Chris Maylor, who runs a Saddleworth Discovery Walks blog and Facebook page, enjoyed leading Oldham’s youth to Duke of Edinburgh Award success.
For more information about local walks, email Chris at saddleworthdiscoverywalks@gmail.com or visit his Facebook page or website.
RECENTLY A group of young people from Mahdlo Youth Zone undertook their Bronze Duke of Edinburgh Award Expedition in Saddleworth.
Led by myself and other instructors, the group learnt to navigate across the area’s moorland terrain, plan multi-day walking routes and develop safe camp-craft skills.
After completing all of their training the group undertook their final expedition.
Setting out from Ogden Reservoir, with fully loaded rucksacks, the five-strong party traversed Denshaw Moor before descending into the Castleshaw Valley.
Passing the Outdoor Education Centre, which is housed in an historic building, the party crossed Lark Hill before making their way along the Huddersfield Narrow Canal and the old Micklehurst Railway Line to Greenfield.
Pausing for a brief lunch stop, they again picked up the canal en route to their overnight camp at Well-i-Hole campsite, where they cooked their evening meal and prepared for the next day’s journey.
The following morning the group awoke to find the rain was still pouring, which made cooking breakfast a difficult task. However, undeterred by the miserable weather they broke camp and set off on day two of their expedition.
The initial steep ascent of Shadworth Lane was enough to awaken still slumbering legs and while the group shouldered weighty packs, the smiles on their faces never broke.
As they approached the first checkpoint of the day the fun-filled sound of laughter and singing drifted along Chew Valley.
Skirting around Dovestone Reservoir, the group followed the course of the Oldham Way, past the Saddleworth War Memorial before passing Saddleworth Church to reach the Brownhill Centre on Wool Road – their final checkpoint of the day.
Throughout their training and final expedition the whole group showed fantastic team work and worked well together to complete their expedition.
They are now looking forward to starting their Silver Duke of Edinburgh Award and have also got plans to take part in other Get Outdoors activities organised by Mahdlo Youth Zone.
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