If, like me, you’ve journeyed across the Peak District Pennines via such routes as the Snake Pass or Woodhead, you may have found yourself with your nose pressed against the window – your eyes greedily consuming the wonderful views. When I was a kid I always wanted to stop and explore the woods and streams you’d spy in the valleys. But we never did.
Well now I am a man grown and I can decide on where we go.
Middle Black Clough
Car park: 53°29’41.6″N 1°49’43.2″W
I met Brendan at the Longdendale Trail car park. When there isn’t a pandemic going on, you can park in the lay-bys on the Woodhead Pass and avoid the very sharp turning (if you’re approaching from the west). However, the Government has discovered that COVID-19 takes a fancy to people who park in a lay-by. Thank you Boris.
Today’s brief was simple. Find the Middle Black Clough waterfall. Apparently it’s been there for years but we were going to look for it anyway.
It’s a simple walk but it requires you to criss-cross the stream. The route does get a bit muddy and scrambly but it should only take you 10-15 minutes to get to the waterfall. Obviously, we are The Walking And Talking Society and we don’t do things simply. Our trips must include frequent stops for photo shoots.
Autumn (or “Fall” if you are American). Probably my favourite season. We had picked a great time to capture the autumnal (“fall-nal”? How do Americans say “autumnal”??) colours (colors).
A light breeze brushed the trees and it started raining leaves. It was very satisfying. I wanted a photo but then remembered this was probably going to end up on Instagram, so I turned away.
Is it really an Instagrammable photo if I’m in a nice place and actually looking at the camera?? No. You’ve got to catch me candidly enjoying the splendour of the setting. Candid not planned it.
Sadly I forgot to pretend to flick my hair. Also I’m not a woman so this photo is worthless.
Joking aside, this part of the trail is a very pleasurable walk. Very fairytale-ish.
Like I said earlier, you have to risk your dryness to reach the waterfall. Sadly, Brendan did not fall in. The path narrows and gets muddy from here.
As we approached the main waterfall, Brendan and I split up. I took the higher, rockier path whereas Brendan stuck close to the slippy trail by the stream. Predictably, I arrived first.
I had found the Middle Black Clough Waterfall. I had also found a hat on the rock. If anyone has lost such a hat here – don’t fret! A fellow rambler and kindred spirit has safely placed it here. This blog truly is a public service.
Brendan got snapping.
I got clambering.
From looking like an Instawhore to looking like a gargoyle.
Upstream there are more, smaller cascades to enjoy.
The further up the clough you clamber, the less noticeable the footprints become. We could have carried on, but our eyes had had their fill. We spied a steep trail that parted the dying ferns up onto the moor.
The trail kinda disappears when you’re up on the moor and then reappears. I wasn’t sure if this was manmade or sheepmade. But from this vantage point we could see the Woodhead Pass and where abouts our cars would be, and we planned a route.
We descended back into woodland. This side of the moor felt even more untouched, wild. The paths were overgrown and slippy.
I went on my arse, of bloody course.
Our makeshift route back brought us near to where we’d had our little photo shoot. Again, Brendan refused to fall in the damn water.
And the circle was done. Luckily the weather had been kind to us, as had the season. We ran into barely any people on this little adventure so it really is a must for low-key thrill seekers who hate people.
Stay safe!
#VidOnTour 