Take advantage of scenery on our doorstep
AS THE coronavirus pandemic saw many people’s summer holiday plans thrown into chaos, a keen walker from the upper Calder Valley decided to have a socially distant break close to home.
Llewellyn Pugh decided to take advantage of the amazing valley scenery by walking the Pennine Way.
The Pennine Way is 268 miles long, starting in Edale, Derbyshire and finishing in Kirk Yetholm, Scotland.
It passes through Calderdale fairly early on in the journey, skirting around Todmorden down into the valley and up past Heptonstall.
Known to be a tough route, Llewellyn made sure to do preparation before he headed off.
“In preparation I watched video diaries of other walkers, how they managed, where they stopped and the difficulties they encountered,” he said.
“Attempting something like this should not be taken lightly, people get lost every year, and injury is all too common.”
Instead of starting the route in Edale, Llewellyn began walking right from his front door.
He said: “I am a big fan of the Tolkien books and believe the biggest adventures really do start with stepping out your front door. I wasn’t about to spoil this with two trains and a bus, especially when the whole point of this was to avoid people.
“You would be surprised that for an averagely healthy person walking 15 miles a day is not that hard if your pack is light.
“Some parts of the path have not changed for hundreds of years. I really thought I had seen the best of what the Pennines had to offer. I was so wrong.
“It’s not something that can be seen from a car window, it’s an experience, the view, the wind, the sounds of moor birds and the rich peat smells, combined with the hour after hour of your steady pace.”
Despite enjoying the wonderful scenery, Llewellyn was concerned about where he would be staying on route. “I shouldn’t have,” he said.
“After walking 15 miles you will literally sleep anywhere and be grateful for it. I had my list of campsites but would they be open? Would there be facilities in use? Could I wild camp if things got desperate? With things changing daily, let me just say worrying solved nothing. Most campsites are open to walkers, they seem to have a soft spot for us.
“Facilities varied, some were open, some closed, some with a sign ‘Use at own risk’. Just be prepared, bring hand sanitiser and a mask.
“After 130 miles my knee started to twinge, then ache and finally wouldn’t take my weight. I didn’t make it to Scotland this time but from what I experienced I can’t wait to try again.
“In the past thousands flocked to the North of England to see what we have right on our doorsteps. Maybe it’s the perfect year for you to pack your bag and go and see for yourself.”
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‘I believe the biggest adventures really do start with stepping out your front door’ Llewellyn Pugh