Meet Report: 10-12 December 2021.
The Christmas meet returned to the Boarshurst Outdoor Education Centre in Greenfield, located just on the fringe of Saddleworth Moor. The centre is well appointed and sleeps 32 people in two dormitories. On the Friday evening members arrived and were welcomed by soup and a roll prepared by Becca Humphreys, members then settled in for the evening at the centre or visited one of the local hostelries.
Most of the attendees arrived on Friday night with a number of other members turning up on the Saturday. However, earlier on the Friday, Michael and Helen explored the moors above Dove Stone Reservoir and discovered an MP that had been shot…some 164 years ago. The MP in question was James Platt who was shot by his close friend Josiah Radcliffe, who was the Mayor of Oldham at the time. Although, all was not perfect at Boarshurst on arrival…
The gent’s washroom had a rather distinctive aroma. On investigation Conrad found a fern growing in a cluster of moss in the urinal flushing tank. Tim investigated further and extracted the foliage, roots and all. This did not help as there appeared to be no appreciable water flow into the cistern. Still, an aim of the Club is to gather and promote knowledge concerning natural history and it’s not often we do that in a toilet in the Saddleworth area.
Friday 10th December
Michael and Helen warmed up on Friday by tackling Black Hill from the North and were duly sleeted upon for the effort and troubles. Late in the afternoon Michael, in preparation for the 1303 project, checked out the permissive access to West Nab above Meltham and found it unusable.
Saturday 11th December
When Saturday arrived members were greeted with a full English or continental breakfast prepared by Becca helped by Tim which set the group up for the day’s adventures ahead. Members decided to follow three plans. One of the groups, led by Michael and more than ably assisted by local expert Rod, followed a 15km circular route which took in the ‘Obelisk’ and the ‘Pots and Pans Stone.’ John, Carol, Arthur, Frank and Barbara followed a similar route taking in the same sights as Michael’s group.
Their route meandered across the moor via Alderman’s Hill and Raven Stone Rocks. After losing some height the group had lunch next to the Standedge Tunnel near Diggle. They then took a leisurely walk via the canal path up towards Dolefield and then back to the centre.
Having not visited the Saddleworth moors before, Mick had planned a varied walk starting from the Centre. Accompanied by Anne, Richard and John Sutcliffe they contoured round Alderman’s Hill via Long Lane and dropped down to cross the dam of Yeoman Hey reservoir. Narrowly missing a footpath closure for a shooting party, they walked up to Greenfield Reservoir and entered the rocky valley of Birchen Clough where all enjoyed negotiating the stream bed and the odd rocky scramble. An ascent of the famous Trinnacle at the Raven Stones for some obligatory photos was next with some good views of the reservoirs below, then a lengthy traverse along the edge of the escarpment in worsening weather brought them to the Chew Reservoir dam where they stopped for lunch and bumped into Tim who having started out later had been forced to modify plans because of the shooting party. All then continued along the edge to the trigpoint on Alphin Pike and descended into Greenfield and the welcoming bar of the King William IV for refreshments. A great introduction to the gritstone edges of Saddleworth at 21.5km.
A number of members took the opportunity to relax and catch-up. Being the Christmas meet in comfortable surroundings and accessible accommodation several members nursing injuries of ailments made the effort to enjoy the social aspects. John Jenkin was struggling to walk from the local hostel up a fairly steep road so much so that an ambulance stopped and gave him a lift.
Otherwise these members mostly pottered round the villages. Roy Denney nursing what was left of his foot visited old haunts having known the area very well years ago. For their Friday meal he introduced a fellow member to one of the most remote moorside hostelries and was approached there by a former member of the Club he had not seen for years and had lost touch with. Chris Bird still lives in the area but does little hillwalking these days other than walking his dog. After a pleasant period reminiscing about past meets especially ones Roy had organised from this hostel, it was back to the rest of the meet.
On Saturday evening presentations were made by Rod and Mick. Rod’s presentation provided an insightful trip into his past growing up in the Saddleworth area, whilst Mick’s provided a pictorial review and learnings from previous snow shoeing trips to France. Both perfect appetisers for the food that was about to come. Special thanks and mention need to be made to both meet leader Becca and Tim for their unstinting efforts in the kitchen preparing the food. Everyone enjoyed a three course treat of smoked mackerel pate, roast beef and Yorkshire pudding followed by Christmas pudding or apple pie.
Saturday evening also saw the celebration of Arthur Salmon’s 70th year anniversary as a member of the club. Arthur’s extensive work in the management of the club was recognised. In that time has estimated that he has spent £3000 (corrected to today’s prices) but he acknowledged that he did not see his 70 years as service but getting great benefits from being a member.
Sunday 12th December
On the Sunday morning a number of plans were hatched although the weather was a little misty. Mick, Richard and Peter decided on an excursion into the mist to visit the Pots and Pans, and Broadstone Hill hoping it would lift. The mist provided a certain atmosphere as they approached the finely crafted obelisk which is the War Memorial erected in 1923 to honour the 259 people from the villages of Saddleworth who died in the first World War. It was located here specifically to be visible from those villages. A thin trod took them onto Broadstone Hill with improving views, and a return was made via a short visit to the substantial church of St Chad at Pobgreen with its Hearse House and a slightly longer visit to the Church Inn next door for a pint before returning to the Centre.
Helen and Michael travelled more extensively along the Tame Valley on account of a rucksack inadvertently left behind on the couch. This oversight only being discovered as the item was needed to be hoisted onto the back for their tramp along part of the Pennine Way across White Hill (south of the M62) and the over untracked Moss Moor to try and identify the highest point between there and Peat Hag. The 20cm difference in height (482m v 482.2m) was hardly discernible and is to be left for the 1303 volunteer to decide which is he highest.
John, Ros, Pete and Anne walked around the Dove Stone Reservoir. At the same time Conrad and Beverley took a leisurely walk around the same place and up towards Chew Reservoir. A pleasant little jaunt which included magnificent autumnal hues of green and brown on the hillsides. The only minor point was the busyness and traffic, as it seemed the whole of Saddleworth had come out for a walk at the same time.
Attendees
John Brown, Ros Brown (G), Mick Borroff, Peter Chadwick, Robert Crowther, Michael Crowther (PM), Roy Denney, Richard Gowing, Becca Humphreys, John Jenkin, Tim Josephy, Pete Latham, Anne Latham, Harvey Lomas, Arthur Salmon, Barbara Salmon, Conrad Tetley, Beverley Eastwood (G), Helen Smith, Michael Smith, Rod Smith, Yayoi Smith, John Sutcliffe, Carol Whalley, John Whalley, Richard Taylor, Frank Wilkinson
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