Dog Blog 13 – The Pennine Way 20.4.08

I’m taking a well-earned rest this weekend after a brilliant day out on the Pennine Way on Friday.
I decided that my pal Al, and my fellow walkers Chris and Austin, should have a little trot along the Pennine Way by way of training. Just a little wander from Marsden to Edale. For those not familiar with the Peak District this means about 24 miles of peat bog……..a soggy, sub-arctic bleakness of black mire with a few grouse and arctic hare. What fun!
I wanted to take them across the three great hills of the Dark Peak – Black Hill (very black), Bleaklow (very bleak) and Kinder Scout (not a lot kinder). Young lambs everywhere as we set off, a bit more interesting than sheep but not a lot brighter. Fifteen minutes from the start a tiny lamb rushed up to me bleating. Wouldn’t leave me alone! I mean, do I look like a sheep? Pretty careless to lose your mum just after you’re born.
I must say I do like a picnic lunch and our alfresco nosh under a rock was one of the best. Not only did Al do me proud but I cosied up to Austin too and he managed to sneak me a ham sandwich. Deelish!
Bleaklow isn’t what it used to be, according to Dad. The wretched National Trust has put stone flags down across parts of Bleaklow which rather kills the feeling of wilderness. But the sheer weight of the flagstones means they’re sinking so some sections are more of a canal than a path.
Anyway, my pal Austin somehow fell into a gap between the flags and bashed his knee. He was limping like Long John Silver so I decided to drop down to Hayfield and take the early bath. I’d waded through so many black bogs I was as black as my lovely Labrador friend Max and I was really looking forward to a warm hose down. Fat chance! I was bundled into the car and they all went for a pint. There’s gratitude after taking them for a nice walk!