Sun 23rd May - Day 37, Todmorden to Cowling (17 miles)

The sun was shining and I was taken back to Todmorden to where I finished yesterday, Mick was coming with me again for the morning.

We walked along the canal towpath for a while to pick up the Pennine Way again then it was a steep climb to start with and across farmland to Colden before getting back on to moorland.

Going across Heptonstall Moor and the dam at Gorple Reservoir we got to the car park on the minor road at 11:30 to meet up with Karen and Chris.
This is a popular area for walkers & cyclists and, being the weekend, there were a lot about.

After an early lunch it was time to part company and they waved me off. I had enjoyed Micks company and I found it very hard to get going again on my own.

I went across the dam of Walshaw Dean Resrvoir and up to Withins Height on Stanbury Moor, coming down I paused at the ruins of Withins and chatted to a couple for a few minutes.

There are no known records that state any reference of a Bronte connection to Top Withens (Withins) but it has been passed down locally that the ruins are connected to Emily Bronte's novel Wuthering Heights.

Whether it was the hot weather, not doing as many miles as usual in the morning or being on my own again, I don't know, but it was an exhausting day and I was glad to reach Cowling and call it a day after 17 miles.

Tonight I am at Winterhouse Barn, a B&B that offers camping facilities and I am camped in a paddock with sheep. Unfortunately they have taken a liking to the tent and keep trying to see if it is any good to eat. I hope I am going to get some sleep tonight.

611 miles completed.