The slightest sprinkling of frost greeted us this week, just the finest of coatings covering the long damp grass in the shadows. It was gone once the sun was up, casting its warmth across the land but the familiar tingling in my finger ends reminded me that winter is on its way. We’ve had some glorious sunsets and equally glorious sunrises where the sky has been scorched with scarlet hues; perhaps not the best sign if the old adage of red sky at morning is anything to go by.
Published 23rd Oct 2026, 11:45 BST
Updated 23rd Oct 2026, 11:46 BST
The cows often make their way to high ground as the last shimmers of sunset illuminate the sky. Their silhouettes stand out on the skyline and despite many attempts by the little guy and myself we’ve yet to capture a photo that does this beautiful scene justice. Their days roaming the moors are slowly coming to an end, as with wet and windy weather heading out way, it’s time for them to come back inside for the long winter months. How cooperative they will be at coming in, is yet to be seen, as they’ve certainly enjoyed their time up there. No doubt there’ll be plenty of volunteers needed to coax them down and back along the track on the edge of the westbound carriageway. Hopefully, we can do it without too much drama!
Filming has been taking place up on Deanhead and whilst there have been no starring roles on offer for the little guy, it’s been great to see a fleet of lovely old classic cars up there! I’m not sure what they were filming for but following on from a conversation with the lady in charge about the appalling state of the road, all of the lay-bys were thankfully cleared of rubbish. The problem of fly tipping is a constant source of frustration and anger for us as well as all the locals who love the area as we do. To see all the household detritus, old tyres and building waste finally gone was gratefully acknowledged but of course it was only a matter of time before the scumbags were back dumping their rubbish again.
Strangely the first thing to reappear were large wooden crates of water melons. Not really something you expect to see on a windswept Pennine landscape, but not the first time they’ve been dumped up there. Earlier this year, the mysterious crates appeared, causing confusion when their contents were spilled out across the road. The road was soon covered with the red flesh of the fruits once a few quarry wagons had driven through, making for quite a gruesome picture. Along with the crates, the usual discarded bathroom and old kitchen units have reappeared along the edges; so depressing to see this waste slowly spreading like a filthy virus across our precious moorland.
We’ve lost yet more ewes in Deanhead valley, chased to exhaustion before finally plunging into the cold waters of the reservoir where they have drowned. I don’t know what the answer is and I certainly don’t know how anyone can walk away after watching their precious “fur baby” do this. Sadly, having eye witnesses and statements counts for nothing in the eyes of the law, as the chances of seeing these owners face serious repercussions are slim to non existent. Perhaps someone’s conscience will get the better of them and they’ll own up, but I won’t be holding my breath.