Monday 11th November 2024.
WPW Link Route, Edenfield to Rooley Moor Road.
On a glorious sunny autumnal morning thirteen walkers met in Exchange Street, Edenfield, to complete the second section of the West Pennine Way Link Route. We began by walking along Market Street to the Parish Church, where we finished the first section of the route. After turning right into East Street, we walked up the track to the first stile and headed across the fields to Sand Beds Lane. Once on the lane we climbed steadily up to Black Hill where we turned right onto the Rossendale Way, passing Cowpe Reservoir, in the valley below. After a long climb we arrived at Rooley Moor, that comes up from Cowpe, and it was at this point which we finished the second section of The Link Route. From here it was a short steep climb over the wet moors to the trig point at Top of Leach. By this time, it was almost 11.00am, which was good timing as it was here that we had planned to observe the two minutes silence on Armistice Day. After gathering around the trig point, the Tryst was said, followed by the sound of the Last Post and the Kohima was said. After a period of reflection admiring the three hundred- and sixty-degree views around the West Pennines, we sat down to enjoy our morning coffee.
View over the sunny moors
Waiting for 11.00am
Coffee stop
Continuing over the moors we headed for the wind turbines, where we got a wave from the engineer at the top of the structure. After turning right and walking for a short distance along the access road, we turned left onto Coal Road. The descent took us passed the gate leading to Paradise, (the name of an area on the way to Owd Betts), which has been part of previous walks.
Wind turbine
Further down the slope we took advantage of a collapsed wall to sit and eat our lunch in the sunshine, whilst having views overlooking Ashworth Reservoir.
Lunch
After lunch we walked down to Rochdale Road, which we crossed, and turned left down Bleakholt Road.
Descending to Turn
Crossing Rochdale Road
From here we joined familiar paths into Dearden Wood eventually joining Gin Croft Lane where we turned left and headed back into Edenfield having covered ten rewarding miles.
Dearden Wood