Slightly jetlagged following our return from holiday the previous day (camping in Essex), a shorter than usual day on the hills was in order.  Jimmy selected the Rossendale pairing of Hail Storm Hill G/SP-009 and Freeholds Top G/SP-011.  We got up at the usual 6am, and as I was warming the Brocolli & Stilton soup in the kitchen, I couldn't help but notice three Pot Noodles placed enticingly upon the worktop.  Money and time were saved as Jimmy and Liam took no persuading whatsoever to have these for breakfast instead of the usual fayre!

We took the usual route to Rawtenstall, then took the A681 to Waterfoot, then right for Cowpe village.  There are numerous signs along here for Top of Leach (our objective - one boggy mile closer than the true summit, but only 3m lower and on an almost level ridge - well not dipping below 466m anyway), but some helpful yobbos have twisted them to point in completely the wrong directions.  However, we knew the way anyway, so we continued to near the end of the lane (cul-de-sac) round the back of the last mill, parked up and set off.

It was a bright sunny morning, albeit windy and chilly, particularly on the summit.  Cowpe Tank (reservoir) glistened as we climbed the dramatic grass bank above it, then we ascended the stony tracks and plodded across the moorland to the trig point and small shelter.  Ten contacts, including Steve G1INK/P on St Sunday Crag G/LD-010 and Clive M1YAM/P on Tarn Crag G/LD-026, were enjoyed.  We descended mostly the same way after a variation insisted upon by Jimmy to begin.  The views of industrial Lancashire set against the hills were really nice in the bright sun, and a fantastic angle almost looking directly down onto Cowpe Tank as we approached it, should have been photographed.

Thanks to the following stations, all worked on 2m FM with 2.5 watts, except G4BLH's second contact, 0n 70cm: