Initially a steep climb, but soon you are back on the trail and heading up to Colden where you can have a pint of tea at ’May’s Shop’, Highgate Farm. The trail then crosses the moors of Clough Head Hill descending on good tracks past Gorple lower reservoir and then on past two Walshaw Dean Reservoirs to ascend Withens Height end and slightly down to Top Withens. The way then gradually descends through farms to Ponden reservoir past Ponden Hall. From Ponden a steep climb follows over Old Bess Hill and over Ickornshaw Moor on good tracks passing little black huts called ‘Cowlings’.  