On Easter Monday I got on the 6.30am train out of Berwick to arrive in Hebden Bridge by 10.00am ready to complete the Pennine Way (or at least the Pennine Way starting from Hadrians Wall). I had 42 miles left to do so the plan was to walk and run 26 miles on the first day to Crowden and then walk 16 miles the second day to Edale.
From the station I followed a lovely path that took me up through the woods where the Bluebells were just starting to come out.
This was a steep uphill path and it wasn't long before I was looking down on the town of Hebden Bridge.
I continued on up and up following the Pennine Bridleway.
I think they must have strange supermarkets round here!
Eventually I rejoined the Pennine Way and arrived at Stoodly Pike Monuement.
I had carefully planned out my route but arrived at Stoodly Pike a full half hour ahead of schedule, that made me feel really good and I set off at a steady jog southwards. I passed a few reservoirs making my way up onto the moors where I could look down on Manchester in the distance and see aeroplanes descending into Manchester Airport.
I was amazed at how many people I passed also out walking, running and mountain biking on what I assumed would be empty, desolate moorland. The thing is on this section the Pennine Way crosses a major A road or Motorway every 5 miles or so and is sandwiched between Leeds and Manchester so is actually quite easy for people to access. Every major road I crossed had a full car park along with attendant Ice-cream van, also being a sunny Easter Monday it had encouraged people out to enjoy the countryside.
I had arranged to meet Tim and the boys at Wessenden Head so that James could join me for the last section over Black Hill but he was running late so we arranged that they went straight to the campsite and I would slog on alone. By the time I got to Wessenden Head I was slowing down and had lost my extra half hour, also my left hip was really beginning to hurt. I walked slowly up Black Hill knowing that once I got to the top it was then downhill all the way to the campsite. The first bit was easy enough, following the stone flags, I even managed to continue running for a bit but then the final section along the edge of Laddow rocks was when it got really tough. This is where the path gets really narrow and is right on the edge of a rather high drop, the path then starts to descend but it is a scramble down over the rocks and by now my hips, knees and thighs were beginning to say 'enough'. Eventually I made it to the bottom and arrived in the campsite only 45 mins behind schedule.
I was asleep by 9pm
The next day James and I set off at 8.30am to finish the last 16 miles. After leaving Crowden and crossing the reservoir we had a steep climb up onto Bleaklow, the wind was really blowing hard down the valley and it was hats on and hoods up to protect our ears. Once up on the edge we ran quite a bit, as by now my legs had loosened up a bit, following the path all the way up to the summit of Bleaklow. It was a bit of a moonscape up there and after a bit of compass work we located the path going south and headed on down to the crossing of the Snake Pass where Tim and Ben met us with lunch.
After a quick pasta salad and a banana we were off again over the moors and onto Kinder low and Kinder Downfall. Despite a stiff headwind we made good time and had a good run from Kinder Downfall along to Edale rocks - although following James is like chasing a mountain goat as he leaps from one rock to another!
As we came past Edale rocks we looked down and saw Tim and Ben coming to meet us at the top of Jacobs Ladder.
Jacob's Ladder is steep and a real knee killer going downhill, we took it slowly (well I did, James continued to leap and run at speed, I think he might make a good fell runner).
A couple more miles and then finally we made it to the end of the Pennine Way (or the start if you're going the other way)
I was completely shattered by now, luckily Tim was there to drive us home, I slept most of the way back.
Amazingly 3 days later I have just one blister to show for it all, my thighs did ache the next morning but that soon wore off, I might just wait a couple more days though before I go out running again.
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