Dark satanic mills

Day 18: we set out from Holmfirth in a southerly direction, much to Paul’s consternation, and after several hours on the moor skirting the Great Twizle Hole (basically a steep-sided valley), Holmfirth was still in sight. I was concerned that the team’s spirits might fall as a result, so I sought to entertain them by putting on my waterproof trousers and taking them off again at frequent intervals. In fact the promised rain materialised only as a short sharp shower later (yes, I had to put them on again). Leaving the Twizle Hole behind, we crossed featureless moor up to Black Hill, at 582m (1908’) our highest point to date. Here we joined our old friend the Pennine Way and followed it for a couple of miles, including the 200 yards we failed to do last time due to non-overlapping transport.

We descended the Wessenden valley past several almost-empty reservoirs - a worrying sign of the times - to reach Marsden, another Yorkshire wool mill-town. These places have a rich industrial heritage, some of which has been preserved or put to ingenious new uses, but some is sadly decaying. Marsden has done us proud in food and accommodation, so I mean it no disrespect by associating this industrial heritage with Blake’s dark, satanic mills. So Track of the Day is Jerusalem - with the sort of uplifting tune that we’ll need to propel ourselves another 18 miles tomorrow. Farewell to Ray, who has  been a wonderful companion for the last two days.