County – Rochdale
Elevation - 474m
Date – 10 October 2022
Distance – 4.5km
Elevation Climbed - 125m
Status – 6th highest Unitary Authority top
I was headed to Calderdale for work and had provisionally decided to have a crack at the Calderdale CT on the way, when I had a call from Nelly, who works over in Hebden Bridge.
"If you're looking for a Top to take down on the way, have a crack at Blackstone Edge," he instructed. "It's a much better walk and you'll be driving past it anyway"
With that in mind, I pulled off the M62, jinked around Hollingworth Lake, and headed up into the Pennines, stopping at a remote pub called the White House, where the Pennine Way hit the main road from Rochdale to Hebden Bridge. It was a fine, if breezy, afternoon, and clambering onto the Pennine Way again had me filled with dreams of doing the whole thing.
A km or so into the walk I came upon the Aiggin Stone, a gritstone pillar dating from way back which marks the border between Lancashire and Yorkshire, and the finely laid path could well be Roman in origin.
It wasn't far at all to the Top, perched on an escarpment of gritstone with stunning views over to Manchester, Oldham and Rochdale below.
I had my sandwiches at the trig point:
I just about had time to try and capture the view (failing badly), before losing the path on my way back, getting wet feet, and disturbing a pair of red grouse. Eventually I staggered back on to the main road, wishing I had longer to pursue the path.
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