Sunday 23rd September 2018 - Freeholds Top G/SP-011, Hail Storm Hill G/SP-009 & Winter Hill G/SP-010

Gig: Joe Longthorne

Venue: Viva Blackpool

I had originally assumed I would be heading for the Yorkshire Dales summits in between Grimsby and Blackpool, but in fact the logical route didn’t really go anywhere near that area. Instead, I headed for two much-paired summits either side of the East Lancashire-Calderdale border.  I parked in the wide track entrance on the Bacup-Todmorden road, and walked along the winding Limers Gate Track.  I cut up the hill towards the ridge a little earlier than intended due to a herd of long-horned cattle appearing to be unimpressed with my presence! 

It was another lovely day of bright sunshine, and a joy to be out walking.  This summit always seems to take longer-than-anticipated to get to, but that was fine.  I was enjoying myself, and there was plenty of time available before work in Blackpool.  I went for the 2m FM handheld only style activation, and this time it was successful.  Seven contacts were made, the first five all being 2E0 stations.  I took the usual route off the summit, aware of that this would drop me back onto the Limers Gate Track before the long-horned cattle.  I thought they might have moved away by now, but they were still in the same place.  They looked really edgy again as I approached, so I went off track and plotted the best line I could to keep a distance, and maintain an angle of my walk so that they wouldn’t feel threatened.

After the solitude of the previous couple of days’ summits, this one was quite a contrast. Several other walkers, and a few mountain bikers were out on this hill.  I checked the time back at the car, and there was still plenty enough to allow a second activation for the day before driving to Blackpool.  I drove though Bacup and down into Rossendale and into the village of Cowpe in order to take a walk up Hail Storm Hill G/SP-009.