David and Jacinta's Walks- 2026

Brown Knoll, Kinder South Edge and Mam Tor from Rushup David on his own on April Fool's Day; I had planned to walk from Edale up to Hollins Cross and  then to Mam Tor, Brown Knoll and the south edge of Kinder. However, I stopped at the layby at the south west end of Rushup Edge and started my walk from there. Just the same walk, but with a little extra to start and finish! Brown Knoll was the first significant top. It was showing signs of the recent weather and the surroundings of the trig point gave an idea of how it was before the paving slabs had been laid (we'd been there many years ago before the path had been slabbed as well). Brown Knoll trig point wallowing in its glorious past There was a brass miniature on the top of the trig: Miniature on top of the trig point The bottom of the brass had initials "WS" and an indication of the year: The base of the brass Although very much a foreign object, it didn't seem to be out of place in this location and I was hap...

 Edale Woodlands Walk We chose a nice walk in familiar surroundings for our first walk together for a while, and the Edale Woodlands Walk really fitted the bill. We started in the classic way- with a coffee at the Penny Pot Café. Then it was up to Edale proper, and the start of the Pennine Way, which we followed to where the paths diverge under Broadlee-Bank Tor. The weather was moody, with Mam Tor drifting in and out of the cloudbase. Mam Tor and clouds After passing the plantation, the path heads up towards Crowden Clough and the impressive Crowden Towers. Heading towards Crowden Clough Crowden Towers in the mist This was the first walk this year where Jacinta had the chance to see lambs, so here are two: Two lambs with their mum The walk passes through Barber Booth, where the farmer has installed vending machines for coffee and ice cream. Of more interest, though, was the ewe taking an interest in us. Interested in us! By this time, as we made our way back to Edale, Mam Tor was ...

Chinley and South Head David was out on his own today for a shortish and quick walk, reflecting on new Grandfatherhood! A fairly uneventful walk on the usual route via Whiterakes, Peep-O-Day and Mount Famine.  On the way down passing Andrews Farm, there were fresh lambs to be seen! New season's lamb! A walk of 6.1 miles with 530m ascent.

 Around Quarry Bank Mill Our original plan was to go to Shining Tor, but due to a navigational quirk on the part of David, we ended up going to Styal and Quarry Bank Mill. We'd not been there together for many a long year.  Having parked up, we went down to the mill and then to the second-hand bookshop. We were tempted by Delia's Vegetarian Cookbook but, as we have so many such books. Quarry Bank Mill We followed two waymarked paths, stopping for a snack and a drink at the Apprentices House. Apprentices House A pleasant and relaxed walk of 3.3 miles.

 The Mortimer House Walk David was out on his own today. Many of the parking spots on the way to Mortimer House were absolutely full so it was a surprise to find the layby below Mortimer House empty. Starting along Dukes Road, I met a climber with his bouldering mat. It turned out that he'd been climbing on the Hurkling Stones. I made a slight detour from the path to find a few short but fierce routes on the stones. The Hurkling Stones- routes mainly on the far side On reaching the col below Flint Hill the track turns south-west along Cartledge Stones Ridge, eventually reaching Back Tor- the usual stopping place for lunch. Back Tor from the north Trig point just about visible A most enjoyable part of lunch was a Cadburys mini-egg cookie, provided by Rachel. Lunch and location After lunch, it was back down the Foulstone Road and to the Dale Dike Reservoir. Rather than taking the rather boggy path beside the reservoir, I stayed high, skirting Hallfield House and passing Thompson Hous...

 Ladybower- North Arm A lovely, relaxed walk for both of us today- great to get out together to get some fresh air. We parked at Fairholmes and started our walk in the best way- with a coffee from the ever-open café.  The walk is fairly level, running between the access road and the reservoir itself. The water level is back up to normal- a real contrast to last year, when much of the dam and the bridge piers were visible. Ladybower bridge with water back to normal We crossed the bridge and started back along the eastern side of the reservoir, passing the notice describing the lost village of Derwent with a sculpture of its drowned church. Just beyond this is the pair of gateposts, long redundant. Redundant gateposts The remaining houses and cottages along this eastern access road are mainly holiday lets. Decorated holiday let house sign Close to the end of our walk, one house had a huge bank of daffodils in flower. Daffodil bank A walk of 5.7 miles with 130m ascent.

 Lots of Stones: Barrow, Grinah and Bleaklow Another day out for David. This time, the Ladybower/Derwent/Howden flight of reservoirs called and I parked up at King's Tree. I walked south along the access road to reach the path up through the Nether Wood Plantation and up onto Ridge Nether Moor. The track from there follows a boggy groove more or less along the ridge, crossing the tracks leading north east to Lower Small Clough and south west down to the Fagney Plantation. Just short of the ascent to Round Hill, there's a view of the Grinah and Bleaklow Stones. Bleaklow Stones (Skyline left) and Grinah Stones The top of Round Hill, with its shelter, is always a good place to stop for a snack and a drink. Round Hill Shelter From the top of Round Hill, its a brief climb to the Barrow Stones. Barrow Stones main outcrop From the Barrow Stones, it's a straightforward traverse to the Bleaklow Stones with another short climb to the outcrops themselves. The weather was much brighter...