March saw longer days and my first real training walk, trying out my new tent and some other equipment. Here is what I wrote when I got home:
All winter I had been training with the trek across Scotland in mind. All other treks I have done before are little in comparison. This one is BIG! Nearly 200 miles, across the mountains of Scotland, on my own, carrying all my camping gear, food, water…. I had to be strong as well as fit. Hours in the gym and on the hill brought me to my first overnight training trek – a ‘ 3 day trundle’ across the moors from Littleborough home to Westhoughton, using routes such as the Rossendale Way and the Pennine Bridleway.
I was testing my gear as well as testing my fitness. With some trepidation I set up my first wildcamp of the year. Night one saw me under clear skies on the moors looking westwards at the sunset through the wind-farm on Scout Moor. Stunning. What was there to worry about?
The next day started with a fabluous trog across the old cart-roads that serviced a series of old quarries up high on the moors, now the Rossendale Way. Gradually the windfarm came closer - then I passed it behind me.
After a great lunch at the ‘Bizzy Plaice’ in Edenfield, and a boggy yomp over Holcombe Moor, dusk fell on the second night with me hiding myself away in woodland near a reservoir to the east of Bolton, then getting up and away in the morning before dog-walkers were about.
It was lovely being able to track my progress by looking back at the wind-farm disappearing into the distance in the east.
I ended my day walking back up over Winter Hill - and onto home ground. All in all a great three days, perfect start to the year's big walking.
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