The Cotton Famine Trail 08/04/2012

After my visit to Dave the physio on Thursday, and what appears to be quite a successful acupuncture treatment, I arranged a run out on Easter Sunday with Frank, Tom and Pat (Tom's mate). We started in Uppermill and headed straight up past the Cross Keys pub and onto the tops via Running Hill Gate. Pat has quite extensive local off road knowledge of Saddleworth and the surrounding area, so he led the way.

Once off the road you don't really have much choice but to hang a right heading off in an easterly direction because of the big ravine in front of you that is home to Diggle rifle range. It isn't long before you pick up the old Cotton Famine Trail. If you look at the image below (the distinct lack of rain and low cloud makes this a rare image!) you can clearly see the tracks that were dug approximately 150 years ago. It was Pat who told me the basic history about the trail but i read up on it further and have put a link below for anyone who's interested. In a nutshell; the American civil war restricted raw cotton imports and as a result work in the local cotton mills was heavily reduced causing mass unemployment and poverty in the area. Some mill owners had their employee's carrying out alternative work in order to keep them on the payroll and this road, also known as 'the road to nowhere', was started but never finished.

The Cotton Famine Trail aka The Road to Nowhere

This image is taken from the following site:

http://www.geolocation.ws/v/W/File:The%20Cotton%20Famine%20Road%20-%20geograph.org.uk%20-%20831589.jpg/-/en

  and would have been taken from approximately point number 1 (in yellow) on the route map below.

More reading about the Cotton Famine, the resulting riots in Stalybridge & Ashton etc can be done here: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lancashire_Cotton_Famine It's amazing (and shameful) that i know so little about the local geography and history. I 'must try harder' - hmm sure I've read that somewhere before :o)

When you reach point number 2 on the map (photo below) you meet the Pennine Way which, if you turn left, takes you back in a north easterly direction and around the other side of the ravine that houses the rifle range. There's been quite a lot of work done on the Pennine Way by way of laying much needed stone flags. The area is very boggy and the flags (where laid) stop you needing a pair of wellies. Frank and myself have invested in Sealskin (waterproof) socks and they work a treat so long as you don't step in anything too deep; if water comes over the top of the socks it can't get out! Just a word of warning about the flags, they can be a bit slippy so take care if you're running.

Left to right; Frank, Pat and Tom. Refuelling on the tasty energy gels which help with the bog hopping and snow wading

About half way between number 2 and 3 the flags become a bit scarce and you will end up 'bog hopping' but the view (if you're lucky enough to get a bit of cloud lift) is well worth the wet feet.

The two photo's below were taken at point number 3. Me with Black Moss reservoir in the background and a shot in the opposite direction with Manchester in the background.

Not sure why I felt the need to strike a 'hang onto the fence' pose.

Possibly because of Tom's 'back a bit further' directions

Manchester, with what we think is the Hilton on the skyline

From the Black Moss res you climb up and over the hill then drop down towards the Great Western pub on the A62. To extend the run a little we then crossed over the road and followed the track (if you turn right you can continue on the Pennine Way - see a previous route) and then followed Harrop Edge Lane onto Lark Hill and down into Dobcross. The route then took us across the Woolpack football pitch, through the garden centre and onto the canal. Tom and Pat peeled of home across the river (stepping stones) in Uppermill. I extended the run a little by continuing on the canal to Greenfield where Frank went off home and i came back along the bridal path.

The full distance was about 13.5 miles in a time of about 2 hours 50 mins (about 2 hrs 30 moving time). The leg seemed to hold up very well considering all the bog hopping and this was definitely one of the most enjoyable runs that I've done for a while; great company, scenery, weather etc. The plan is to team up with Pat and Tom on a regular basis, to up the mileage and explore the local area in more detail (and get some extra history lessons from Pat!).

Here's a screen shot and link to the full route:

http://g.co/maps/5r2p9

Cheers

Mick