Sunday March 24th

Wessenden Head and Black Hill

David went for a walk on his own today. I parked up in the layby on the Isle of Skye Road, near Carol's snack caravan and had a coffee before my walk. The road was named after the hotel- very little of it remains now.

The remains of the Isle of Skye Hotel with Black Hill in the background

I took the usual route down towards Marsden, past the flight of reservoirs with Pule Hill in the distance.

Wessenden Head Reservoir with Pule Hill on the skyline

The deer (venison on the hoof...) were lounging around in the sun at the Wessenden Lodge farm.

Venison (not) on the hoof

Just past Wessenden Lodge the path (The Pennine Way) cruelly drops down to the stream and then climbs up steeply to a water tank with an aerial. The path had become very muddy and slippery and is being rebuilt: it will be extremely solid, based on the amount of rock that has been airlifted in!

Steep path under (re)construction- lots of rocks already positioned, more in the sacks below

I had lunch at the usual spot- overlooking the Black Moss Reservoir. The saddle-backed hill in the distance is, I think, Deer Hill Moss, traversing across to West Nab. No paths are marked, but it's always looked as if it would be a good walk.

Black Moss Reservoir, Deer Hill Moss in the distance

Having crossed the Isle of Skye Road and slogged along the approximate route of the old Pennine Way, the trig point at the top of Black Hill is always a welcome sight; its list give it its own character!

Black Hill trig point- Bleaklow in the distance

From the top of Black Hill, it's just following the Pennine Way- nice and dry underfoot, as it's well paved with floor slabs from old, demolished mills.

10.2 miles with 450m ascent.


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