- Joined
- Jan 14, 2010
- Messages
- 2,679
Well....I think this is my first post in WSS. Thought the 'scenery' would be a bit of a break from the norm!! Kudos to the likes of the Doc, Pitdog and Mistwalker for inspiring me to post. I always enjoy seeing the great outdoors you guys have over there. Thank you.
Had a plod around Ogden Moor (Calderdale, West Yorkshire) at the weekend, had Earl, his buddy Paul and his rescue Greyhound (a bit Santa's Little Helper if you catch my drift).
There's recently been a large Moor fire in this area....
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-leeds-13264041
Anyway, it seems to have recovered reasonably well and in such a short time. I guess the weather we've had has really helped 'green' things back to health again....not that the photos really show that (combination of iPhone camera, low light and it being, well, somewhat overcast).
The weather, well, it w'proper Yorkshire stuff....but it dint put us of 'ar wanderin' bart.
Parked at the reservoir car park and took the Moorland path, away from the few folks and bimbling around the 'easy' paths.
First point of note was the Drystone Walling 'Exhibit' - Its actually a pretty thorough and interesting piece of craftsmanship, with a variety of styles, a lined 'beck' (or dyke), bridge etc.
The path was terrible! I've never seen such a badly eroded byway. Can't help but think its the darn cyclists. At some parts there were several furrows at waist height
A few things stood out on these more traveled paths anyway, mainly in the way of cairns
And there were a fair few patches of bog cotton. Its delicate heads always look a little outta place on the harsh, windswept moors, but I love it. Got a handful to add to the tinder pouch.
There wasn't much to see...that I could photograph. The grey skies prevented my feeble iPhone camera from taking any decent snaps at first...and when it did, the views were a little bleak...cue Kate Bush...
Slowly but surely we made headway, and after turning off the 'main' path we started to find a few views and things of interest.
First off were the 'pov. spec' hides, used when the grouse shooting starts (the 'Glorious Twelfth' August). There's one to the right of Earl....not that there was much left other than the uprights and crossbar (used to 'dangle' a turf wall from)
The view towards Oxenhope
We took another path, a much less distinct one, and we entered an area once quarried for stone. There were piles of the stuff, several neat stacks of thin roofing stone were dotted about the place. There were also the foundations of small buildings or sheep pens and more purposeful looking remnant, with 'simple' stone bridges and so forth. Sadly the light would not allow for decent snaps.
We carried on and made our way towards the moor top, flanked by masses of Bilberry bushes (way too early for fruit...but they'll be one hell of a glut later in the year...providing you can beat the Grouse to 'em!).
Finally our pit-stop was in sight...
Despite how homely it looked, it was catching all the wind....thankfully there was leeward facing shelter but a stones throw away (thanks to whoever made these! They were a welcome respite from the wind and driving mist)
Time for a brew (and obligatory knife shot!)
Earl assured me he was having fun...
(Propa Yorkshire attire on't go! )
The view was actually brighter than it looked....honest!
The mid stretch of the walk was less than clement, so the camera phone stayed tucked away.
Eventually, on the return leg, we managed to find some cover, picking up the outer trail around the Res. It seemed so much more peaceful...and dry!
(oops...bit of finger!!)
Coming back out on the water it was gloomy again!
There was a little bit of colour though....a huge patch of Rhoddies
And this dainty cluster of wild floweres on the way back up to the car park
Finished with a pint of Cider (that's the alcoholic kind) and a warm fire.
Was a great way to spend Sunday afternoon, and the weather, well, you get used to it after 30 years.
Had a plod around Ogden Moor (Calderdale, West Yorkshire) at the weekend, had Earl, his buddy Paul and his rescue Greyhound (a bit Santa's Little Helper if you catch my drift).
There's recently been a large Moor fire in this area....
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-leeds-13264041
Anyway, it seems to have recovered reasonably well and in such a short time. I guess the weather we've had has really helped 'green' things back to health again....not that the photos really show that (combination of iPhone camera, low light and it being, well, somewhat overcast).
The weather, well, it w'proper Yorkshire stuff....but it dint put us of 'ar wanderin' bart.
Parked at the reservoir car park and took the Moorland path, away from the few folks and bimbling around the 'easy' paths.
First point of note was the Drystone Walling 'Exhibit' - Its actually a pretty thorough and interesting piece of craftsmanship, with a variety of styles, a lined 'beck' (or dyke), bridge etc.
The path was terrible! I've never seen such a badly eroded byway. Can't help but think its the darn cyclists. At some parts there were several furrows at waist height
A few things stood out on these more traveled paths anyway, mainly in the way of cairns
And there were a fair few patches of bog cotton. Its delicate heads always look a little outta place on the harsh, windswept moors, but I love it. Got a handful to add to the tinder pouch.
There wasn't much to see...that I could photograph. The grey skies prevented my feeble iPhone camera from taking any decent snaps at first...and when it did, the views were a little bleak...cue Kate Bush...
Slowly but surely we made headway, and after turning off the 'main' path we started to find a few views and things of interest.
First off were the 'pov. spec' hides, used when the grouse shooting starts (the 'Glorious Twelfth' August). There's one to the right of Earl....not that there was much left other than the uprights and crossbar (used to 'dangle' a turf wall from)
The view towards Oxenhope
We took another path, a much less distinct one, and we entered an area once quarried for stone. There were piles of the stuff, several neat stacks of thin roofing stone were dotted about the place. There were also the foundations of small buildings or sheep pens and more purposeful looking remnant, with 'simple' stone bridges and so forth. Sadly the light would not allow for decent snaps.
We carried on and made our way towards the moor top, flanked by masses of Bilberry bushes (way too early for fruit...but they'll be one hell of a glut later in the year...providing you can beat the Grouse to 'em!).
Finally our pit-stop was in sight...
Despite how homely it looked, it was catching all the wind....thankfully there was leeward facing shelter but a stones throw away (thanks to whoever made these! They were a welcome respite from the wind and driving mist)
Time for a brew (and obligatory knife shot!)
Earl assured me he was having fun...
(Propa Yorkshire attire on't go! )
The view was actually brighter than it looked....honest!
The mid stretch of the walk was less than clement, so the camera phone stayed tucked away.
Eventually, on the return leg, we managed to find some cover, picking up the outer trail around the Res. It seemed so much more peaceful...and dry!
(oops...bit of finger!!)
Coming back out on the water it was gloomy again!
There was a little bit of colour though....a huge patch of Rhoddies
And this dainty cluster of wild floweres on the way back up to the car park
Finished with a pint of Cider (that's the alcoholic kind) and a warm fire.
Was a great way to spend Sunday afternoon, and the weather, well, you get used to it after 30 years.
