Having had a few races in recent times, the Slow Warts felt entitled to a less strenuous outing so nine such fellows set off in the warmth, in tee shirts and shorts, from the car park for a tour of Blackden. There was a possible plan or opportunity to limit, in his absence in the Hebrides, the amount of Harmerian terrain by using a few more paths around the edge of the Blackden. However, such was our conditioning over the years of Warts and Slow Warts expeditions, we probably actually only used a couple of hundred metres of path. Clearly, we had a continuing and underlying need to enjoy the delights of bracken, thistle and heather caressing our legs, not to mention the ankle stretching delights of tussock hopping.
Our climb to Seal Stones had these ingredients with the added benefit of a generous dose of sunshine (it was midsummer after all), all of which combined to encourage us to have a “bit of a sit down” on the warm and inviting rocks at the top. This is the life!
Relaxing on Seal stones
Leaving Seal Stones on a path!
Fully rested, we enjoyed some path running, yes, running, though the effort and speed began to have its effect so we escaped back on to the heather where our only option, we argued, was to mainly walk to one of the Hartshorns. One is a spot height on the map and the other is a small set of rocks where the first to arrive (Tom W) had the honour of slumping into the hollowed-out seat. Such was our inclination to dignify moorland features with a name of someone from our group, that Tom’s Seat was immediately coined along with Tom’s landslip on the opposite side of the valley. Other names are also available, including Roger’s who did have something named after him but I forget which, perhaps a bed?
Tom’s Seat
Roger’s Bed??
This wide valley view prompted a discussion of the best route to Blackden trig; a dash to the edge path, a completion of the Hartshorn double or directly across the moor which was considered to be too serious. We did the latter! From the trig, it was proposed we went along the path to Madwoman’s Stones but the pull of the AGM at the Norfolk Arms was too much for some so the pathless and speedy descent was via the steep Dean Hill to the car park.
Steep descent from Dean Hill
With thanks to Michael for all his excellent photos
The non-AGM attendees spent a very pleasant hour at the Yorkshire Bridge Inn so completing a terrific evening’s outing enjoying the company, the weather and even the terrain.
Graham