Pennine way day 4(mon 21st april 2014) - Hebden Bridge to Cowling(16 miles)

I wake up to find my heel has swelled up really badly and am pretty worried how it will hold out today but determined that we can't give up so soon! I spend a good 20 minutes with my foot soaking in cold water and take some ibuprofen to take down the swelling which seems to ease it a bit and then we have our breakfast before heading out at quarter to 10. We've decided not to stick to the exact route but to head through Hardcastle Crags instead as we think this will be a bit more scenic….big mistake!!

We head steeply up out of town and across several fields before the slow realisation sets in that we are completely, hopelessly lost! We've only got the guidebook and the strip maps so once we're so far off route we've got no idea where we've ended up.

After a tense hour or so and a very helpful local with an OS map we decide our only option is to head up onto the main road to Haworth over the tops of the moors which seems to go on forever and is only improved by an ice cream van at the top!

 We eventually head down into Oxenhope where we stop off for a drink outside a pub and work out that we can walk another couple of miles to Stanbury where we can rejoin the path which is a relief and we're soon back on track! My backpack seems a lot easier today although my heel is still niggling. Once through Stanbury we stop at a lovely little pub called the Old Silent Inn for a drink before heading down to Ponden reservoir and then back onto moorland paths. 

 We head up onto Ickornshaw moor which is pretty easy walking although it's been a long day and it's starting to catch up with both of us, past shooting huts before reaching the road which takes us down into Cowling and to our B&B for the night Woodland House.  We're both fairly exhausted by now and receive a lovely warm welcome from Susan and Sandy.
They are both walkers and know exactly what you need at the end of a long day, we sit in the conservatory and chat about some of their walking adventures with a couple of tea and some cakes before being shown to our lovely room.
A quick shower and change later and we head out for a quick drink at the local pub and then a HUGE meal at Rita's restaurant which we have no hope of ever finishing! Then it's back to the B&B to collapse after a very long and exhausting day!