Thieveley Pike from Shawforth and back.

Sheila and I were at a loose end today (Sunday). We had no plans. I emailed Martin on Saturday evening, just on the off chance that he was doing a walk that we could latch onto.
Back came the reply. Yes, meet you outside the Big Wellie at Tyndrum at 9.30am. That's roughly about 277 miles from home.  That wasn't what i was actually thinking, but kind to be invited anyway even if it was a bit tongue in cheek. He was on a TGO challengers reunion weekend.

So we set the alarm and when it went off we just turned over. We could hear the rain on the open bedroom window. An hour later we decided to make the effort whatever the weather and get out there.

"Where are we going", Sheila said, as if i had a plan.

I decided to go to Thieveley Pike on Todmorden Moor, a walk which i had never done before, but start it from Shawforth where i knew there was a good car park and just about the right distance for a days walk.
We had been driving for about 10 minutes when something jumped into my brain about tea bags. "Did you pick up the green tea bags" i asked Sheila. You can guess the reply. "No i thought you did."
So we had a flask of hot water and no teabags. I don't mind hot water to be honest but Sheila said we will buy some when we pass a shop. Which we did. In fact it was a bit of bargain too, 100 green tea bags for £2.

It wasn't raining as we parked up but just as i opened the boot to put on my walking boots and gaiters it started to tipple. Typical. Waterproofs from the off.
It was dark, the edges off the clouds tinged with light from a sun we probably wouldn't see today. The roads were flowing and the spray had to be avoided as we crossed the main road to a landrover track leading to Higher Hogshead and Green Brow, 2 hill farms. Crossing the open fellside with its coarse grass and ruts full of water. It was a good job we had put gaiters on which by now were also covered with overtrousers.

Fortunately as we approached the ridge line which is also the county boundary and part of the Rossendale Way, the cloud base was high so although it was lashing it down we had decent visibility. That was apart from the areas which were getting the worst of the rain.

 (View South, Whitworth in the foreground and Manchester Town Centre behind)

(Zoom shot taken from same place as previous image) Manchester looks a bit wet.

Our route followed the boundary line North. Many of the boundary stones still prominent. We splodged along the path or watercourse as it was today, until we met with the A681.  All the way we had the incessant banging from shotguns. The noise carries so far. There were many cars up in the quarries behind the Astronomy Centre or Observatory which ever you prefer. The shotguns we guess was from a clay pidgeon shoot.

(One of the many boundary stones. T for Todmorden i presume and the other side was S but i'm not sure what the S is.)

The rain got harder and the camera was put away, the surroundings disappeared for a few minutes and then re-appeared as the wind swept the rain cloud across the moor. We stood and watched one area bright then disappear in a blanket of grey.
We came to a really high stile which we crossed to reach the A681. It's not a particular busy road on a Sunday and so we had no problems walking the few hundred yards along it before we picked up the footpath across Todmorden Moor.
Up until then we had seen no one. Here at the lay bye there were a few cars parked with folk still sat inside them as though they were thinking "Do we have to go out in that and look at them two daft beggers looking at us, they looked soaked".

I checked the map as numerous paths and tracks criss crossed, we headed for Hill Top farm. Then we spotted a rare sight of what looked like a Boar. Unusual to see one just wandering along a quarry road. Maybe the shooters scared it off the moor.

On reaching Hill Top Farm the path goes through the farm yard. Just as we entered and closed the gate we spotted a big German Shepherd dog. It ran over to us followed by 3 yapping Jack Russell terriers.
It was a scary moment but thankfully the German Shepherd was really nice and friendly and the terriers just yapped. The owner came out and called them back and apologised. We had a bit of banter and then went on our way through the mud and what ever else you find in farm yards.
Once again we got battered with a heavy downpour. The weather was being quite capricious today. We came across a group of horses which were stood like statues against the wall. even as we walked past they hardly moved a muscle.

(Walking through the fields past Hill Top Farm)

Then the rain stopped suddenly and the sun came out. It must have lasted all of a minute because across the dale we could see the next wave of rain coming for us. We spotted a group of about 6 people up on the skyline but by the time we got up there they were away down the Burnley Way.

(A rare bit of brightness.)

We had some good fortune as we made our way to the top of Thieveley Pike, it stopped raining! 

Some of the surrounding hillsides were still getting the worst of it but for now we were happy. As we passed what we think was the position of the old beacon the trig point came into view. The top was used in times gone bye as a beacon point. 

 Was this the site of the old beacon?

 (Thieveley Top 449m)

(View from the top. Burnley in the valley and Pendle Hill beyond.)

The views are really nice from the summit especially across Cliviger and it was a shame that we couldn't see the truncated spurs which were left from the ice age. They are located on the Clivager side and we were not heading that way. Another time.

We did a quick tour of the top, but didn't find the source of the River Irwell and then headed back south east. We followed the Burnley way and just before we left the shelter of the wall for the open moor we decided it was a good time to stop for lunch.

(The view East from the summit. Cant Clough reservoir to the left and the Coal Clough wind farm)

We found a sheltered spot and broke out the sandwiches and hot water. Sheila went quiet and then said, "I've left the tea bags in the boot of the car" Would you believe it. So we ended up with just hot water after all. Although i have to say the yoghurt and honey cake she made was brilliant. We must have cake.

We stopped for about 15 minutes and glad to say it still wasn't raining. We picked up the path (Burnley Way) and headed off to the next top. No name, just marked as 432m on the OS map. At the top the path turns sharp north east down to the A646 road. Our route which was basically straight on and down to the land rover track which runs parallel with Greens Clough. Getting down was quite tough going with lots of ankle twisting ruts and bogs. Care was needed and we were glad to reach the stile just before Hill Top Farm. Once on the landrover track it was easy walking back to re-join the A861 road.

(Heading for the un-named top of 432m)

(Picking our way carefully across to Hill Top Farm in the distance)

The rain was holding off and visibility was good. We had a good view of the Observatory and beyond to Stoodley Pike. 

 (Todmorden observatory)

(Stoodley Pike)

We were now following the path known as Limers Gate. Plenty of cows were around and plenty of mares and foals. The amount of broken drainage pottery is amazing along the route. How it all got here i don't know or why.

The sky was brightening up with some breaks in the cloud showing patches of blue. The view across Gorpley reservoir was very pleasing and we made a mental note to come back and do a circular walk including the reservoir soon.

 (Big cows)

 (Mares and foals)

(View from Limers gate path across Gorpley reservoir with Stoodley Pike in the distance)

We soon came to a cross roads sign which was our point to leave the path and head up hill and once again cross the boundary wall and the path heading back to Shawforth. 

(The weather is improving from the limers Gate path)

Dropping down onto the Shawforth side of the valley the sky once again turned dark and it looked like we were going to get another soaking, but it held off at least until we made it back to the car. Incredibly within about 2 minutes of getting back to the car the heavens opened. 

 (Dark over Whitworth)

(Friendly pony in need of a hair cut.)

Oh, we did find the tea bags. Sheila had put them in the inside pocket of her waterproof jacket, in a plastic bag and so had carried them all the way round. Now i could say something here about memory loss but life (mine), is too short.

Mileage - 16.2 km
Time taken 5.5 hours. including stops.

Fungi in Tandle Park

I should be typing a post about a lovely walk around Buxton, Taddington and Wormhill today but Sheila has had a bit of a bug this weekend which prevented us getting out. The Buxton walk was an invite from fellow blogger Martin Banfield. We were all packed, cake and sandwiches made and train tickets bought too.
So today i needed a bit of fresh air and headed off to my local park. I had only been going 15 minutes and the sweat was an obvious a sign that i had not escaped the virus. As soon as i got to a bit of a hill my breathing was awful. I sat down for a little while and decided not to go home but to just slowly wander through the park and photograph some Fungi. I believe this is Fungi week.

Although i posted some photo's in an earlier post i was still amazed at the variety that i found.
Here are a few images below and for anyone who wants to look at some more, there is a link here for a slideshow of what i found today.
Link to photo slideshow
At most i was 2 miles from my front door. It's a wonderful park.

Insulated food warmer

 Readers will know that i love to make my own gear and i get a great deal of satisfaction from doing that. It stems from my working background in engineering that things can always be improved upon, that there is a better, cheaper, more practical way of making it. I know there are quite a few of you think similar.

So progressing from my last post, once you have heated up which ever type of outdoor grub you prefer you need to place it in a food warmer.

Well i am pleased to release here for the first time a fantastic new product that in no way i can improve upon. It's manufacture and specification is as good as i have seen and i don't think any other manufacturer is offering a product quite like it.

I am also pleased to say that it's from Brenig, the small British outdoor gear manufacturer from whom i reviewed their Aran smock a little while ago. Here

It's an insulated food warmer. Designed to accept dehydrated/freeze dried food pouches that need to stand for a number of minutes to allow the food to re-hydrate once you have added the boiling water.

My old pouch is made from silver roofing insulation. I know that like me, many of you use it for pot cosy's. It has served me well. But this new insulated warmer leaves it standing.

The warmer's heart is Thinsulate covered inside and out with a material which is for all intensive purposes the same as Pertex. It's soft, warm to the touch, in fact it feels just like your own insulated jacket. It packs down really small and it only weighs 65 grams.

Where it excels is it's temperature specification. It has been successfully tested down to -50C. Yes -50C. (-58F). So for even the hardiest souls who build igloo's in the Cairngorm in winter, traverse the Munro's in the harshest of weather or plan Arctic adventures, having one of these with you will ensure your food stays hot because it retains the heat longer. For the mere mortal backpacker it's a luxury worth having.

With it being so soft and warm you can also put an item of clothing inside it, a down Gilet for instance and use it as a pillow. We like our backpacking gear to be multi functional don't we.
I'm sure you will think up numerous other uses for it. eg. Protecting a Kindle or in my case a Nexus 7 for one.

Another nice surprise is the cost! It can be purchased for the very reasonable price of £12.50 plus postage and packing. Here.
And when it needs it, it can be washed at low temperature.

I must see if i can get one for my cooking pot too. Now there's a thought.

Beanfeast Outdoor recipe - trial run.

I have followed Tracksterman's adventures for sometime now. You can read his blog here if you havn't come across it before. Oh and here too, (thanks to Martin Rye.).
He certainly gets about and seemingly spends most of the year outdoors. Switching between China and Scotland. I wish i knew how he did it. He certainly has an opinion though.

At this time he is in Scotland, around Glendoe recently.

His recent posts and excellent video's i may add, was about trail food. It's in 2 parts. Beanfeast ala Tracksterman part un and part deux.
1st here
and the 2nd here.

It's not often i cook food whilst backpacking. I tend to just boil water and re-hydrate packet stuff. Usually i'm too tired to bother. Unlike Mike Knipe who has been known to take, Potato's, cheese, onions, sausage, bacon, beans, muffins, frying pans and god knows what else.

But these 2 video's i found interesting and thought i would try the recipe before i went out walking. So chose to cook it at home. I didn't want to chance hating it and then chucking it away leaving me with no meal.

It's simple to make, if i can do it anyone can. It's quick and its cheaper than buying packet meals.

So what did i use.

1 pan, (everything can be done in 1 pan)
A small knife
A spoon or spatula.
In the field a pot cosy would be required.

Ingredients.
3 tablespoons or a good slug of canola oil (rapeseed oil) its better for you as it doesn't oxidise.
1/2 small white onion - chopped small
1/2 tomato - chopped small
1/4 red pepper. - sliced thin
1/4 tea spoon of garlic but garlic flake would do the job
pinch of salt and pepper.
dried mixed herbs to taste
Tomato sauce available in small pouches or Tomato puree.
Dried chilli flakes or powder.
1/2 packet of microwave rice
1/2 packet of Batchellors beanfeast bolognase.
1 cup of water

Now you might look at the above list and think that's a lot of stuff but in reality it's not and it's not heavy.
My recipe is not exactly the same as Trackstermans, you can use any seasoning you fancy or have at hand and also any veg that you can get hold of.

To cook.
Boil a cup of water and put it in the pot cosy.
Slice the onion, tomato and pepper. and put it all in the pan with the oil.
Quick fry until going soft. A couple of minutes.
Add in the various seasoning and herbs.
Then pour in the hot water and bring back to the boil.

Pour in 1/2 packet of Beanfeast bolognase and stir, then add 1/2 packet of Microwave rice and stir.
I used microwave rice because it's already part reconstituted.

Once boiling put the pan in the cosy again for about 10-15 minutes. Tracksterman suggests 20 minutes but that long is not required with using microwave rice.

 {Chopped Tomato, pepper and onion in the pan with oil, garlic, mixed herbs, seasoning.}

 {Meal with water, rice and beanfeast added and almost ready to eat.}

Meal complete and its a generous portion. Too much for me today but then again i'm not on the hill. It's probably perfect after a long day out.

What did i think.
I have tried trail foods at home before and admit that they never taste as good as when your out. It must be the fresh air or the tiredness. I'm not sure which.
However, i found this tasted superb in the house so on the hill it's a treat i can't wait to try.
It set my taste buds on fire and i was licking my lips for about 10 minutes after. I managed to leave some for Sheila to try later on today.

I must say Tracksterman, (sorry i don't know your name), i'm glad you posted this on your blog. It has lots of connotations which i will look forward to investigating. Thanks very much. I give it and you  10/10.

For those of us who only get short periods of time out on the hill there is no reason why the ingredients cannot be made at home and put into an air tight pour and store bag. This would save time in camp.

I think it would also suit vegetarians. (Apology if i am wrong). I'm sure fellow blogger Judith will let me know if i'm wrong.

A quick bag - Freeholds Top.

 With only a couple of hours to spare on Sunday we did what we don't usually do and that is just to bag a trig point. We parked up at Trough Gate, Britannia, not far from Bacup on the small car park opposite the old Travellers Rest pub which like so many other pubs, has gone to the wall.

The Travellers rest is famous for being the start point of the Coco-nut dancers route to Bacup at Easter. They are a troop of clog dancers and you can read all about them here. (Only if you want to of course).

Crossing over the main road we followed the old cart track behind the pub and goes in the general direction of Hogshead Law Hill. It was a warm sunny day with fantastic clear views in all directions. The route doesn't go all the way up the hill but turns SE. The track is the access way for a few remote farms. It must be quite bleak out here in the winter.

{Bacup in the centre}

Passing through the yard of the first farm we exchanged pleasantries with the owner and noticed quite a few signs around letting people know that the land was private and that it didn't have right to roam access. So we made sure we stuck to the paths. There were quite a few rare breed sheep about too.

It was good to get off the track and into open country where again we skirted behind a second farm which was under renovations. On such a pleasant day we would have expected the builders to be on the job but there was nobody around.

As we gained height the breeze picked up. We had been walking in the lee of the wind but now that we were close to the ridge line it was really strong and quite bitter. Crossing 2 more fields we reached a large stile over the wall which marks the Boro boundary. On the other side there was a radio tied to the fence. What it was doing there is anyones guess.

It wasn't long before our target was spotted. The trig point at Freeholds Top (Marilyn) 454m (1490ft). It was just a case of following the boundary.

I took a few photo's at the top then quickly got ourselves behind a wall out of the wind.

After a few minutes we were startled by a dog, we never heard it coming and it was a bit of a shock being close to a growling dog. Fortunately its owner was not far behind.
She called it away and she said she was glad to be at the top. I guess she had come up the steep route from Walsden area. She didn't stop and headed off on the track north of Gorpley reservoir.

 {The view North}

 {The view East with Stoodley Pike just visible on the far ridge. (Centre)}

So we had done what we intended and headed off back. We had to put our outer shell jackets on. The wind was numbing. It was good to drop down again into the lee where the sun was hot and the jackets came off.

A very pleasant couple of hours.