Start/Finish:
Lay-by on A62, Huddersfield Road, Delph
Grid
Reference: SD 992 081.
Distance:
7 miles
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| The Castleshaw Valley with Millstone Edge in the background |
This
walk around the rim of the Castleshaw Valley was conducted last year, as the
winter snow began to recede.
From
the lay-by, we carefully crossed the busy A62 to the wooden stile almost
opposite. Climbing the stile, we made our way south-east along the footpath
which ascends Lark Hill to attain Harrop Edge. Turning north along Harrop Edge
Lane, we were confronted by a cold wind blowing in from the East. It was these
chilling Easterly’s that had brought in the recent bout of snow over the past
weeks which, although now receding as the spring temperatures began to rise,
was lying in deep drifts upon the frozen ground.
Again crossing the A62 onto Standedge Foot Lane, we passed
behind the old, now long derelict, Horse & Jockey pub, before heading up a
grassy track that is Whimberry Lee Lane. At stanedge, we ascended pure white,
crisp snow fields to attain the trig point on Millstone Edge. Under a clear
sky, there was not but a breath of wind on this rocky edge which marks the
Lancashire/Yorkshire border. The views all around were magnificent and far
reaching, and we marvelled at the wonderful vistas. Whilst today was glorious,
this rocky edge is often battered by strong winds the year round. In bad winter
weather this must have been a grim posting for the Roman soldiers stationed at
the fort in the valley below, whose job it was to guard the military road from
Chester to York. One of a series of Roman Forts the original stronghold covered
over three acres and garrisoned around 500 infantry. At some point it was
abandoned, until being re-occupied in the early 2nd century A.D. as
a small out-post.
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| Snow fields below Millstone Edge |
Following the Oldham Way, we made good progress over
the firm snow. The frozen surface of which was yet to thaw under the warming
sun. Looking over to the West, the Denshaw reservoirs could be seen glistening
in the morning sunlight.
Picking up the Pennine Bridleway, we dropped down
Moor Lane where it meets Ox Hey Lane at the old Cross Roads known as Four Lane
Ends. Continuing south, we enjoyed traversing the deep snow drifts that had
completely filled the sunken track that is Broad Lane. The views down into the
Castleshaw Valley were a delight as we headed towards Heights. |
| Snow cornice overhanging a re-entrant. |
Opposite the entrance to Spring Hill, we turned
south-east towards Grange, and descended the sunken bridleway which is
believed to have been an old packhorse road or ‘saltway’. This area of
Saddleworth was part of Friarmere which in turn was part of the Roche Abbey
estate. Local historians believe that
the Black Friars had a house or ‘Grange’ here which possibly lends its name to
the area.
Our descent once again took us over deep snow drifts,
and we eventually emerged at the ford which crosses Hull Brook. With our
morning outing nearing the end, we followed Hull Mill Lane, crossed Delph Lane
and walked the final few metres along Sandbed Lane to return to the lay-by on
Huddersfield Road.
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| Snowy, the trekking snowman |
