It rained heavily all day. The terrain was a cheerless stone slabbed path through sodden peat bog and otherwise dreary terrain. As the Trans Pennine Motorway came into view we were cheered by the sight of a layby with a tea-van. We stopped for some hot snacks and hot drinks while the tea-van owner told us how he’d operated the van for 27years. I wasn’t sure whether to congratulate him or cry for him. He seemed to be a local celebrity with passing customers.
The only memorable highlight of the next section past Blackstone Edge was a stone paved section of Roman Road, a feature I’d been wanting to visit for years after seeing an illustration of it. We then pressed on to another highlight of the day – a pub along the route.
In spite of being high summer the pub had a fire burning. It also revealed another PW hiker – a Scotsman walking from Land’s End to John O’Groats. We chatted while we rested and agreed to meet up in the evening but never managed to and never saw him again.My tendons had become so sore by now that I decided to walk in sandals. Not the best footwear through peat bog.
The rain began to ease as we approached the town of Hebden Bridge which we approached along a pretty canal. Ian had a reservation at one of the better pubs and with no campsite to hand and wanting a warm dry bed I opted for a local privately ‘green / vegetarian Hostel behind the Churches Centre. The hostel had everything and for only £12 included breakfast. The only drawback it being on the other side of town and up a steep hill like all Youth Hostels seem to be.
