the day, where we sat next to the fire to dry the wet bits.

Whernside

In the pub we decided that despite the aches we would go up Whernside, so after finishing our beverages we left the warm pub and started walking up Philpin Lane and then up the path to the ridge of Whernside where we past more Three Peakers who all assume you are doing the same, but in a backwards order. We followed the ridge and after a few false summits, made it to the top of Whernside where we again stopped to eat and take photos before heading off the hill.

Whernside (736m)

We followed the path north and then west off Whernside and it seemed to take a long time till we made it to the bridleway between Ribblehead and Dent. The aches slowed us down but followed the bridleway to Ribblehead where we sat in the pub with another coffee/tea while we waited for our train. Our train took us to Gargrave where we had a short walk back to the car which I was glad was still there.

Ribblehead viaduct with Whernside behind

Trip Details
Day 1- 21.5 miles (3530ft ascent)
Day 2- 16.5 miles (3510ft ascent)

15/16th September- Pennine Way, Edale to Hebden Bridge

Saturday morning the alarm sounded at 6:30 and I instantly regretting having drank Guinness and Jagerbombs the night before. Despite this I managed to get ready and get myself to the station at 7:37 to catch my first train. After a change at Stafford and Manchester Piccadilly I was on a train to Edale packed full of other walkers. Having got off the train at about 10:30, I got a head start on the other walkers and headed in the direction of the start of the Pennine Way. Up through Edale village I turned left at the Old Nags Head pub which is the official start of the Pennine Way.

The start in Edale

 The path takes you through the valley to Upper Booth where you turn up a bridleway up to Jacobs ladder where many mountain bikers struggle up the hill. After Jacobs ladder the P.W. turns off the bridleway towards Kinder Low where I passed two guys who looked knackered carrying bouldering mats up the hill. I reached Kinder Low (633m) which is how I remembered a lunar like landscape with a flat sandy top with rocks scattered around, of which one of the rocks has the trig point marking the top. I climbed onto the rock to touch the trig point and then started again following the P.W. north.

Trig on Kinder Low

 The P.W. follows the western edge of the Kinder plateau and I passed a fair few walkers making their way to Kinder Downfall which is a waterfall (tallest on Kinder apparently). The P.W. then heads in a westerly direction towards Mill Hill, and goes down hill to a pass where the path crosses with another and then there’s a small incline to Mill Hill where you turn right in a northerly direction towards Snake Pass. The P.W. from Mill Hill to Snake pass is goes through lovely baron moorland and was one of my favourite parts of the walk as it felt like I had it to myself. As it was a clear sunny day I could see moors all around with the northern edge of Kinder Scout to my right.

Bleaklow up ahead

 As I passed Featherbed Moss I could hear Snake Pass with the cars hurtling along the A57 to Manchester or Sheffield. I crossed Snake Pass and walked for a few hundred metres before sitting down to eat lunch, tucking into a Pepperami and then a cheesy wrap made the night before. I got up and carried on up to Bleaklow and passed quite a few walkers which looked like they’d parked at Snake Pass to get to walk to Bleaklow Head, which is amazing considering theres not much to see at the top of the hill. I reached the flat top of Bleaklow Head which is marked with a stake and shoved an Eccles Cake to try and make the top more exciting before continuing along the P.W. down towards Torside reservoir.

The boring top of Bleaklow

 The descent of Bleaklow follows Clough Edge with a drop to the right into Torside clough, and once down far enough has good views of Torside reservoir and Black Hill behind. Once down off the hill I walked over the dam wall of Torside Resevoir and due to the great weather was treated to brilliant views up Torside reservoir with the rocky sides of Bleaklow to the right and Crowden to the left.

Torside Resevoir from Clough Edge

 At the end of the dam wall I had a brief sit down to adjust the map and then started walking towards Crowden. I knew I needed water for the night and I had a decision to make at a crossroads. I could either walk an extra mile or two to the campsite at Crowden and get drinking water there, or I could just head straight upto Black Hill and hope I would find a decent waterfall to grab some water from, which would have the risk of me not finding anything and having to ration what I’d got or I could face drinking bad water. I took the risk.

Torside Reservoir

 I made my way up Black Hill which was a decent slog up hill, but I was distracted as I was on the look out for a water source. I passed a few small waterfalls but the water didn’t look good (either a funny colour or a weird foam on top), so I continued up and at a waterfall at Oakenclough brook I decided it looked alright so I filled my spare bladder. 

The tap

I continued up the gradual ascent towards the top of Black Hill which seemed to take ages to get to the top but eventually got there at about 6:30. Theres not much at the top of Black Hill apart from a trig point, but there is the sense you are a long way from any civilization as all you can see is moors all around apart from a mast a few miles away.  It had gotten cloudy and the wind started to pick up so I got the tent up trying to get the perfect orientation to which way the wind was blowing.

Last hundred yards

 I got the tent up and sleeping stuff set up and started on my dinner, but a couple of minutes into trying to boil some water on the stove, the gas ran out. So I ended up with lukewarm crunchy cous cous and a tin of mackerel. The crappy dinner didn’t bother me but the thought of not being able to make coffee in the morning was the painful part. After dinner I got out the tent to have a piss and after a check of the tent pegs and after mooching around a bit I got back into the tent and into the sleeping back. I woke at about 3:30am and decided to go outside for a piss and to check the pegs due to the beatings the side of the tent was taking from the wind. I put my boots on and fought my way through the door, it had changed to claggy on Black Hill and I could just make out the trig point. I checked the pegs and surprisingly they we’re fine, so I took a leak watching my piss take off wondering where it would land. I then hurried back in the tent to get warm again, I woke a few more times in the night to listen to the abuse my tent was taking, but my reliable tent Terra Nova Laser Competition did me proud once again.

The tent on Black Hill before the wind

 Sunday Morning I woke officially about 6:30, I ate flapjack for breakfast and after going outside to use the toilet I packed all my things away. I left the tent till last which was difficult as the winds we’re still strong, but I managed to get it away without loosing it. I started walking again at about 8:00, it was claggy on Black Hill so I just followed the stone path north off the hill. As I started to lose elevation I got out of the clag and could see it was actually rather sunny. I reached Wassenden Head where the P.W. crosses the A635 where I saw a few early morning cyclists enjoying the climb or descent depending on which way they we’re going.

Pennine Way off Black Hill

 I followed the P.W. to Wassenden Head reservoir and to Wassenden reservoir, which was a bridleway where I saw a couple of mountain bikers and I did get a slight feeling of envy. After a some waterfalls the other side of Wassenden Brook the P.W. left the track and went down and out of the clough onto the side of the hill, onto some more open moorland where the path continued to Black Moss reservoir. The P.W. then continued to the A62, passing over Standedge tunnel (which you wouldn’t know was if it wasn’t for an info board next to it explaining it was the longest and highest canal tunnel in Britain).

Waterfall by Wassenden reservoir

After crossing the main road I had to stop as one of my contact lenses was playing up so I used this opportunity to adjust the map and stuff down an Eccles cake. I continued up the P.W. onto Millstone Edge which has some good views from the top. 

Millstone Edge

I carried on along the P.W. and followed it as it splits off to where it crosses the A640. At this point the weather started to turn so as the rain started to come down I put on the waterproof trousers as I already had the waterproof jacket on. It stayed grim as I followed the P.W. over White Hill and across the bridge over the M62 but as I came onto the top of Blackstone Edge, the rain stopped and I got some clear views over Littleborough. The P.W. then went down to the A58 where the path passes the White House pub, where I sat outside by Blackstone Edge Resevoir to attend to my sore feet and eat another cheesy tortilla wrap for lunch.

A wet me by a trig on White Hill

After feeding and applying vasaline to my heels and changing socks I continued along the Pennine Way across probably the most boring bit of walking of the weekend as the P.W. just passed three large reservoirs on a flat track for 3 miles with just a strong cross wind to make things a slight bit interesting. After the last reservoir the path passed the end of a hill that was blocking any view north, and I was able to see a landmark in the distance which was only a few miles from Hebden Bridge. This landmark was Stoodley Pike Monument which looked massive even from a far, but it gave me something to aim for, which made me forget about the blisters on my heels for a while. I followed the P.W. towards Stoodley Pike and as I got closer the weather started to get worse so that I could no longer see the white obelisk shape on the hill.

Stoodley Pike Monument

 I finally reached Stoodley Pike and visibility was terrible as I had to get within 25 metres to see the monument, the wind was bad so I walked round it to find some shelter and realized that you could go inside where there are spiral steps up. It was pitch black up the stairs so I found my headtorch in my bag and made my way up the spiral stairs to find it took you to a higher platform outside where I imagine you get some better views when the weather is better. 

Stoodley Pike Monument closer

So I made my way back down the stairs and then off the hill down into Hebden Bridge. I followed the P.W. down to Callis bridge where the path goes over the Rochdale canal where I left the P.W. and followed the canal to Hebden Bridge to catch a train home after some fish and chips which I ate on the platform. I caught the train at 5:52 and after changes at Leeds and Tamworth I was home at about ten.

Trip Stats

Day 1- 19.5 miles (3760ft ascent)

Day 2- 20.9 miles (1660ft ascent)

28/29th August- Thunder Run 24

Thunder Run 24 had arrived. With a lack of any decent distance training and a late night watching the Olympic opening ceremony, I had little ambition of making it very far. I turned up at Catton Park Saturday morning to see that the event had grown once again (this year over 2400 competitors). So finding space in the solo camping area was tricky, but luckily I had no tent to pitch so a Fiesta sized parking space was all I needed for base camp.

I registered, collected my free t-shirt and after speaking to some familiar faces got myself ready for the start. Plenty of sun tan lotion applied and an Eccles cake down me I was ready as I was going to be, so I waited for the start of the race, while watching the Olympic swimming on the big screen at the start.

The start!

The race started and I hung at the back letting the faster runners get off, hoping the field would have spread out before the bottleneck at Bluebell Woods 1k down the track. As the runners started to spread out there was chance to do a bit of slow running, chatting to other runners and taking in the applause of spectators where the course passed through the campsite and other popular viewing points. The course was pretty much the same but with a few little changes, which I quite liked.

The weather couldn’t have been better as it was very sunny with the odd wind in places to cool you down. The first few laps seemed to go by rather quickly, averaging about 1 hr 10 mins each lap with no sires or aches yet. I came in after three laps to eat and after some spaghetti, nuts and an Eccles cake I was off again. The laps started to get harder and harder and the legs started to ache earlier on then on previous years, which I put down to a lack of decent long mileage training.

Number 51

After a couple more laps I stopped again to eat, spaghetti, crisps and biscuits washed down with energy drink for the electrolytes. The laps started to spread out now at about 1 hr 30 mins each lap as the ration of run to walk shifted more to the latter. I did my sixth lap going across the start/finish line before lights we’re required on the course, so I could at least do my seventh lap without lights. As I did this lap I noticed other competitors we’re starting to wear lights, but it wasn’t yet dark enough for them to be on.

I finished my seventh lap and decided to have a burger which I had been craving, as the smell of barbeques around the campsites had teased me all afternoon and evening. I got my money and went to the catering tent and waited for ten/fifteen minutes to be served, which is not what you want after running over forty miles. Once I got my burger and a full fat coke, I sat in my car and ate my reward, finished with an Eccles cake desert. After fiddling with my headtorch I headed off at around 9pm for more running/walking.

The eight lap started well and despite some expected aching in the legs, I felt like I had a surge of energy. It was still light enough to run without the lights, but it was needed in the wooded sections so I switched it on and off accordingly to save the batteries, thinking of the long game. The further on through the lap it started to get darker so the light was constantly now, but have to give my Hope Vision 1 headtorch loads of praise as it wasn’t too uncomfortable and was very powerful for the task (I even got a compliment from another runner). I finished my first lap in full darkness and before starting the next lap I scoffed down more nuts and biscuits.

Night Running

On my ninth lap I ran a few kilometers of the course and started to notice a soreness in me left foot, which grew and grew through the whole lap. I tried adjusting the tightness of the trainer, messed about with the sock but this seemed more than some mild discomfort in the footwear. The pain didn’t go away and the solid trails didn’t help so I used the incentive of painkillers to get me to the end of the lap.

I took some Ibuprofen and headed off on my tenth lap and it took a while for the pain in my foot to dull down. Despite feeling that I could go on through the night, I decided that I should make this my last lap. As I was worried that if I made the foot injury really bad I may be out for a while meaning that I couldn’t do any adventures or events for months. I was also worried that the painkillers could mask the pain of another possible injury that could come on, mainly the knee. So I finished the lap, quicker than the previous five, thinking that the sooner I finished the sooner I could go home to bed. I finished my tenth lap (60 miles) at 2:10am which was 14 hours and 10 minutes from the start of the race.

Despite feeling like I could have done more I was fairly happy with what I had done. I got home and was in bed about 3am after a protein shake. After seeing the GP a week later and having an X-ray it appears that the foot injury isn’t bad as nothing showed up on the X-ray and there are signs of improvement.