Langsett: 3 May 2010
- Distance
- 16 miles
- Difficulty
- Moderate
- Location
- Langsett … Map of start point
- Transport
- 20A bus from Barnsley and Stocksbridge
- Leader
- Neil
A joint walk between Get Your Boots On and Take a Hike saw an amazing 50 hardened walkers arrive at Langsett Barn ready for a long walk over the moorland. Reassured by the Mountain Rescue open day that was going on, we got ready to set off … and then we were off! Neil set off down the path like a greyhound, leaving the rest of us trailing in his wake as we struggled to keep up.
We followed an easy path across Hingcliff Common, up Mickleden Edge and over Featherbed Moss … although it turned out to be a bridleway, and very popular with mountain bikers. After a few miles, we started the steep descent down Cranberry Clough, to a picturesque lunch spot by the River Derwent. After lunch, we followed the route down the side of Howden Reservoir, and past the impressive Howden Dam. As we turned to climb Nether Hey, the weather taunted us, alternately warm and then showers.
As we headed up, some walkers had a good lesson in what happens when you walk ahead of the leader, as we veered off the main track to follow a path along the windswept Howden Edge to Margery Hill, the highest point in South Yorkshire. From there, we headed back along the morning's path a little way, battered by a brief hailstorm, then cut across the top to the surprisingly named North America, round the south and east sides of Langsett Reservoir, and back to the start.
A big thank you to Neil for inviting us all on a superb walk!
Photos by Stevie