Battling Buzzards

Although the sun was out, the wind made it very chilly. On Windmill Lane a chap was rebuilding a stone wall. He was so engrossed in his work that he nearly jumped out of his skin when I said good morning. He was wearing shorts, which I thought was a bit brave. I guess the work would warm him up. Some cows were lying down in a field, a sure sign of rain.

I reached the charmingly named Dick Edge Lane and got a fine view over to Black Hill. As I walked along the lane I heard a high pitch squeal and growling in front of me, hidden behind the corner of the road. A second later a grey squirrel ran into view as though his life depended on it. In fact that was totally true since a bull terrier type dog was in quick pursuit. The squirrel saw me and diverted to the stone wall at the side of the road. The dog was going so fast that it overrun the squirrel and me, and skidded to a halt barking its head off. The squirrel disappeared up the stone wall and away. A man with two dogs on a lead appeared around the corner calling back his unleashed dog. The dog continued to bark and look for the squirrel.

Meal Hill

There was a fine view down into valley from Dick Edge Lane. I noticed a pleasant park area. with a lake and bridge and I thought: 'That would be a nice place to have my lunch'. I looked at the location on my map and it was called Meal Hill. How appropriateA An hour I reached the location only to find it was private property. I'd have to find a lunch spot elsewhere. The path continued down into the valley and then up to the village of Hepworth. The path took me past a row of back gardens, A woman was sat out on the patio in one, having a cup of tea. I felt I was intruding on her privacy a little bit but I guess she must have been used to people walking along the footpath since she waved and shouted 'hello'. Hepworth is a proper 'Last Of The Summer Wine' village. I half expected three old ment to roll past me in a bathtub at any moment. Soon I was through Hepworth to the entrance of Morton Wood.

Excavator Graveyard

It was a steep climb out of Hepworth back up to Dick Edge Lane. It was during this climb that the clouds got very dark and the heaven's opened. Those bloody seated cows had been right. I should have taken notice and made the walk shorter. At Hey Slack I saw a rusted tractor on the top of a shipping container. I wondered how they got the tractor up there. As I approached closer I noticed what appeared to be a large machinery graveyard with everything from tractors to excavators rusting away.

I'd no time for birdwatching on my return past Broadstone Reservoir since it was still raining. It had been an enjoyable and varied walk with lots of wildlife, a few curiosities including weather-watching cows.