Saturday, 10 April 2021

7.5 Mile Walk - Stanbury | Ponden Kirk | Ponden Reservoir | Oakworth Moor | Oldfield

 

Ponden Kirk is thought to have been the inspiration for Penistone Crag and the Fairy Cave in Emily Bronte's Wuthering Heights





Distance: 7.5 miles


Ascent: 1400 ft


Walking: Andrew


Weather: Sunny then clouded over later. Cool.


OS Map: OL21 - South Pennines


Starting point: Main Street, Stanbury


Photography: Andrew using Nikon D750 / Nikon 24-70 mm f2.8



Another amazingly varied walk from Stanbury. Being a sunny day at the weekend, I decided to avoid Top Withens and concentrate on the Worth Valley.




After climbing up Back Lane past Bully Trees Farm, I found myself surprisingly breathless so it was a good excuse to look back down the hill towards Stanbury and Lower Laithe Reservoir






Lost gloves are a common sight when walking round here but they don't often come in pairs


The route I was following would take me across Oakworth Moor, behind the white house in the distance


Lower Height Farm


Having turned off the main Top Withens path and over a couple of stiles, I approached Upper Heights Farm


Ponden Reservoir from just above Far Slack


Approaching Master Stones




Ponden Reservoir from just below Master Stones


Master Stones


Looking across Ponden Slack and Oakworth Moor from close to Birch Brink


Oldfield and Oakworth in the distance from Birch Brink


Ponden Reservoir again


Looking ahead to Ponden Kirk, the rocky outcrop near the horizon, from Birch Brink


Looking across Ponden Clough, deep ravine in the distance is Dean Clough, with Oakworth Moor beyond. 


A zoomed-in view of Dean Clough with Crag Bottom just to the left of it. I will pass these later on this walk


The path ahead across Birch Brink then down Ponden Clough and below Ponden Kirk is clearly visible. Having taken the top path over Ponden Kirk a few weeks ago, I decided to take the lower one today.


Looking back down Ponden Clough to Ponden Reservoir, Oldfield and Oakworth


Ponden Kirk from Birch Brink


The path I'd just come along is the one on the right. I've never dared tackle it before because the drop to the left is pretty severe but coming the other way, you don't notice it as much and it isn't too bad. It's certainly worth it for the views, although I wouldn't do it when it's wet.


Halfway down a set of very uneven steps with a none-too-helpful handrail, the view really opens up.


Ponden Kirk from the lower path


Presumably, this mini-dam was built at the same time as the reservoir to control the flow of water coming off the moor


Ponden Kirk from below




On top of the dam. That bridge has seen better days.


If you look carefully, you can see the tricky steps down the clough on the left




Ponden Slack


Looking back across Ponden Clough. On the horizon to the right of the sign are Lower Heights Farm, Upper Heights Farm (in front of the plantation and Master Stones on the far right, which I'd passed earlier.


Ladder stile above Whitestone. Dean Clough is getting closer


New Laithe Road with the farmhouse at Old Snap in the foreground and Scar Top in the distance


Dropping down to Whitestone




A lovely old stone gatepost with slots for cross-rails, rather than a gate


The robin on top of this stile at Whitestone was singing its heart out so I stopped and watched it for a while.


Far Dean Fields Farm, seen from Whitestone. This short section is part of The Bronte Way.


Looking back to Whitestone Farm


Over the stile and left onto The Pennine Way


Heading down The Pennine Way to the North Western end of Ponden Reservoir


Silver birch trees on the edge of the reservoir




This grey heron didn't seem at all bothered by me and I got quite close to it.


The River Worth


Ponden Reservoir




Far Dean Fields Farm








I was fascinated by this ruined barn at Far Dean Fields Farm. There are loads of these around here.





The view over Throstles Nest up The Worth Valley


Looking back over the reservoir to Ponden Hall with Lower and Upper Heights Farms on the horizon


Dean Clough




Dean Clough - note the discarded car seat


Crag Bottom


Daffodils at Crag Bottom


The view across to the reservoir from Crag Bottom


An old quarry access road up to Crag Top


A long-abandoned stone quarry at Crag Top


Seems I'd climbed quite a way. Still a fair bit to go, though.






I wonder how long that's been there - and how it got there






The Pennine Way continues - uphill...








The vast expanse of Oakworth Moor




Turning off The Pennine Way, can you spot the path? No, neither could I.






I know what you're thinking but this is another one


A reminder, if it were needed, that life up here can be harsh


The path follows this wall right into the distance




Quite a long section here was extremely boggy. At this point, there was no way round it so I had to just plough on, sinking beyond the top of my walking boots and soaking my feet and legs.




Back the way I'd just come towards Burnt Hill




Across the Moor to Daisy Mount (the white house)




Another very boggy bit at Highfield Farm


Looking back from Highfield Farm


Looking back over the reservoir, Ponden Hall and, in the distance, Ponden Kirk can be seen.


Oldfield House Farm with Stanbury and Penistone Hill beyond.




Primroses at Oldfield House Farm


Manor Farm, Oldfield


Manor Farm, heading down to the river


Make-do and mend gates


Stanbury and Penistone Hill


The rickety old wooden clapper bridge over The River Worth








I'm told the bridge was originally painted white. It's very bouncy to cross and the main beam is rotting quite badly


The support strut on this side doesn't reach the ground any more and the left hand one is also broken


Looking up the valley, the chimney of the ruined Griff Mill is just visible in the trees.






Welcome to Stanbury




Looking back across the valley to Oldfield


Welcome to Stanbury




The church of St Gabriel, Stanbury


The old smithy and Horton Croft, the Quaker burial ground, were 45 burials were carried out from 1656 - 1718. I had a very interesting conversation about the history of the village with an elderly gentleman here (Mr Cole, I presume) who's joinery workshop is next door to the old smithy. 







No comments:

Post a Comment

9 Mile Circular Walk - Stanbury | Top Withens | Oxenhope Stoop Hill | Top Of Stairs | Leeshaw Reservoir

Distance:  9 miles Ascent:  1400   ft Walking:  Andrew Weather: Frosty & sunny OS Map:  OL21 - South Pennines Starting point:  Bully Tre...