On Wednesday, 13th November the Beagles went to West Nab, an edge of the top of the Pennine Range above Meltham. It was a fine day, but when you get up the ridge to the top the wind hits you as it picks up speed across the Atlantic from somewhere like Newfoundland and has nothing much to arrest it until it gets here. The grey gritstone boulder strewn edge gives way to a rocky fissured ankle trap of a moor that I dislike and don't know why I went, so I am afraid I didn't stop long.
Despite the keen wind the atmosphere was not clear and there was a haze of some sort that lingered on regardless
At the bottom of West Nab is this stone, about 8 feet high, and it has always been thus as far as I can remember, but I don't know of anyone having boasted of its powers.
BILLY GROUND
Billy Ground is not the name of a person but an area over Standedge above Marsden overlooking Lancashire. We went there on Saturday, 16th November. Windy again but dry. And fortunately mostly rough grass - where I went anyway.
Getting ready
The gentleman with the green bag collects the 'Cap' which is a contribution we all make whenever we turn out.
There is a small reservoir just over the edge but those hounds aren't about to jump in as the banking is quite wide.
Three 'Top Men' from the Holme Valley Beagles here as well as one from the Scarview Foxhounds.
I suppose we are standing on ground over the top of the Standedge tunnels here, both railway ones and the canal one. This looks like one of the big spoil heaps from the excavation many years ago.
Even huntsman need to take a breather sometimes!
The view looking west to Lancashire. Not a clear day though.
And a bit closer brightened up a bit
It got too dark very early for decent photos. The usual gloom all day that hangs over these hills. There is a forecast that in a week's time we are going to have the coldest winter on record with significant snow and this state of affairs will last until end February. So that is why the power companies shoved their charges up so much just recently and also sent me letter the other day saying they could advise how not to use so much of their product! What other business suggests using less of their product?
Weather forecast!
We'll see. Will make a mess of beagling if it is like they say.
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