~Pendle Hill~
1st June 2020
Molly on top of Pendle Hill
Just a short report from an early morning hike up Pendle Hill. The easing of lockdown restrictions and very fine weather has caused all the regular walking and tourist hotspots to become very busy during the afternoons, particularly at weekends. So, early Monday and a short drive to our favourite fell.
Litter
This photo doesn't show such, but litter has begun to appear on the regular footpaths. No intelligent, sensible person can begin to understand why anyone would move to spoil the countryside by leaving litter. A small snack hut has opened close to the foot of the steps up Pendle Hill and they have a bin very close by. It is not their fault that stupid idiots have chosen to chuck the empty bottles, cans and paper wrappers all over the place, but maybe they should regularly walk the routes and collect anything that has originated from their shop (maybe they do?). I have heard that McDonalds is due to reopen soon, to which I remarked "tell the roadsweepers and council cleaners".
Walkers on Pendle Hill
Pendle Summit
The most unusual aspect of this view is the sight of two condensation trails from airliners. One big bonus of the global lockdown has been the paucity of contrails, which in certain atmospheric conditions litter the sky as much as half-wits litter the ground.
Longridge Fell
Molly takes it easy with the woody slopes of Longridge Fell further away. I heard there was a fire up there yesterday, just as there was (and still is on this day) on Darwen Moor. Another sad response to the easing of restrictions and the opening of the asylum doors.
Molly on top of Pendle Hill
By sneaking up in April and more legitamately visiting in May, now again in June, I have kept a long record going of reaching the top of Pendle Hill at least once a month for more than 10 years now. Molly enjoys a few minutes in the shade; a banana has been left on top of the waymarker - in all my ascents of Pendle, not once before has a banana been found at the summit.
Way Down
Last Look
Maybe there are too many signs nowadays. All these and then more as you approach the steps; I'm sure one of them requests walkers to take their rubbish home with them.
Weather: Sunny and Warm.
Litter Count: High.
Greetings: More than expected.
All photos copyright Richard Ratcliffe 2020 ©
Take me back to the start ....