David and Jacinta's Walks- 2025

Tegg's Nose and Trentabank We didn't want to go too far today, and we settled on a walk from Tegg's Nose- as often, the choice was influenced by a very nice coffee shop. Sadly, all the interesting baked goods had sold out (Cruffins, Croissants), but the coffee was good. There's a great view of Shutlingsloe from Tegg's Nose. Shutlingsloe from Tegg's Nose We more or less followed the route of the Frances House "Three Peaks" walk, passing by Throstle's Nest Farm. Farm nameplate! When we reached the Trentabank car park, we were more than ready for lunch, and we treated ourselves to griddled (Staffordshire) oatcakes with cheese- excellent and filling! We returned to Tegg's Nose by a slightly more direct route. We were both pleasantly surprised that the final walk up, although steep, wasn't as tough as we'd anticipated. A walk of 5.6 miles with 305m ascent.

 Chew Reservoir from Tintwistle- David Solo My original plan was to go up to Crowden, but the Woodhead Road was closed. I managed to get to Tintwistle and parked at The Stocks. Even though I'd been up to the Chew Reservoir a couple of days earlier with Steve, it's a great walk and I felt that I should investigate a couple of variations on our usual route. Going "Off Piste" as Rachel said. The walk starts along the Arnfield Lane bridleway, passing back gardens and allotments, one of which contained a very noisy white goose who honked enthusiastically at me. Honking Goose My first change from our usual route was to pass Arnfield Farm, rather than bypass it to the right on the Pennine Bridleway. This was a pleasant enough route and was a little more direct, joining the bridleway at a familiar stile. Stile from the bridleway to the path newly taken From there, it was the usual walk down to cross Ogden Clough (today, in the moody sunshine). Ogden Clough On reaching the tur...

 Dovestones- David and Steve A day out for David with long-standing friend Steve. We met at the Dovestones car park and walked up the flight of reservoirs, which were all very low. Yeoman Hey Reservoir We took the usual route beside Greenfield Brook and then up Birchen Clough before climbing up to the edge above the reservoirs. Stream just about running down Birchen Clough The ascent feels relatively easy nowadays (compared with the first few times that Jacinta and I did it) but the views are really great, with Greenfield Brook and Birchen Clough seeming a very long way down. View down to the stream and clough below with Black Hill in the distance We stopped for a quick picture above The Trinicle before continuing round to the Chew Reservoir and returning to the Dovestones car park. Above The Trinicle with Greenfield Reservoir in the background A walk of 9.2 miles with 390m ascent.

 Hayfield and Lantern Pike Yet another gorgeous day. A medium walk was in order today and the lure of the Sett Valley Café was impossible to resist. After a coffee break there, it was off to Lantern Pike and points onward. At the foot of the pike, we had a sit down and a snack, and caught up with our socials. Shedding the light at the foot of Lantern Pike On reaching Blackshaw Farm, the party split, with Jacinta returning to Hayfield. David continued  north along the Pennine Bridleway and, rather than turning east at Matleymoor Farm, continued up to the north end of Matley Moor and turned east past Knarrs Farm. The Matleymoor sheep were feeling the heat and taking shelter under a tree. Matleymoor Farm Sheep avoiding the sun Joining Monk's Road at Near Plainsteads, a couple of black lambs were taking advantage of their poor mother. Shady behaviour I crossed the road at the crown of the road above the old Grouse Inn (which now has a mobile snack bar in its former car park) ...

 Marsden and March Hill A special walk today as we were joined by Rachel and Matt. A South Pennine jaunt seemed to be appropriate, so we met in Marsden at the excellent Katie's Kitchen. The walk along the canal to the Standedge tunnel is very pleasant and we don't tire of seeing it in all its 18th century impressiveness. The way up to the moorland is interesting and it was good to take the route which leads you past some wonderful houses with great views across the valley. The journey up to March Haigh reservoir was so much drier than normal as there has been virtually no rain for a month. On the way up March Hill- March Haigh reservoir in background We stopped for some lunch in a sheltered spot and then pushed on to the top of March Hill. After the top of March Hill, there is a relatively flat section called Dan Clough Moss, which is usually very boggy and still has lots of cottongrass or bog cotton even though it is currently very dry. Walking through the cottongrass  The jo...

 Grindleford to Higger Tor After a delayed start, courtesy of Royal Mail, we arrived at Grindleford Station cafe about 1pm. It seemed to be doing a roaring trade in large bacon butties. The first notable feature of the walk was Padley Chapel, the scene of Protestant skulduggery in the Reformation. The walk beyond the chapel goes into Bolehill Wood, at times a somewhat confusing place, but still dramatic in its own right. Evidence of quarrying in the past was much in evidence, largely to provide the stone for the construction of the dams in the Upper Derwent valley. We had lunch at the beautiful but imposing quarry of Lawrencefield, where Ben and David climbed many moons ago. Hard Rock at Lawrencefield All around are abandoned millstones- always a poignant sight. Industrial waste- abandoned millstones On to the Surprise View vantage point and the open moorland, which was welcome after the woods, passing the Mother Cap formation on Owler Tor. Mother Cap on Owler Tor We went up Higger...

 Shepherds Meeting Stones, Bleaklow Stones, Grinah Stones and Barrow Stones from Howden Reservoir (David Solo) As my walk to The Bleaklow Stones and Bleaklow Head had been so enjoyable (and dry!), I decided to do this walk approaching The Bleaklow Stones from Howden Reservoir, which we'd done just a few times. Because the weather was so lovely, quite a few cars were already parked at The King's Tree, although it was good to see that there were still lots of spaces. The walk up to Slippery Stones is mainly through trees, but after that the vista opens up and you can see quite a long way up the track between the amusingly named Cranberry Bed and Swine Side. Cranberry Bed to the left! The River Derwent is followed for a few kilometres until Hoar Clough, when there's a steep ascent towards the watershed, passing the Shepherds Meeting Stones. Shepherds Meeting Stones, above Hoar Clough At the point that the gradient eases, the path becomes very indistinct and it's just a mat...