Doubler Stones

This morning was a lovely spring day the thermometer was showing 20 degrees and I was ready to go for a walk.  It’s been quite a while since I’d walked up to the Doubler Stones and the last few times I’ve walked in that area the weather hasn’t been too kind so today would be a nice change with pleasant views.  I parked up in the lay by and set off to the gate by White Crag where I normally turn down the fields.  Clearly the farmer didn’t want walkers going through the field anymore it was barbed wire along the top of the gate and it was padlocked closed. So to get back on the walk proper I had to follow the road down the hill and then catch the stile into the field leading down to Holden Beck. 

Crossing over the footbridge by the cobbled ford and up a grassy track with gorse bushes either side.  From here it was back up the hill to eventually turn left along a rough pasture. 

I f I had walked on here last week it would have been a total mud bath but this week the ground was drying out nicely.  I turned towards an old ruin heading through a stile down a dip in the ground – this was still pretty moist – it never seems to dry out just here.  After passing the ruined barn it was a steep slope down the hill to cross a stream at a slab bridge. 

Only to have to climb up again through several fields up to Black Pots.  Here I turned along the drive to just past Doubler Stones Farm.  From here I headed across the moor to the doubler stones.  They looked impressive today with the sun on them. 

After stopping to look back I headed across the moor following the track over Rombalds Moor.  From here I could see Beamsley Beacon on the horizon ahead.  Climbing the stile I turned left along an escarpment edge to a memorial stone   It had been a good walk with good views although there was a haze in the distance.  4 ½ miles of lots of ups and downs.

then dropping down alongside a plantation following the wall around it to the final steep drop off the moor back to where I’d parked.