Walk Description

The view from the car park was very hazy and wasting no time I crossed the road and joined the Pennine Way. After a short sharp ascent I joined the path beside the Broad Head Drain. The drain is used to collect run off water from the moor and take it to the reservoirs. After about 0.5 miles the path meets the Roman Road. I then climbed the Roman Road to the col, this is marked by the Aiggin Stone.

From here the path starts to deteriorate. The land is mainly peat on top of a gritstone layer. At times the path is so boggy, large slabs of gritstone have been used as stepping stones. I gradually wound my way through the scattered slabs of rocks to the summit of Blackstone Edge. The trig point stands on a large boulder right on the edge of the ridge. Just to the south of the trig point is a large hollowed out rock that is marked on the OS map as Robin Hood’s Bed.

I then retraced my steps to the Aiggin Stone and turned right towards Yorkshire.From here it was new territory for me, I followed the gradually deteriorating path. The path eventually became a peat bog and I found a new use for my walking poles – bog depth testing. After approx 0.5miIes joined the permissive path that followed the Rishworth Drain to the A58. After all the bog trotting and path finding, it was good to follow a decent path again. Just before I reached the road, the weather changed and on went the waterproofs. I took advantage of the stop to have a quick bite to eat.

I reached the main road and officially walked back into Lancashire. (We abide by the traditional counties here.) A righthand turn took me into Turvin Road and I walked beside the dark stormy waters of Blackstone Edge Reservoir. Just past Blackstone Reservoir another old boundary stone showed that once again I was passing from Lancashire into Yorkshire, the local town having the unusual name of Mytholmroyd. I then turned left and followed Cold Leighton Drain over Nigher Hill, Middle Hill and Farther Hill to White Holme Reservoir. As I was walking alongside the drain I met a lady taking 3 of her ferrets for a walk. At least they were friendlier than the dog I met toward the end of the walk. I then continued to follow the drains around the edges of Blake Moor and Withens Moor. The path was easy to see although at times the peaty morass made for interesting walking. As I reached the northern most part of the walk, a sunlit Stoodley Pike came into view.

For the next 2km I looked over the ground that Steve and I had covered in our walk the previous weekend. Stoodley Pike was erected to celebrate the end of the Napoleonic Wars. As I reached the corner of Warland Drain the permissive path ended and I rejoined the Pennine Way. A sign post kindly informed me that the White House was 2 ¼ miles away. Feeling weary, I decided detouring around Warland Reservoir and continued on the Pennine Way straight passed Warland Reservoir and its grand water tower built by Rochdale Council Water Works in 1869. I then walked alongside the partially drained Light Hazzles Reservoir. I then followed Head Drain past Cow Head to Blackstone Edge Reservoir. From here I could see the end of the walk, the White House pub and the car park beckoned to me. I quickly reached the car and after removing my boots and waterproofs, sank gently into the car seat my weary feet and hips enjoying the rest. A very quick 10 minute drive saw me back at home.