We were joined at the Cutthroat Bridge by a photographer (Richard Gill) who was waiting for a top fell athlete to do a photo shoot advertising fell running socks. We willingly volunteered but sadly we weren’t accepted, I can only think it was because perhaps we weren’t wearing the correct brand of socks?
Despite this disappointment, seven of us, including rarely seen Paul S and a welcome newcomer Anna who had recently moved to Sheffield, set off from Cutthroat Bridge car park to visit the first of two stone circles. Hordron was quickly gained and, as a nominal nod to Andy, (sunning himself in Corfu) via some Harmerian ground. It became clear during the outing that our normal ratio of 80:20 of Harmerian territory to track, became 20:80. Shame on us! Even more shocking was that nobody got their feet wet in the very dry conditions. What is happening to the Slow Warts? Having crossed Jarvis Clough, we didn’t even go on the direct crossing of Bamford Moor to Great Tor and, instead kept to the wide path, perhaps for a dose of speed work?
There was a hint of carol singing at Great Tor as an early rehearsal of the Slow Warts’ Christmas celebration, without, of course, the dark and the wind and rain. Our photographer and track master, Chris, took his precarious position on top of Great Tor to record the event but left his gloves behind. In an attempt to help out, I went to retrieve them and throw them over the intervening chasm. Whilst I was successful in returning one glove, an unfortunate blast of wind sent the other into the chasm. Seeing Chris’s and my distress, Anna scrambled down and proudly retrieved it. Such adventures we have!
We continued on the edge path (fine views) to the quarry edge for our attempt to find the next stone circle which has previously been notoriously difficult to find. A previous recce had revealed a path from a “Stone” marked on the map, near a small wood on Bole Hill. This path through the heather led directly to the stone circle; that was the theory. We found the wood, the Stone and the path and followed it, so far, so good. However, well on to the moor there was a slight path bearing off to the right. We ignored it. Congratulations to Simon who spotted the circle so we needed to backtrack to it. We should have taken the slight path!
A little bit of heather bashing brought is to the track back to Jarvis Clough where the shed seemed to have been improved, it was no longer supported by only one beam, so the Slow Warts’ other carol singing location had been saved!
Of course, we refreshed ourselves back at the YBI and remarkably our thoughts turned to dog training (thanks to Paul S), our various encounters with animals and the equally various methods of protecting yourself from them, notably staring directly into their eyes!?
All in all, we agreed it been a good outing though tinged with some guilt that we hadn’t had our quota of Harmerian joy. Thanks to all.
Graham
