Last month we went to Snake Pass in an attempt to have a walk around Bleaklow. The weather was insane, snow and wind prevented us walking even a couple of metres up the Pennine Way.
Today was our second attempt to see the area, the wind was still chilling, but bearable, and we could see our hands in front of our faces. So, no excuses.
We parked on Snake Pass, up high, as the Pennine Way crosses the road, and we joined the famous footpath headed north. The initial stroll was busy: young families and old ramblers chattered their way up the path. We caught conversation about the aircraft crash site that earnestly attracts people to these hills.
The path cut its way through the land, as though we were walking through a valley, on stones, sand, and (most often) mud. The people ahead and behind us branched off to the left towards High Shelf Stones, buy we continued along The Pennine Way. The clear marked path finally brought us to Bleaklow Head, beautifully marked with an impressive cairn. Even though the path was pretty much level, with hardly any incline, we were treated to a panoramic view of the surrounding fells, painted in browns, yellows and greens.
We turned back and headed south, it was our turn to make our way up to High Shelf Stones. With no clear path any more, we kept the hill in our sights and moved towards it, meandering left and right to avoid swamp and bogs and the many streams that slithered through the grass. Two massive natural rock arrangements, Wain Stones and Hern Stones, assured us we were going the right way, but between them there was nothing to keep us on track. Constantly checking the map and occasionally peeping through binoculars, we saw a few groups of people gathered and inched our way towards them.
As if out of nowhere, climbing up the very steady incline, we happened upon the wreckage. We had heard the story of the crash site, but nothing could prepare us for what we saw.
On the 3rd of November 1948, USAF Boeing RB-29A Superfortress, nicknamed ‘Over-Exposed’ crashed at the site, a few hundred metres from High Shelf Stones, whilst on a photography reconnaissance mission. Sadly all 13 members of it's crew were killed in the crash. The wreckage of the plane remains at the site as a memorial to the crew, and in 1988, a plaque was placed in memory of those who lost their lives.
What struck us was the surface area over which the wreckage was spread. The debris and mangled metal is to be found all over the place. A group of walkers slowly wandered through the site, but a few minutes later we were left alone with the ghostly ruins. Poppies and small wooden crosses scattered around the main part of what was once the plane, a respectful monument to the people who risk their lives in order to protect ours. It was a lot to take in, and was an interesting detour from the naturistic hikes we are now used to.
Silently continuing along our path, we finally reached High Shelf Stones, a busy summit with another picturesque panorama of the hills, and our first glimpse back at Snake Pass. We picked out or car from the line of parked cars on the layby, and started our walk west, to rejoin the Pennine Way, the path we had started a good few hours ago. Obviously stopping to pose for pictures for each other along the way, and of course arguing over which break in the terrain was our path. Standard!
Although there was no real difficulty in incline or terrain, I would recommend, if you plan to visit the area, you still plan for the worst. The open landscape can produce strong winds and poor visibility. If you plan to visit the crash site, I'd also recommend a map and compass, and some food and water. The walk from the road to the site would take less than an hour, but with no clear paths or distinctive markers, the potential to get lost still remains. That said, this is a gentle walk, with some very interesting for all ages things to see. A walk that will certainly stay with us for a long time.
Today we walked for 8.1 miles which took us 3 hours and 25 minutes, with one break and an extended stop to see the Superfortress’ crash site.
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| Bye for now. |
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