Good Idea.

Hello everyone,

You won't have seen me on here for a while as I haven't been doing any walking this year, I'm having a gap year LOL! I know, I'm supposed to have had it when I was younger but I didn't so I'm haivng it now - okay?

Actually I'm only writing this because Vicki came up with a good idea, she suggested the other night that I walk across England. Well that sounds great thought I, but then it always does while you're sitting on the couch, even the planning is fun but the night before you're due to embark on your carefully planned adventure you suddenly realise you forgot something, its not easy walking non stop for two whole weeks carrying your home on your back. Its no surprise why snails move so slow, its cos they're knackered.

Anyway I will keep you posted on what happens next - if anything.

Margery Hill Walk.

This is a pretty easy route to follow having Abbey Brook and then the edge along Margery Hill on your left for most of the way and then the Howden and Derwent reservoirs to your right on the return journey.

There are no really hard climbs, I think the most physical part being between the junction with the Smallfield Path and the Margery Hill Edge where it can be boggy, it could also be easy to stray of the way in bad visibility but with the waypoints provided at the end of this post you should have no trouble following the route, especially with a GPS. All grid references were taken during the walk and not from a map so should be spot on accurate. I’ve used the 10 numbers given to me by my GPS but if you prefer to use the usual 6 numbers just omit numbers 4,5,9 and 10 and you will be left with the usual 6 number grid reference.

If anyone does use this post to walk the route I would love to hear how it goes for you. The pictures included are to highlight parts of the route rather than the best views along the way so don’t go thinking I showed you everything there is to see.

Date
26th July 2008

Distance
12.5 miles

Time Taken
7 hrs 8 mins

Moving Time
3 hrs 36 mins

Derwent Dam - SK 17428 89881

Approaching Bradfield Path - SK 17353 90905

Approaching Abbey Brook Path - SK 17353 90905
Path splits through the gate, (keep left) - SK 17251 91967

1st stream crossing - SK 17762 92020

Approaching 2nd stream crossing - SK 18497 92233

Nearing Junction with Lost Lad Path - SK 19698 92370

Junction with Smallfield path - SK 20762 93420

Margery Hill Edge 1 - SK 18941 94736

Way Point 4 - SK 17683 95453

Approaching Slippery Stones - SK 16957 95243

Approaching the 1st Coldside Gate - SK 17230 94355

Fairholmes - SK 17255 89287
Derwent Dam - SK 17428 89881
Bradfield Path - SK 17353 90905
Abbey Brook Path - SK 17353 90905
Path splits (keep left) - SK 17251 91967

1st stream crossing - SK 17762 92020

2nd stream crossing - SK 18497 92233
Junction with Lost Lad Path - SK 19698 92370
4th stream crossing - SK 20111 92323
Junction with Back Tor path - SK 20760 93197
Junction with Smallfield path - SK 20762 93420
Way Point 1 - SK 19828 94120
Way Point 2 - SK 19457 94450
Way Point 3 - SK 19119 94590
Margery Hill Edge 1 - SK 18941 94736
Margery Hill Edge 2 - SK 18715 95722
Junction with Slippery Stones path - SK 18567 96058
Path To Slippery Stones - SK 18306 95880
Way Point 4 - SK 17683 95453
Way Point 5 - SK 17338 95326
Slippery Stones - SK 16957 95243
1st Coldside Gate - SK 17230 94355
Howden Clough Path - SK 17410 93188
Howden Dam - SK 17134 92398
Abbey Brook Path - SK 17065 91933
Bradfield Path - SK 17353 90905
Derwent Dam - SK 17428 89881
Fairholmes - SK 17255 89287

Day Seven

Day seven on the Pennine Wet was WET! If anyone thought this was going to be a picnic they were wrong, there are no teddy bears around here. This is trial by water, day in, day out. There is nothing I have with me that isn't wet by some degree. Even my boots gave up the fight today which was understandable because for the whole 20 miles of todays walk one or the other of them has been up to the ankle in mud and water. It hasn't stopped raining for one minute since I set off to the time of writing this. I've seen no one all day apart from the family guy sticking his head out of his tent when I left thiis morning, then when I got here a kind lady in the caravan next to my tent made me a cup of tea.Unfortunately I have to go now as the battery is nearly out on my PDA. There will be no more updates for a few days now until Vicki returns home. Bob.

Day Six

Day six on the Pennine Way was wet(just for a change) LOL! I climbed Great Shunner Fell in very heavy rain driven by a strong cold wind, thankfully the rain eased in the afternoon on the walk to Keld and then on to the Tan Hill Inn. The climb up Great Shunner Fell was a pretty desperate affair as you can imagine with no reward of a view of any kind on reaching the summit. I phoned home then got on my way as I was frozen by the wind blowing through my wet clothes. Once through Thwaite the weather started to pick up and continued to improve for the reat of the day and tonight is quite pleasent. Because of the weather and everything being soaking wet I ask at the inn what accommodation they had to offer, I felt the price they were askng for a room was a bit much and was going to take a bunk in the bunk house but then I decided to give myself a break for a night so now I'm living it up in my own room in the inn. I haven't bothered going down for a meal, mostly because my clothes are half rotten after nearly a week of being wet, also I think I probably spent enough on the room so I've just had my camping food in my room. Also last night after writing my report to you I went for another pint of cider which was very good, I was about to return to my tent when this guy came in and started talking to me about my walk, he seemed quite taken by what I was doing and called his wife in to come and meet me. He then saw my glass was empty and bought me another drink and he and his wife joined me and we had several more drinks and didn't get back to my tent until gone ten. They were also staying in a tent near to mine but I didn't get to see them this morning before I left. Today I arrived here at the same time as the dutch lad I met the other day so I had a drink with him before he went on his way, I don't expect to see him again as he will be a way in front of me now. A short while ago I saw the man with the two boys outside the inn, not sure if they're in their tent or the bunkhouse, I haven't seen them to speak to for a couple of days now. I will be a bit later setting off tomorrow as they don't start breakfast until 8 and I'm usually getting away by that time but you can't have everything, at least I will start the day with everything dry.

Day Five

Day five on the Pennine (not so) Wet has been much better, the best day so far. I'm feeling much stronger now and so I'm able to push on for several miles at a time without needing to take a break.Today I could have lingered as the walking was good as was the weather but everyone I met told me this wasn't going to stay this way so I pressed on in the hope that I could beat the rain. I was intending to stay the night at Hawes but decided to go o couple of miles further to Hardraw. This meant me missing out on fish and chips but I made up for ir when I got here by having a pint of cider, I think after the days walk I enjoyed the cider more than I would the chips anyway. I'm camped up at the back of the pub so I think I may pop back for another one before I turn in for the night. I arrived here just in time to beat the rain, I got my tent up and went to look at the highest waterfall in England which is in the grounds of the pub, by the time I got back it was spitting with rain, now its throwing it down but I don't mind as long as its stopped by the morning.I spent quite awhile walking with a Dutch man today, he too is walking alone so I think it was nice for us both to have some company. I've not seen the man and two boys today, they were in the same camp as me last night and were till there when I left this morniing.So tonight I'm camped near to the highest waterfall in England and with luck tomorrow night I will be camped next to the highest pub in England.

Day Four

Day four on the Pennine Wet has been wet! Everyday so far has been wet but today it made a special effort. It showered all night so when I woke and it was dry I went to get packed up as quick ass I could before it started again but I was too late so went back in my tent to sit it out but it didn't stop so oit got to the point where I pressed on regardless or stayed put all day, so I pressed on.The da started with a big climb to the top of Malham Cove follwed by two more big climbs over Fountains Fell and then Penyghent. Fountains Fell was just a hard slog in driving rain, the wind was bitterly cold when I reached the top. By now the rain had found its way in to everywhere so to stop long on the top would have seen me perish from the cold so after phoning Vicki I pushed on back down and then up to Penyghent, at times a near vertical climb in heavy rain and strong wind. All this climbing was for no other reason than to get to my destination because all around there was heavy grey damp mist so no views to be had of any kind. I did manage to take a few pics but I don't know what they will turn out like as the camera was under restricted use because of the rain.When I went to pay for the site tonight the man at the farm seemed to think I'd been here before. He is right of course but he must either be thinking of someone else or have a really great memory because it was over 20 years since I stayed here, I didn't shatter his memories though.I had some bad news today, it seems that Vicki's boss can't manage without her all of next week so our holiday together is to be cut short which is a bit disappointing.If there was one word to sum up todays walking I would say that word is GREY. Its been draining of both body and mind, Its all part of the experience though.

Day Three

Day three on the Pennine Way has been wet, so there is nothing new to report there. Today its been showers more than persistant rain, this meant putting on waterproofs and taking them off on a regular basis until I got fed up and took shelter if there was any. I usually managed to find a tree to hide behind or a bridge to hide under and if it wasn't raining too hard I just ignored it as the heat from my body soon dried it from my clothes.I've seen the guy with his son's a couple of times today, they travel faster than me so we tend to keep passing each other along the way, we even had a little joke this afternoon, I'd always seen him as an over serious person up to then. I think they must have found a different campsite to me because they aren't on this one.Today the way has been mostly across farm land as I crossed the Aire Gap. My legs are starting to feel much stronger, most hills I can plod up now without needing to keep taking a breather. The rucksac is the worst problem at the moment as it weighs really heavt at times, I think some of that is because of all the water in everything. I had to pack my tent up wet this morning so that was extra weight to start with.I managed tp phone home this morning and got a nice surprise. As you know Vicki is coming to spend the weekend with me, the good news is that she is now going to be staying the whole week with me. I will carry on the walk of course but instead of spending everynight on my own in this stupid little tent I will spend it with Vicki in a B&B. The bad news for you of course is that she won't be able to keep you posted on my progress. Never mind I willl be able to do it when I get back.As I arrived in Malham tonight I was approached by three young giirls looking for the campsite, after consulting my map I Ipointed them in the right direction before setting off there myself, from the noise they are making it seems they have bags of energy left.