Black Hill (or should it be Bleak Hill)

Date of walk : Sunday 28th.January

Distance : 9.5 miles

The weather was reasonable and the forecast was for slight drizzle so on arriving at Crowden I decided to head up to Black Hill and to double back. (Well that was the theory but more of that later!) It looked a little murky up on the tops but people I met coming down from Black Hill said that it wasn't too bad up on the tops.


However, as on my previous walk I seemed to meet people coming towards me. Is there something they know that I don't? The path I followed was part of the Pennine Way and headed through Rake Rocks and Laddow Rocks. As I kept climbing up I was a little unsure about the weather as it got windier and windier but looking back down to Crowden the vision seemed fine. However, as I moved further up towards Black Hill the weather took a turn for the worse and the wind was howling and the rain became torrential.


It was so windy that I felt like I was going to lose my hat but the howling wind made me use my hood as well. The brooks were pretty full and in places one just had to walk through them and in a couple of places the level did slip over my laces. The view up at Soldier's Lump (top of Black Hill) was well not a view at all. I reckon you could see about 10-15 metres at times and for a bit I missed the path as I was supposed to double back and head back down toward Crowden.


However, eventually I located the route but I was so soaked by this point that I just kept on going and made my way back to the car. The pictures are only on the way up as I didn't want to test the waterproof ability of my camera. At least I got out but maybe I should have turned back. As I write (Friday evening) my boots are still damp but they should be OK for another pounding on Sunday.


This is as long as I chase off my cold. It was flu earlier in January but getting a soaking brought all my ailments back again. Anyway the forecast looks good so far so the fresh air will blow all the bugs away before heading back to that place thay pays my mortgage on Monday.


Flickr Album - Black Hill - January 2007