Pennine Way - Day 4: Littleborough to Hebden Bridge

Flat road

We set off up the hill. We were in good spirits at the bottom but not such good spirits on the way up. This was the last day of pretending we were beasts of burden.

Tomorrow, just beasts.

Maybe I am exaggerating here. But we really were ready to give up, too much weight is a killer. Only The Plan was keeping us going. We only hoped that it would be enough. It was drastic but we couldn’t see any alternative except …  abject failure. Which none of us could really face.

Three of us. Posing

At the top of the hill we joined an old road built when they were making the reservoirs. There are lots of these things dotted around. Built to feed the industrial revolution. But now, either left to just look good or bad, depending on who you ask, or as part of the water supply. But no swimming.

But the flat road was the important thing.

This of course changed.

We walked along Blackstone edge. Stone not really so black but certainly an edge. So a pass.

Little

Stoodley Pike.

From a distance a little black sticky-up thing.

From close up; a big black sticky-up thing.

But it was our magnet. It was close to the end,. Well close to the end of the day. This obelisk erected to celebrate end of some war between England and France. From my limited knowledge of history there should be hundreds of these things. It fell over at some point but was rebuilt but we still climbed it for the view. 

Us four and a dog

Big

Left our packs at the bottom in the hope that someone might steal them – no such luck.

The Pike is a an impressive monument, at least it stands in a silly place for such a big thing and a good wind break for weary walkers.

The view came with a price. There was a very cold wind blowing. There were lots of people who had walked up to admire the view and get a bit of fresh air. I guess they got a bit more than they had bargained for.

'Slum'

Then down, down to Hebden Bridge. Not strictly on route but essential for The Plan.

We did a bit of canal walking and saw the slums of the canal boat world.

Destination reached we stopped and had lunch in a canal side bar. It had been a short day and potential relief had spurred us on. Sitting in the sun, beer in hand, food in belly watching the canal. 

Closed for the day

Hoping for some lock action – but seems canal boats these days are more decorative fixtures than things that actually move.

Hebden Bridge is ‘delightful’. I choose the word carefully, it is very nice but in a twee sort of way. 

But definitely worth a visit if you are in the area.

A hard life

We did a bit of a reci and found the crafty art shops and the arty craft shops. Signed the petition to keep out a big supermarket chain and went back to the pub by the canal.

		Cumulative
Distance Walked	9km	62km
Start Point	Littleborough
End Point	Hebden Bridge
Via	Blackstone Edge and Stoodley Pike Monument
General Comments Another short day Hebden Bridge – a new old town. Still knackered

Walking Across Slovakia