24/03 – Wild Bank Hill and Harridge Pike

The Saddleworth Moors go burn, burn, burn, burn… Burn, burn, burn, burn… Burn, Burn, Burn, Burn… BURN, BURN, BURN, BURN… burn. That’s right, we’ll be visiting one of the sites of last years moorland fires.

We’ll be starting our walk from Stalybridge Country Park, parking is on Hartley Street (be warned there aren’t many spaces). The plan is to take in a couple of hills, both with great views over the Peak District and Manchester. We’ll head up through the park, over a road and out onto more traditional moorland. It’s not an official path but we’ll see a route turning left, and straight up the hill to the summit of Wildbank Hill. This leads us onto the ridge of the moorland, heading over to Higher Swineshaw Reservoir. This reservoir was surrounded by fire last year, so the perfect location for us all to carry out some moorland conservation (can someone else arrange this). Beyond the reservoir is a track going up a hill on the other side, normally you’d follow this over and back down again but we’re going to take a little detour. When we reach the highest point we’ll head directly west, through, over, on the bracken until we reach the trig point. This is your moment to get out your smoked salmon canapés, devour your baked camembert and delve into you duck pate… we’ll stop for a snack. I’ll probably point out that you can see Ikea before heading north and trying to pick up a sheep track as we curve back onto the main path. The Pennine Bridleway will then be followed back to Stalybridge Country Park, via a couple of roads. Obviously those who wish to go for Ikea meatballs on the way home can, or you can pick up a new cupboard.

• ‘Apocalyptic’ moorland blaze put out
• Saddleworth Moor