Meet Report: 12-14 December 2025.

Based at the Boarshurst Centre. Run by Saddleworth Outdoor Pursuits Association, this is an Independent hostel in Greenfield which we last visited in 2021.  Until 1974 it was in Yorkshire’s West Riding, but Greenfield was then redesignated as Greater Manchester.  

Whatever one calls the area, there’s always been rock climbing around but the cool, wet and windy conditions did not encourage the climbers this weekend.  The best weather was probably on Friday afternoon when, on the way to the meet, the Smiths took the opportunity of walking up Black Hill from the north rather than their usual south.

The cloughs and edges above Dovestones reservoir were the main attraction on Saturday.  Five walked from the hostel, skirting Alderman’s Hill to work their way clockwise round the reservoirs to scramble up Birchen Clough then follow the edge south before dropping down to the sailing club and taking the back roads to Boarshurst.  On first gaining the edge they spotted the other party of six approaching having parked by the Dovestone Reservoir dam and scrambled up Charnel Clough then headed anticlockwise along the edge.  Pleasantries were exchanged before moving on. After descending Birchen Clough the latter group also walked to the hostel.  Inevitably, both groups sent people to surmount the Trinnacle rock to be photographed.

Tim out on his eMTB cycled tracks first south along the east side of the Tame valley, diverted east to Tintwistle and back, then round the valley’s head to return through Stalybridge to Diggle for its eponymous Jiggle (don’t ask) as a finale.

Harvey walked southeast beyond the Chew valley and reservoir and headed towards Laddow Rocks in the Crowden valley but was turned back by the flooded flats before the watershed.

Other outings included the Pots and Pans and the moors behind them, meeting up with friends at the Cross Keys, and Becca managing a run ticking off virtual orienteering controls around the Dovestones reservoirs before setting about preparing the evening’s meal.  

That festive meal was accompanied by the usual chat and banter and followed by our President welcoming two new prospective members and a guest, then unaccompanied songs from Roy, Carol and Harvey before Michael showed footage of a Svalbard pulking trip and outlined the possibilities for activities on the 2026 Norwegian trip.

Fortified by a Sunday cooked breakfast full of undoubtedly unhealthy ingredients, the climbers Helen B and Tim headed off to Wythenshawe’s Big Depot climbing wall for some indoor routes graded up to 6a+.  Four walkers headed straight up from the hostel to a very windy war memorial, the Pots and Pans and part of the Oldham Way being blown north then returning past Pobgreen and into the teeth of the increasingly wet weather.  Those activities would have burned off some of the calories accrued over the weekend.

Most though had decided enough was enough and set off to attend to other Christmas preparations.  November and December are not often the best months for outdoor activities but this gathering made a good impression on the two first timers.  

Attending:  Mick Borroff,  Helen Brewitt,  Ged Campion,  Robert Crowther,  Roy Denney,  John Dobson,  Christine Harrison,  Jim Harrison,  Becca Humphreys,  John Jenkin,  Paul Jepson (G),  Tim Josephy,  Geraldine Lally (PM),  David Large,  Harvey Lomas,  Aurore Sansinena (PM), Helen Smith,  Michael Smith,  Richard Taylor, Conrad Tetley,  Carol Whalley,  John Whalley.