Almost no races and in the end the two I did have hopes for were cancelled or I wasn't allowed to travel to them so time for a rethink. Even in Tier 3 we were able to go to climbing walls but I wanted to run too. An article about the Witches 400 had caught my eye. For the 400th anniversary a new route was established which says it follows the believed route they took from Barrowford to their trial and eventual death in Lancaster. I say "it says" it follows the route as I guess we cannot be sure and in some places I suspect some artistic licence has been used to take todays explorers on quiet paths rather than road or lanes. I had spotted some of the Tercet markers when out running but had thought they were all in Pendle Witch country until a more recent run led me to one above Slaidburn.
The route looked a bit fiddly for the first 12 miles or so which meant it was a good idea for a reccee run. I am so glad I did as it was easy to miss paths and so waste lots of time faffing with the map or back tracking. It also showed me just how wet and muddy it would be at least until I reached Clitheroe!
After Clitheroe the route is much more straight forward, or so I thought when looking at a map. From Slaidburn it is simple once on the Hornby/Salter fell road. Plus once at the Caton wind turbines it was would also be easy lanes and then the cycle track, so just a short section after the fell road which might be tricky. I hoped I could wing it on the day for these bits. Turns out I couldn't but more of that later.
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| Trying out my prize OMM cag for the first time |
Being a linear route I asked for a lift to the start and a pick up from the finish. To maximise my daylight we opted to stay overnight in the van and so avoid a crazy early start. I was duly dropped in Barrowford as it was getting light.
A quick walk through the park and I was at the historic visitor centre and the first Tercet. No time to read the poems today though. Steady drizzle so I set off in waterproof trousers too- it was going to be a long day.
Less than 15 mins and the path turns uphill past a ruined farm. This bit is on the Pendle Way and I knew it would be wet and muddy. After the recent rain that was an understatement! Several wet fields, some lane and a pleasant path and I was on the outskirts of Barley. I deviated slightly from the 'official' route here as my reccee showed the path ended in a nasty section of brambles etc. I stuck to the big bridleway instead. In the car park here I removed my over trousers and they stayed off all day. The paths below Pendle were wet but not too bad. Dropping towards Ogden Reservoir I knew to avoid a sort section in an enclosure of trees. The path there is steep and muddy and the bottom is a swamp- up to my knees. Second Tercet marker passed.
Over the stream and up into the woods. This path always makes me smile as I remember my son coming to an abrupt halt when orienteering- he was scared there might be bears in the dark forest. No bears today, just a steep climb up to a very very boggy hill before the drop down into Newchurch in Pendle. The official route is blocked by a family claiming to self isolate and wanting nobody on their land. I used the Pendle way instead and was soon at Bull Hole. The path here follows a stream up to Tynedale farm so more wet feet. A short climb onto the next ridge took me past a messy farm and mud churned up from cattle to the Rigg of England (what a great name) before dropping to the edge of Fence village.
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| Farm house as old as the Witches |
A few fiddly bits near Higham led to better running near the Huntroyd estate and Read. Approaching Whalley I was now on new ground and hoped I would find the paths OK. I was disappointed that the official route didn't actually take me past the Tercet in Spring Wood but never mind.
Somewhere between Wiswell and the A59 I made a small error but I soon picked up paths to lead me back on route and into the Little Moor area of Clitheroe. The 4th Tercet is just inside the entrance path to Clitheroe castle.
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| Sun now out and I had to remove my cag |
Some easy pavement running took me through the town and over the Ribble before I switched to tracks and paths to take me uphill near Waddington. An even bigger uphill followed on the aptly named Moor Lane .. an old track which is now a bridleway. Despite some huge puddles it was fairly runnable. From the top the path heads west towards Newton fell before the big drop to Slaidburn.
The views from here were great. My descent started well but in my enthusiasm and speed I missed a small footpath turning. It added a bit of time and a couple of km or so as I tried to figure out what had gone wrong and then to find a route to get back on track. I arrived in Slaidburn thirsty. The cafe was quick with a cup of tea but the savoury pie I craved was going to take some time. I opted for cake instead. The piece of cheesecake was enormous and far too rich, I regretted it for several miles. Tercet 5 is in the car park next to the cafe.
Uphill for the next section and some lanes that are now so eroded it won't be long before they are impassable for normal traffic. The official line goes across some fields here but after all the heavy rain I was unsure about a stream crossing as no bridge was marked. I stuck with the lanes, slightly longer and more undulating. As the tarmac ended the old fell track road began, round the edge of Dunsop Fell and Low Fell, over Croasdale Fell and all the way up to the watershed.
The next Tercet is on the hillside here. I met a few mountain bikers but very few people compared to the crowds down in Slaidburn. In my mind the track after the watershed was all down hill until the next tarmac. It isn't.
There are no huge hills but when your mind was set on down then any up was bad. I should have stopped in Slaidburn for a more substantial meal. I was carrying plenty but it was all sweet and I didn't fancy it. Also it was a chilly day so I wasn't drinking enough. This was to be my downfall.
The path through Higher Salter farm did not seem obvious so I added a bit doing two small sides of a triangle. Then the path at Mallowdale got a bit rubbish- steep gorge like valley and mud (again) and trees down. It meant I planned an escape to track and lane. Sadly I got so excited when I saw a car heading downhill that I followed at pace, then got chatting at cattle grid gates and before I knew it I was on real tarmac BUT not the right bit. At Roeburndale chapel I should have stopped, eaten and turned round. retracing your steps is never great but what followed was worse, much worse. In my tired and hungry state my brain decided I could head up over Claughton Moor and so get to Caton Moor and Terect 7.
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| Borrowed as I was so stressed at my errors by now |
It was now late afternoon so the sun (what there was of it) was west not south and none of the paths or trods headed where I needed to go. Eventually I realised I needed to change compass direction and had a few kilometres of nasty boggy tussocky ground. I reckon I lost about 45 mins all in all. The lane to Caton seemed to go on for ever but I was able to treat myself to a pint of milk in the Spar ( no choc milk available). The cycle way was nicely runnable although my tired legs were not now moving as fast as I would have liked. Tercet 8 is at the Crook of Lune. I was now trying hard to beat 11 hours so no photo stop.
I found the exit and track up past the prison with no issues and emerged on the outskirts of Lancaster as it was getting dark. I bottled the first entrance into Williamson Park as it was unlit and I did not want to stop to find my head torch for such a short section but was braver near the allotments. Not sure why it is only lit from the Ashton memorial and south but I found Terect 9. too dark for photos so I pinched one.
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| Now too dark for photos |
From here it was all downhill and through town until the final little climb to Lancaster castle and the final Tercet.
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| It was dark so a borrowed picture |
52 miles done and I just scraped inside 11 hours. I am sure without the errors I can do 10 hours so I will have to have another go!
Bob had parked the van down on the quayside so my final km or so was also downhill.
