David and Jacinta's Walks- 2025

Shining Tor After a short break, it was time to test the water again and that old faithful, Shining Tor provided the location. It was not too wet and we marvelled at some of the cloud formations. Clouds over Leek way A quick up and down and back in time for lunch was all that was required. A walk of 4.2 miles with 180m ascent.

Chinley to Edale Cross (David Solo) On the basis that I'd be taking it easy for a while and Jacinta wanting to stay at home, I took the opportunity to take a reasonably (but not excessively) long walk. The weather was cold, with the prospect of snow flurries. In the end, there were only a few snowflakes as I started up Chinley Churn. Chilly sheep below Higher Hills Farm I crossed the Chinley-Hayfield road at Peep-O-Day and, at the brow of the hill after the quarry, I had the choice of a shorter walk up Mount Famine or down to Coldwell Clough and on up to Edale Cross. As I had a reasonable amount of time in hand, I decided on the longer route.  Path across green fields up Coldwell Clough to Edale Cross. Kinder Low and Swine's Back on skyline I stopped at the Edale Cross enclosure where Jacinta and I had lunched  back in June.  After lunch I continued to the gate above Jacob's Ladder and up past the path to Brown Knoll. Pym Chair, The Pyramid and The Wool Sacks from Brown K...

Cave Dale and the Great Ridge Although much of this walk follows familiar territory, the final part is less well trodden for us. We began at Castleton and walked up the limestone gorge of Cave Dale, enjoying the views provided by Peveril Castle and the village itself. Cave Dale and Peveril Castle Exiting Cave Dale We made our way up to the Limestone Way and through the disused mines and quarries that litter the hillside. It is an exhilarating walk from here to the start of Mam Tor, the hillside on this part littered with many sheep and only the occasional uninterested cow. Descending to Oxlow House The Great Ridge in the background We climbed over Mam Tor where many paragliders were preparing to take off and then went on to the Great Ridge and Lose Hill. Just before the top of Lose Hill we stopped and had lunch in an ideal rocky outcrop, closely watched by a number of crows who were hopeful that they would benefit from some leftovers as soon as we departed.  Paragliders above The G...

Sir William Hill from Eyam It was a nice, bright Sunday morning and we had a quick run to Eyam in preparation for one of the classic walks from the village. We had a very rapid coffee stop and then set off for the Boundary Stone which marks the spot where the plague stricken villagers from Eyam left their coins in return for food brought up the hill from Stoney Middleton. We passed through the older part of Stoney which is always a delight, mainly because of the remarkable church dating from the 16th century. The way on, across the fields, was not as muddy as anticipated, and we descended to the banks of the River Derwent. It has to be said that the walk along the riverside, past Froggatt Bridge and then eventually to Leadmill Bridge, although pleasant, is not the most uplifting section of the walk. We stopped for a drink at the Plough Inn, while everybody else seemed to be tucking into their Sunday roasts complete with 6 inch high Yorkshire puddings. The remainder of the walk is lovel...

Shining Tor Another trip to Shining Tor, this time with Ann and Julian. The weather was quite reasonable and we were able to stop at the top for a drink and some Anzac biscuits. It is always a good place for a quick walk.  4.2 miles with 175m ascent.

Black Hill- David Solo I was on my own today and with relatively limited time for a long walk so I was off to Crowden for The Black Hill Stomp. I arrived just after 10:00 and the car park proper was nearly full! As a matter of habit, I took a picture from around Oaken Clough looking south back to Crowden and, in the distance, Bleaklow and Kinder. The Crowden Valley with Crowden Great Brook No sign of Bleaklow or Kinder I kept going over Laddow Rocks (no need for a break!) and I was very pleased to see that the footbridge at North Grain (SE 06459 03705) had been repaired ( see blog entry for September 22nd ). North Grain bridge repaired I had a quick lunch at Soldier's Lump and then on over Tooleyshaw Moss, White Low and Westend Moss. There had been some evidence of a vehicle of some kind driving over Tooleyshaw Moss and, looking down from Westend Moss I could see a tractor which seemed to have been mowing the moors. Tractor and mown areas As ever, I visited the trig point/pillar on...

Edale and Skyline West It promised to be a dry day in Edale so we headed there, hoping to do a longer walk for the first time this week. The weather conditions throughout the day were splendid, with a mixture of thick mist, rolling clouds and bright sunshine as we made our way around the plateau. After a visit to the Penny Pot, we chose to climb up Grindslow Knoll for a change which was exhilarating. On the way up Grindslow Knoll At the top the mist rolled in and we had an atmospheric section where we could not see much in front of our faces.  Clouds over Ringing Roger There were also some helpful quantities of Dark Peak mud which required some careful negotiation. The Hog's Head (No teeth this time) Approaching The Wool Packs and the peat bogs beyond As we came down towards the top of Jacob's Ladder, the clouds lifted and it was clear from then on. Clouds clearing over Brown Knoll We had lunch and then strode out to Brown Knoll which always seems a slightly deserted place desp...

Lyme Park It promised to be a wet start to the week after Monday, therefore when the chance to nip out after lunch appeared, we rose to the challenge. Lyme Park is a strange mixture of very developed areas and other parts which are reminiscent of  open moorland. We parked near the house and walked up the hill and through the woods to the gate marking the start of open country. The wind was fairly intense so we walked to the Beehive along a lower path, enjoying the spires of Manchester in the distance. The Beehive (Paddock Cottage) in the sun The light was beginning to fade and there was a cut off time of 5pm in the car park, so we walked back to the car in the last of the sunlight. A quick little outing but worth doing and we hope to get out for a proper walk later in the week. A walk of 2.8 miles with 150m ascent.

Calton Lees and Edensor We parked at Calton Lees near Chatsworth and set off in the hope of having some fresh air and good views. The first section of the walk takes one up to Calton Pastures, which although they would not pass for Alpine meadows, are nonetheless pleasant to walk across. We stopped for lunch on a little bench in a wooded knoll and then descended towards Edensor, enjoying the sight of the row of barns in the fields around. Winter light on barns and fields On the way into Edensor we had a view of both the church and the hunting tower in the distance. St Peter's and the Hunting Tower  We had a takeaway hot drink at the Tea Rooms which was welcome and made our way down to Chatsworth Park and the return journey. The sight of the golden framed windows and statues atop the great house looked magnificent in the afternoon sun. We finished the walk  and agreed it was a satisfying way to spend Sunday afternoon. A walk of 6.4 miles with 260m ascent.

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...