Yes, we’d agreed to return to the Strines for our Wednesday outing for which Moz (in the absence of Andy, in the French Alps) had chosen a fine route, keeping up all the traditions the Slow Warts would want; a hill or two, plenty of well-watered rough ground, geological and historical features, sunshine, a bit of track, a bit of wild life and good craic. What more could we have asked for?
There was an unspoken sense of urgency which prompted a timely start at precisely 5pm to maximise our time in the remaining daylight. Our measure of climate change was soon encountered in the giant jungle bracken of Strines Dike, some Slow Warts even appeared to disappear. Fortunately, no rescue was needed as they reappeared, possibly slightly worse for wear. Such was our joy at being back in relatively open country, we headed towards the right (yes, the right) of the gamekeeper’s cottage. Not ones for having an easy life, this line took us through some aggressive brambles determined to inflict maximum bloody damage to our delicate legs. We burst out of this war zone on to the gamekeeper’s track and down to the Foulstone track where we continued to Lost Lad via Back Tor.
The gentle slope did allow some running and some walking when we reminisced about the Back Tor and Back race organised by Howard Swindells a few years ago. This was hard core racing! From the start at Strines Bridge, it was maximum effort all the way to the trig on Back Tor, and back the same way. If nothing else you could see your position after the turn round. Remember, some rock climbing was needed to reach the trig, all a bit frantic. This time we walked and ran and didn’t rock climb Back Tor on our way to Lost Lad.
There we grouped for our descent on some rough ground and paths down to Sheepfold Clough where, inevitably and much to Chris’s annoyance, the subject of drumlins arose. Chris put us right (again) by describing the mounds as “crumbling landslides” or some such. To inspire us on our next climb to Low Tor, we tumbled over an elegant looking frog which remained still, long enough for a photo to be taken, wonderful.
We spread out on the climb, with Pete veering to the left to be rewarded with a fine view of the waterfall in the upper part of Abbey Brook. We continued across challenging terrain, be it bracken or heather and in this case saturated tussocks which can hide subterranean water courses for us to fall into, and admire? Nevertheless, we made it to Low Tor.
Of course, we felt obliged to visit the block house which was hidden in the rushes surrounding it. We didn’t follow a direct line from Low Tor but went straight for the slabs of the Dukes Road and then, variously, went left or right trying to reach as many fast, mown heather stretches as possible. Fortunately, we all converged at the block house.
Having learnt our lesson about the dangers of skin tearing brambles we had encountered earlier, we kept well clear of them to have a relatively clear descent into Strines Dike. But, oh, it was at a cost of yet more vertiginous bracken, all resulting in two falls and almost a submission. Fortunately, we escaped into the comforting track and road to the car pub park.
Having just about exhausted our important discussions in the pub on many things which included how often to wash running gear, the theft of golf equipment, carpentry, cars, crisp and cornflake sandwiches, medical conditions and, of course, preparing head torches for next Wednesday’s outing to Snake Bridge, we declared the outing to be up to standard. At that point other DPFR members were arriving in a blaze of torchlight,
The route and the company made for a wonderful little adventure so thanks to all.
Graham
