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Week Six, Saltersforth to Kingstone, 120
miles
On Monday the 4th of June Marv woke Grant
up at stupid o’clock: even the birds had not yet started
their dawn chorus. The reason - he was hungry and he knew
food came from somewhere near Grant. So his theory was that
a little nudging of the basha with his nose and the possible
appearance of his head at one end might, if he was lucky,
result in a feed. In Grant’s view this act was a gross
misconduct: it was way too early to contemplate actually getting
up and Marv should know this. However there was no way he
was going to be dissuaded from his endeavors and leave Grant
alone so Marv’s food, much to his joy, suddenly appeared,
poured out by a disgruntled Grant into a pile just inches
from his feet. With Marv contentedly munching his food right
next to Grant’s head there was little chance of him
getting any more sleep but it did have the benefit that he
was unlikely to get Marv sticking his nose in his face for
a while.
At what Grant considered a decent hour,
all be it slightly influenced by Marv, he packed up, said
his goodbyes and headed south. The weather was ridiculously
hot which is not particularly ideal when you have a fair bit
of climbing to do. The pair stopped by a reservoir for a break
and to speak to some young offenders who were doing community
service. From what Grant said they enjoyed the break as much
as Marv enjoyed the attention. It was then onwards and, most
definitely, upwards reaching 392m before a picturesque descent
down into a village called Calderdale. After passing more
reservoirs, Grant and Marv finally found one covered with
grass, and both enjoyed a canter before joining the Pennine
Bridleway. It was then through Jackbridge before a final steep
climb onto a ridge where they arrived at Badgers Field Farm.
The views were amazing, 360 degrees. On
arrival Marv was initially put in a stable but on using it
as a scratching post he managed to break the partition between
the stables. This resulted in him being very quickly deposited
in a nearby field for fear of more breakages. A sensible decision
and one much preferred by the grass-loving Marv. Grant spent
the evening chatting, over dinner, to two couples who were
walking the Pennine Way before heading off to bed.
The following morning Marv got fed at a
more reasonable 07.00 but it was not the quickest feed as
Marv had discovered a horse at the furthest end of a very
large field. Grant walked down to him with no food with which
to bribe him and had to tempt and cajole Marv back to the
stable. Ralph Jennings had arrived at this point on his motorbike,
a classic Enfield Bullet. He had very kindly paid for Grant
and Marv’s accommodation and, after joining Grant for
breakfast, he walked the first half hour with them before
heading back.
The first hour involved a very steep descent
off the ridge and down into the industrial valley floor. Marv
was quiet and very responsive to Grant. Once across the main
road, instead of continuing on the Pennine way, Grant decided
to follow the canal. This proved to be a great decision, as
not only was it flat, it was very picturesque. It also gave
Grant a real sense of the historical importance of the canal
and, quite possibly, Marv’s ancestry. They went under
a lot of bridges on the canal path and through a very narrow
tunnel. The tunnel was dark, on entry it sloped upwards with
no natural light and Marv had to lower his head to get from
end to end. He had every reason to be reluctant to pass through
but at no time did he hesitate in following Grant.
Later that day, still on the tow path, they reached a point
where they could go no further. There was a locked gate on
the tow path. On ringing British Waterways to ask for access
he was told, ironically enough, that horses were no longer
allowed on the tow path.
After passing through Littleborough and
stopping for water for Marv, they joined a B road up to, and
past, Hollingworth Lake and it was at this point Grant could
see the M62 viaduct. Just short of the viaduct they joined
the very stony Pennine bridleway. The track meandered and
climbed up before passing more reservoirs and although it
was a national bridleway it was possibly the worst track the
pair had been on: Marv was not at all happy with the going.
Finally they reached the A672 and turned south, attempting
to cut a corner of the bridleway. This went wrong and resulted
in an unnecessary loop. One continuing issue Grant is having
to contend with is the amount of bridleways which on attempting
to follow them seem to disappear or lead to nowhere.
As they were nearing their destination Grant
rang Roger Logue who we had met earlier on in Northumberland.
He had organized great accommodation for Marv and put Grant
up for the night. Roger was going to walk some of the way
in with Grant but they missed each other and ended up meeting
up at the field where Marv was staying. When Grant arrived
the local paper had sent a journalist out for a photograph,
Grant and Marv have had their mugs plastered on almost every
local paper since John O Groats.
Grant was fortunate enough to get all my
kit and numnahs washed that night by a lovely lady called
Linda. He left Marv in the capable hands of Lynn whose field
he was using and headed back with Roger to his home where
he was staying for the night. On arriving at Roger and Anna’s
he disappeared for a bath and made himself presentable before
joining them for an amazing meal and a good bottle of wine
or two. They then sat with a tasty malt and enjoyed a good
bit of James Bond. Roger and Anna went out their way to make
sure that Marv and Grant were looked after, their hospitality
was outstanding and we look forward to meeting them again
and hopefully returning their hospitality.
It was up at 7.00, and following a huge
fry up Grant and Roger drove back to Lynn’s, where Grant
picked up his clean laundry. Marv was raring to go and was
pawing the ground impatiently. The views from Marv’s
paddock were incredible, a 180 degree panorama. Although unappreciated
by Marv, Grant was clearly able to see where he would be heading
that day. Roger joined Grant and Marv and the three of them
headed out on the Pennine bridleway, where they spent a pleasant
hour walking and chatting before reaching Greenfield from
where Roger headed back.
Grant continued to follow the Pennine bridleway
for some miles before dropping off west to cut a corner. The
going was slow. They went through Mattley and Mottram, where
Grant met Dick while he was stopping at a post office for
juice and mints. As well as giving him a donation he also
went out of his way to find a field for Marv in Little Hayfield.
The day was getting really hot as they traveled over the hill
to Broad Bottom. It was around here that Grant took yet another
stupid (his words) shortcut down a footpath, Marv broke a
rear saddlebag completely which was totally Grants fault because,
as he wrote in his notes, he knew it was to narrow to pass
through. After repacking the rucksack with the spilt load
they headed back onto the road. They then slogged it up to
Charlesworth, where Marv got some water from an old trough.
It was then a steep, steep, climb up to 379m on Monks road
where the views were amazing but neither of them were really
in the mood to appreciate them. After a long and tiring day
in the sweltering heat all they wanted to do was finish. On
arriving in Little Hayfield they found the field next to The
Lantern Pike Pub. Sadly the owner of the field Grant had arranged
to use had recently passed away, however, his family and friends
all commented on the fact that he would have loved to see
Marv in the field. Grant was invited to join the wake in the
pub where he met some great people.
It was an early start, once on the road
they walked down through the village and picked up a bridleway
to avoid the busy main road. Grant stocked up on chocolate
bars and squash at the only shop that was open, before climbing
up to join the Pennine Bridleway in the Peak District. The
Bridleway contoured along at 300 – 400m above sea level,
with amazing views either side. Once reaching civilization
Grant stopped at a local pub for some lunch, apparently there
were no shops in the area! Marv, for once, was incredibly
patient and happy to stand in the pub garden whilst Grant
ate.
As the day drew to an end they came to Blackwell
village and Grant asked the first person he met for a field,
David at Crossroads Farm House very kindly offered his paddock.
Once Marv was comfortable Grant put up his basha and slept
for a bit. Not long after he had woken a young girl passed
on a pony and said hello to Marv, she promised to be back
with food and true to her word, went back home and persuaded
her mother to return to Marv with some hard food. Thanks to
her powers of persuasion, Marv benefited again later that
evening when her mother made a second trip with more food.
Friday morning was another early start due
to Marv nudging the basha. Marv was so keen to get the sugar
beet that had been prepared for him earlier that he broke
the bucket in his eagerness, so belated apologies to the bucket
owner. He also ended up with a black stripe on his nose having
got it thoroughly wedged in the bucket. They set off in a
mist, which cleared as they began to climb. Once again it
was back on the Pennine bridleway which, these days, was predominantly
a disused railway line. They had to get off the bridleway
at Biggin to rendezvous at the Waterloo Pub where Marv was
getting new rear shoes. David Boyd, from the ILPH, and Alex
Mercer, Kings Troop farrier, both arrived whilst Grant was
doing an interview for the radio and the local newspaper.
The landlord at the Waterloo very kindly offered lunch on
the house, which was happily accepted and eaten with Marv
grazing happily in the pubs beer garden.
Grant and Marv then headed back on to the
bridleway and continued towards Ashbourne. Unfortunately,
due to lack of wind but the plentitude of trees Marv got pestered
by horseflies, which Grant tried to keep under control by
swatting with the map. Grant was met at the end by Danielle,
a local reporter who showed Grant to John Stubbs farm where
she used to keep a horse when she was younger and where Marv
would be staying. Grant managed to blag a caravan which was
a luxury and John let him use the bathroom at the farmhouse
for a shower. Later that evening Grant met up with Danielle
to go to her father’s pub, The Coach and Horses, where
he was gratefully fed. There is a town tradition where upon
a mass rugby match is played in February with no rules. The
match lasts two days and a goal is rarely scored, possibly
due to the fact the goal posts are 6 miles apart. If you actually
manage to score you get to keep the ball, a rare achievement
to say the least. So it was with renewed respect that Grant
left the pub having found out that Danielle’s father
was one of the rare people to actually have actually scored
a goal.
Before heading back to the caravan Grant
went to check on Marv, who was lying down by the gate as close
as he could possibly get to a grey mare on the other side
of the gate.
On Saturday morning Grant fed Marv at 06.30;
however he was more interested in necking with the mare in
the other field so he left him to go and do some final admin
before setting off. Later that morning he went past Abbots
Home school where he had run at the National Independent Schools
Cross Country Championships. Lunch was a sandwich and drink
from the local supermarket in Rocester, before heading across
the river Dove, and on to the Lakeland beside the huge JCB
factory where Marv had a drink with the ducks. The pair then
had their best canter along a deep grass verge with a lake
on one side and the main road on the other. On the outskirts
of Uttoxeter Grant met a female police officer who also did
long distance riding. After a brief chat they pushed on in
the heat to Bramshall, where Grant stopped at a pub for some
water for Marv. The locals at the pub all chipped in and made
a joint donation which was generous and greatly appreciated.
It was then on to Kingstone where a field
had been arranged for Marv. After putting up his basha Grant
crashed for three hours before heading up to The Shrewsbury
Arms for some food.
The following day was a rest day and fortunately
it was overcast and cool. Jill Bettson, the very kind lady
who had allowed Marv to stay after a rambling phone call from
me and with very little notice, cooked an amazing fry up and
took all Grant’s washing from him. Grant was more tired
than he thought and ended up sleeping for two and a half hours
in the tack room whilst waiting for his phone to charge. It
was back up to the pub for lunch, which they very kindly gave
on the house. He spent the afternoon chilling out with Marv
in the sun. Later that evening Mrs Bettson bought him some
dinner and a beer which was very gratefully received. The
later part of the evening chatting to Richard and Amanda,
Mrs. Bettson’s son and daughter in law, all in all a
very enjoyable day off.
Many thanks to the people below who
kindly provided grazing and shelter for Marv and for some
of those nights a bed, food and good company for Grant. He
would also like to thank all those along the route for their
good wishes, encouragement and sponsorship
Monday - Blackshaw Head – Ralph
Jennings
Tuesday – Diggle – Roger and Anna Logue, Lynn
and Linda
Wednesday – Little Hayfield – Debbie and Richard
Scottney
Thursday - Blackwell – Mr and Mrs Longden
Friday – Ashbourne – John Stubbs
Saturday and Sunday- Kingstone – Jill Bettson
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