Rowarth and around

Wintry Sunshine over New Mills

Today I started my run up the lane from the Little Mill Inn in Rowarth towards Lantern Pike. It was colder than I thought, almost freezing, and the path was still icy in parts. I took the climb up the rocky track very steadily, pausing to stretch my right leg which is still very stiff and sore. As I climbed the path towards Matley Moor, the view opened up ahead of me of the hills towards Kinder, where there is still plenty of snow.
I followed the Pennine Bridleway, then took the path through the heather to join the lane. The peat is eroded right through in parts by mountain bikes, exposing the rocks beneath. I followed the lane round to Cown Edge farm, where I walked through a flock of very pregnant ewes, not wanting to startle them up from their rest. Up to the top of the ridge to enjoy the amazing views across towards New Mills, Manchester and the Dark Peak. Running downhill through the fields of close-cropped grass at the top of the Edge is a superb pleasure and I find myself running slowly to savour it. Then the tumbling steep descent down into Rowarth (which is a horrid stiff ascent on the Coombes Tor race) and back to the Little Mill inn to collect the car. A lovely hour well spent.