David and Jacinta's Walks- 2025

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...

Around the Hills of Hayfield We were aiming for a slightly longer walk on Wednesday and chose a trip around the hills of Hayfield as it seemed to offer a mix of old and new landscapes. Parking in the familiar setting of Bowden Bridge, the route then took us up to the moorland by a different way, to a col on the flanks of Mount Famine. Trackside monolith, South Head and Mount Famine The views were wonderful and the morning mist had cleared from the hill tops. We worked our way down to Peep-O-Day farm and then up to Higher Hills Cottage, admiring the smart new hen house on display at the front of the house. Neither of us had noticed the mouse carved into the gatepost of the cottage before. Higher Hills Cottage gatekeeper We were then taken down to the main road at Birch Vale which provided an excellent chance to nip into one of our favourite haunts, the Sett Valley café. Duly refreshed, we began again, this time to walk up to the route to Lantern Pike. We met one of the local residents w...