David and Jacinta's Walks- 2026

 Cave Dale and Mam Tor We had managed to do this walk in the middle of November 2025, when a clear day had provided the right conditions to do the complete route. Monday was a less hospitable day, with low clouds and temperatures. Nonetheless, we started from Castleton and walked up the gorge of Cave Dale, always an impressive sight with Peveril Castle one of the first Norman stone castles in England. Peveril Castle and daring sheep Daring sheep! We ascended to the Limestone Way and then across the fields (with many stiles), towards Windy Knoll. The view towards Mam Nick was somewhat obscured by the mist which was a shame as it is fantastic. Mam Nick making a fleeting appearance Mam Tor being a bit coy We made use of a stone bench at Mam Nick to have our lunch (excellent breadsticks from the weekend) before tackling the walk up to Mam Tor. It was probably the first time that we had been at the top of Mam Tor on our own, which was a reflection of the rather icy conditions at the top...

 Tideswell to Cressbrook After a week of windy weather, Sunday looked calmer and we opted to go to Tideswell to do a new walk. The first section seemed to be a little complicated, but we made our way to the head of Tideswell Dale. Stoical sheep on the way to Tideswell Dale From there the route heads towards the Field Study Centre and after negotiating some cottages, emerges at Litton Mill, notorious in the 19th century for its use of pauper child labour. The mill is in an isolated spot and was never very profitable in comparison with other textile mills nearby. Entering Miller's Dale, the route passes through the Cramside Wood Nature Reserve,  with a pleasant meander along the river Wye. We decided to stop for lunch here, next to a small, derelict water wheel. The remains of a water wheel with a good perch for lunch This lunch break was good preparation as it turned out for the flooded sections of the trail which followed. It was passable, but very wet and muddy, especially to...

 Hayfield and Little Hayfield Rather optimistically as it turned out, we went to Hayfield to make use of a dry morning. Fortified by another visit to the Sett Valley café, we made our way up to the final approach to Lantern Pike. The wind was probably stronger than yesterday and the best option seemed to be to descend via the lower path and then wend our way back via Little Hayfield. Clough Mill, which we pass on the way down, is still an impressive sight and a real reminder of the glory days of the cotton industry in Hayfield. We managed to fit in a "picnic" lunch on a bench before the rain started, with the sound of chaffinches, dunnocks making their presence known. A walk of 4.1 miles with 300m ascent.

 Shining Tor and Thursbitch An afternoon walk was on the cards, so we went to Shining Tor with a possible plan to walk down to Errwood as well. A sparkling, but cold and windy day However, the wind was very strong and quite challenging, so we adapted our idea and on reaching Shining Tor, took the lower option of Thursbitch. A welcome hot drink Sun shining on Old Leek Road It was a pleasant descent and as ever, there were not many people about. It is a route that in a couple of months will be full of lambs sleeping on the paths and generally lambing around. A brisk walk up the road to Pym Chair car park followed and we agreed that it had been worth making the effort to get out. A walk of 5.7 miles with 400m ascent.

 Tintwistle and The Chew Reservoir A walk for David on his own today. It was quite misty and with a little drizzle in the air. I wanted a slightly longer walk but didn't fancy driving too far, so Tintwistle seemed a suitable place to park. I set off to Arnfield and, rather than take the  rather rocky Pennine Bridleway, I took the footpath across the fields behind Arnfield Farm- a far more pleasant walk. It's good that, after having come this way for a few years now, to have found a more solid (nominally!) path across Ormes Moor and Wilderness. I usually expect an extensive new view when I reach Chew Hurdles, but today it was far more moody in the mist. Today's view from Chew Hurdles Again, now that I'm familiar with the way, the walk from Chew Hurdles to the Chew Reservoir is much quicker and significantly less muddy- even after all the recent rain. However the view at the reservoir wasn't any more extensive but still as moody. Chew Reservoir dam NOTE: The Chew Rese...

 Edale and Madwoman's Stones Friday looked dry and so we travelled to Edale. The village seemed quiet after the drama of the Spine Race and there was no sign of the heavy snow which had blanketed the area the weekend before. We popped into the Penny Pot and then set out to climb up Ringing Roger. Sunlit path to a gloomy Ringing Roger The weather was an interesting mix of sun and mist which made for some lovely views as we went up. Some sun higher up on path A break at the top of Ringing Roger Lose Hill and Back Tor in background After Ringing Roger, it is an easy  walk to the Trig point, although the Dark Peak mud was much in evidence.  Nearing the top of Golden Clough Rocks of Ringing Roger in silhouette on skyline From there we walked on to Madwomen's Stones which we had not visited since New Year's Eve in 2024. We continued to Crookstone Knoll where we had lunch with a lovely panorama in front of us over to Alport Castles. Alport Castles in the sunshine Oyster Clough j...

 Sizergh Castle with Dave and Helen A short walk was had with Dave and Helen, around the ground above Sizergh Castle. We revisited the chapel above Windy Howe and Gypsy Wood that we'd been to on a previous trip. Sadly, the house next door that had been up for sale last time that we were there was in an even sadder state. Otherwise, the views were good and the lunch at the café afterwards was notable for the quality of the Welsh rarebit. A very pleasant amble of  2.4 miles with ascent of 300m.

Hartington and Three Dales It is a bit of a drive to get there but, as the weather continued to be unreliable, we made the trip to Hartington to repeat a walk we did twice last January . We were the only car in the car park when we set off along the muddy trail towards Beresford Dale. Starting along Beresford Dale Further along Beresford Dale As before, there were few people around; in fact, we encountered far more sheep than humans on our way round the walk.  Communing with the sheep! After entering Wolfscote Dale, with its high limestone walls, we dodged a few showers and continued along, past the very wet bits, stopping for lunch on some convenient stones. The going is very easy on this walk, but it has a nice rhythm to it and the Dales are an impressive sight, even on a dull day in January. On leaving the junction with Biggin Dale, we began our return to Hartington, eventually passing Hartington Hall Youth Hostel which looks an interesting place to stay. A short but therapeutic...

Sett Valley Trail The weather was still cold, wet and windy on Sunday, so we decided to at least get out for a short walk along the Sett Valley Trail. We stopped for coffee at The Sett Valley Café, which has been spruced up a little since its change of ownership. After coffee, shortbread and a teacake, we  continued on a bit towards New Mills. Short and sweet was the order of the day and it was home to watch the hardy individuals doing the Spine Race, for whom debates about the weather do not apply. A stroll of 3.6 miles.

Margery Hill and Outer Edge David, Paul, Greg and Mike David met with Paul, Greg and Mike at the Langsett Reservoir car park for one of our periodic walks. Paul and I had been rained off our walk up towards Cut Gate End some time ago, and before that Paul had had an unwelcome mud bath. Despite the heavy mist, we were optimistic about getting a good walk this time. Because of the recent snow and freezing weather, it was icy underfoot from time to time. Mike had his Kahtoola microspikes and I regretted leaving my lightweight crampons in the car!  The way up to Cut Gate End always takes longer than I anticipate and this was exacerbated by the lack of visibility. When we got there, we headed off south east to Margery Hill where a couple of other walkers kindly took a summit picture. Greg, Mike, Paul and David at Margery Hill trig The way up was made somewhat disconcerting as we could hear the wailing of a siren, reminiscent of an air raid warning, for ten minutes or so, before the stea...

Burbage (Buxton) and Macclesfield Old Road We decided to do a walk we did in August 2025 when the sun was out and the bracken was chest high. Today was very different. The weather at first seemed similar to yesterday, with a chill wind and bright sunshine. We walked up Macclesfield Old Road from a quiet residential street in Burbage and reached the open moorland when it began to snow. Although the walk was only 6 miles and on reasonable paths, we made a very sensible decision to turn around and go back, thereby completing a walk of less than 3 miles. It was a reminder that the weather in the hills can change very quickly and the walk will still be there for another, more clement day.

The Chinley Round We set out on a very chilly morning, via the coffee shop in Chinley, to do the customary round. The sun was beautiful and bright and it remained so for the duration of the walk. It does not take long to reach the Chinley Churn edge and we were rewarded by amazingly clear views in all directions. Nearing the top of Chinley Churn We walked on up to the base of South Head where we stopped and had lunch, perched on some boulders which have been placed there to deter motorists. South Head from our lunch spot perch There was a famous occasion where a number of vehicles were marooned at that spot, unable to progress any further. The final stage of the walk is scenic and a highlight was meeting the emus and their friend, a black hog at Hollands Farm. The handsome hog One emu was very curious as to what we were doing and he followed us for the length of his field. The curious emu We meandered back to the car, glad to have the opportunity to warm up. It was excellent to be able...