David and Jacinta's Walks- 2025

A Chinley Scamper We nipped out for a couple of hours to get a bit of fresh air and to walk before the rain set in. After a coffee and wedge of excellent cake at The Green Lane Social, we took the route up Over Hill Road, past Throstle Bank and took the path opposite the New Allotments to avoid some scary (early Halloween?) cows and their calves. This took us to above the quarries that we usually walk below which was an interesting new perspective. Blasted Heath This walk was nothing remarkable, but still enjoyable as we managed to dodge the cows, admire the extent of the quarries and observe the hunting buzzards. Chinley is such a good starting point and very rarely disappoints. A walk of 3½ miles with 260m ascent.

Hayfield and Beyond When the forecast suggests "little or no rain" at this time of year, it is an incentive to get out early and make the most of the daylight. We did, however, treat ourselves to an excellent breakfast at the Sett Valley café before we began, which fuelled us round the walk in style. We took the familiar route up to Lantern Pike and then down and across the road by The Grouse Inn. Storming our way up Lantern Pike Mount Famine (centre horizon) in the sun The light was fantastic and the inquisitive rams, as pictured, added to the interest. Rams exercising their authority We had not been up to Mill Hill for a while and although it involved quite a long section on the flagged path, it proved to be an excellent decision, given the views gained in the sunny conditions. South Head and Mount Famine in distance, The Knott to the right After a brief stop at the top of the hill, we began the somewhat intensive descent of William Clough which was very wet in parts and in...

Edale and The Great Ridge It was one of those unpredictable days with squalls of rain, high winds and bursts of lovely sunshine. We lingered longer than usual in the Penny Pot to dodge the rain and then set off to Hollins Cross, aided by a brisk wind behind us. Sun-soaked ascent to Hollins Cross Back Tor with its tree, and Lose Hill in the shade We chose to continue up the Great Ridge and then on to Back Tor and, eventually, Lose Hill as the weather had picked up and there were great views all around. The Great Ridge, west from Back Tor It was good to see the removal of the piles of stones at the top which I always found a bit of an eyesore as they seemed not to serve any purpose. We were battling a little with the wind so, after descending Lose Hill, we decided to return to Edale via a lower route instead of going on to Hope. We were treated to a vivid rainbow as we turned down the path to Brockett Booth Plantation below Back Tor. Rainbow above the Vale of Edale It was a pleasant, bre...

Great Hucklow, Abney Moor and Bradwell-  FSSW Reunion Jeremy, Sarah, Dave, David, David, Ann and Cathy Jeremy, Lucy, Dave, David, David, Ann and Cathy This was the walk that David and Jacinta had scoped the previous week  in preparation for David's FSSW Yeargroup Reunion. We started from the Nightingale Centre in Great Hucklow and started up the byway nearly opposite, leaving it to join the footpath to avoid the motorbikes. Celia and Candia joined the team as far as the road across Hucklow Edge, and Shri's knees survived until the stream crossing by the disused waterworks building.  Glider under tow (or Skoda glider?) at the gliding club on Hucklow Edge Riders on the Hucklow Edge road The path across the field below Camphill Farm seems to be a little elusive- David went south of it this time, rather than north as last time! We were lucky in that the weather was fine with good visibility although there was a chill in the breeze. Shatton Edge with Derwent Edges in the dista...

Alport Castles It was difficult to know how rainy and misty it was going to be, so we headed for Fairholmes as there is a range of walks to do from there. We decided to head up to Alport Castles. The route through the woods was pleasant with a multitude of autumnal leaves and pine needles which Jacinta has her eye on to put around the recently planted blueberry bushes. On the way to Lockerbrook Farm As the path opened up along Rowlee Pasture, we had some excellent panoramic views all around, although this was interspersed with rain and buffeting winds. Just before path up Rowlee Pasture Distant view of Back Tor and Mam Tor The final path up to Alport Castles is quite exposed and the strength of the wind was considerable. On this occasion, we could not linger at the top and instead made our way down Birchinlee Pasture a little to have a breather at a shooting hide. Looking for a sheltered spot for lunch on Birchinlee Pasture From this point, progress was easy as we went down to the Howd...

Shining Tor on a Wet Day We really needed to get out for a few walks and, although the forecast was for rain on and off, we went out to the Pym Chair car park just north of Oldgate Nick and Shining Tor. We had the car park to ourselves: A lonely car The clouds blew in and out- mainly in, but the rain wasn't particularly heavy or persistent. Clouds, Shining Tor and Shutlingsloe Despite the prevailing weather, there were a few sunny spots and it was actually a very enjoyable walk of 4.2 miles with 170m ascent.

Moscar, Derwent Edge and Dale Dike Reservoir David went for a walk on his own today.  I fancied a walk on the Eastern Edges today and the parking spot at the bottom of the Moscar byway is now a favourite place to walk from. Now that the collapsed section of Sugworth Road has been repaired, it also means that the return from the folly on Sugworth Edge is shorter. The walk starts in my least favourite way- downhill- but not too badly so in this case. After passing the farmhouse at Moscar House, there's a turning uphill at last beside a gate that leads down to Cutthroat Bridge; we sometimes talk about taking photos of the weights used to close gates, so here's the first: That'll do the job! The path up to Derwent Edge runs more or less due west with a view over to Win Hill and the Great Ridge. View across Derwent Moors to Win Hill As one reaches the edge, the bulk of Kinder comes into view. Kinder from Derwent Edge Grindslow Knoll in the south (left), Fairbrook Naze to the nor...

Great Hucklow, Abney Moor and Bradwell In preparation for David's FSSW reunion next weekend, he wanted to scope out a walk in case any of the attendees wanted to go for a walk. As Rachel Palmer had led a walk to Eyam last time, I wanted to do something a little different and easily accessible from Great Hucklow. As we'd done the walk over Abney Moor and there was the bench with a great view there, a walk including that seemed to fit the bill. We checked out of our Airbnb and had breakfast at the Tideswell Lounge, before driving to Great Hucklow. The walk goes up a footpath that is an alternative to the Byway Open to All Traffic (which was fortunate, as a number of motorbikes were using the byway) and up to the Hucklow Edge road. This runs past the glider field which, it being a Sunday, was quite busy. Derbyshire & Lancashire Gliding Club in action There was the vestige of a cloud inversion as we started down the path across the fields to Abney Moor. Whisps of a cloud inver...