Evan: Life in the Outdoors

Did not have anytime this weekend to get out so I made up for it today. I hiked up to Earby waterfall just outside of town.  On the way back it started to snow! Not much to add enjoy the photos. Total hike 3 miles.

Today happened to be a nice clear day out with the tempreature around 6 degrees. Though it was very windy with a steady wind around 30-40 mph.  Autumn went with me today and we hiked from Penistone Hill country Park to the Bronte waterfall and back.  The total hike was 3 miles and took us about on hour to hike. The hike itself is on level ground and on a grit wide track.  It was busy today on the trail as everyone was out taking advantage of the rare sunshine, during the winter months.  Below are photos of the hike and waterfall. Till next time.

Facts: OL Explorer Map 21; Start/Finish: Penistone Hill Country Park (SE019363); Destination: Bronte Waterfall (SD997358); Distance: 3 miles

An enduring feature of the English landscape, dry stone walls are common field boundaries across the rocky upland regions – the Lake District, the Pennines, the south-west and the north-east. People have been building these walls for more than 2,000 years, yet most of those we see today are medieval in origin. They were built to enclose common land, once shared by a whole village, for sheep and cattle farming.

It takes great skill to build a dry stone wall, for it is held up not by mortar but by the weight of each stone, carefully placed to fit like a piece in a jigsaw. The largest stones are at the base, and the wall gradually narrows towards the top, where there is a row of upright capstones. Building is hard work, for a tonne of rock must be carried for each metre of wall. Yet the effort is well worth it because a dry stone wall, unlike a hedgerow or wire fence, lasts for centuries with little maintenance. Dry stone walls also give beauty and character to our countryside, while preventing soil erosion and providing habitats for small mammals, birds, reptiles and insects.

More rain again this weekend as I took off for Weets hill. Weets hill is the third highest hill in pendle at 397m above sea leavel.  I started the hike from Earby hiking into Barnoldwick then up to the summitt. The hill is just off of the Pennine way trail, which is well marked.  The only problem is hiking through the farmers land on the footpaths from Earby to Barnoldswick. They are not well marked. On my way back I choose a different route and where there should have been a stile there was not, so I had to do a bit of orienteering the rest of the way back to Earby. Be sure to have your compass with you as you may need it. Below or some photos of the hike. Till next time.

Facts: OL21 Explorer Map, Start/Finish: Earby (SD905465), Weets Hill (SD856448), Total Hike: 7.3 mi