Holcombe Moor

Good judgement matters more than the summit

- Walk checked out by the Dotcom Walkers. Devised and described by Bob Clare

The sign at the army range below Bull Hill

Continuing with a theme of safety in the hills there are times when a chosen route must be cut short if weather conditions turn out to be more severe than what was forecast or the route has been a little more ambitious than the capabilities of the party.

The easiest escape route is to simply turn back and retrace your steps. However, there may be situations where this is not an option.

Back in October of last year the Lancashire Dotcom Walkers went to Holcombe. I was leading The Flat Earth section on the route described below. "Flat Earth" indicating that those who chose this option expect the route to be gentler and at a slower pace.

The morning started off well with a fine track taking us from the village along to Chatterton Close. Here I airily briefed the group on its choices. Either down to the valley returning to the car park through Ramsbot-tom or to climb to the MoD firing range below Bull Hill “a mere 200ft of ascent” thus allowing us to visit the Peel Monument an obvious objective at that end of the West Pennine Moors. The group were game for the climb so off we went.

It soon became evident that one of our party was finding the rutted path difficult. I judged that once Vicky reached the ridge, she would find the broad moorland track a little easier. Yes, it was a broad moorland track but just as rutted and awkward for Vicky by the one we attained the ridge.