The sun was shining from a pale blue sky as we set off across the bridge and followed the road towards the United Utilities intake site, first passing Hareden Farm.
This farm was built in a year of great significance to the united Kingdom.
As this lovely home was being built in a quiet backwater of Norther England across the Irish Sea The "Battle of the Boyne" was being fought.
Passing through the farm w took time to have a short conversation with the farmer and his son (?) which made us think carefully about the day's plans.
We had intended to climb "Scout Rocks". "Bit of a struggle through heavy bracken" they warned. "Better to keep going on the track and come back at it from the far side" we eventually decided that "Far" was too far.
Soon after passing through this friendly farm and before coming to the water "Intake" we came to a Loooooooong seat in the form of a horizontal Telegraph Pole. Coffee time ? of course !
Then..... on and through the intake complex.....
Harry and James obviously find this particular piece of equipment "Wheelie" amusing.
We were also, it seemed, warned not to walk too fast. As if we would or could !
Once beyond the intake the road became a track and the fells began to loom around us. and...……. we found a photogenic bridge.... "quelle surprise "
The track was gradually rising as we walked along the valley. Over to the left was the long bulk of Totridge Fell. Previous experience kept us well clear of the difficult terrain to be found atop it.
Ahead of us , however, we got our first sighting of Scout Rock". It was a rather daunting sight. An unusually craggy cliff for this area of the Forest of Bowland.
As we got nearer we searched in vain for any sign of the footpath marked on The O.S. map.
Just before we arrived beneath the crag the path took a short dogleg back before once more turning up the valley to pass beneath the forbidding looking rocks.
As the track rose to pass underneath the crag we stopped to take stock. There was no sign of the footpath and indeed, as the farmer had foretold, a dense tangle of bracken seemed to be all the hillside had to offer.
Plough on along the obvious track was the eventual decision. This seemingly easier option soon proved to be quite challenging as it rose STEEPLY along the edge of the fell and required frequent stops to gaspingly draw breath.
With the heather covered slopes of Totridge defending it's flanks to our left the views all around us were quite spectacular.
With lungs and joints beginning to consider waving the white flag we at last crested the top of the track's steep incline, and there was a CAFE...……..some hope ! It was a ruinous hut.😞
Café or not it was definitely to be our Lunch spot.
We settled down in various spots around this one time shooting shelter and munched our lunches surrounded by the spectacular scenery.
This was one of very few spots where James D could not announce that he had a relative living nearby.
Harry here claimed to be enhancing the view - I should Coco !
Was Vic's choice of dining spot entirely voluntary ?
Here we see Jim C dealing with a cheeky slug that had followed us all the way up the hill !
..And here's Harry a self proclaimed bullfrog being inspired by the glorious scenery to trill like the best of songbirds....'onest….I kid you not !
As a young boy (Oh precious memories) whenever I asked my parents where we were going I was invariably told "There and Back to see how far it is." ... Aaagh ! Well, we have got there and we know how far it is so now we go back...…..the same way.
Off down the valley
But do they realise they are being shadowed ?
After an initial, slowly cautious descent down the steep bits, progress down the valley was rather quicker than the upward trek. and it wasn't long before we were once again walking along the relatively level floor of the valley.
Coffee time again and someone looks rather "Fatigued". No flies on Mick though.....thank goodness.
We continued downwards passing through one of only two barriers throughout the walk. One a farm gate and one a "kissing" gate ! No stiles to climb on this walk.
By now we were almost back at the intake buildings but first we crossed back over the bouncy wooden bridge next to a ford that we encountered on the way up.
Through the intake complex again
and past the previously mentioned Hareden Farm
where the farmer we had spoken to on our way out was there again loading some of his flock of Swaledale sheep into the cattle truck to take to Clitheroe Market.
and a final stretch towards the trough road.
…..until we arrived at the bridge over Langden Brook which , just upstream, had been joined by Hareden brook before it tumbled down towards Dunsop Bridge where it would join the Hodder.
Just across Langden Brook the cars awaited as well as Martin's, ever welcome, post walk shandies.
THE END
p.s. On looking again at the Ordnance Survey map I find I had been leading you astray. The fell I referred to as "Totteridge" is in fact called "Totridge". Perhaps my memories of "Tottering" over that particularly difficult fell have left their mark. The error has been rectified. Profuse apologies !
