David and Jacinta's Walks- 2023

Edale, Mam Tor, Brown Knoll and Grindslow Knoll  A fine weather forecast meant that we were able to go to Edale which always provides lots of options regarding ways up and down. We walked up to Hollins Cross and then on to Mam Tor- where there were crowds of people (and sheep dogs). Mam Tor from Hollins Cross The Great Ridge (and Win Hill) from Mam Tor We managed to leave the crowds behind simply by crossing the road and heading up to Rushup Edge. As we were going well, we walked up to Brown Knoll- passing a couple of (very clean) sheep who had managed to camouflage themselves as builders' material bags from a distance! Very clean sheep At Brown Knoll we ate our lunch balanced on the edge of the trig point. On our way down to the top of Jacob's Ladder we met a man with his two dachshunds who had walked 20 miles, which was pretty impressive. Then we walked up to Kinder and up to Noe Stool and the plateau. The Woolpacks on the LH skyline and Grindslow Knoll (Center skyline) Noe S...

 Black Hill from Crowden (David) I set out from Crowden on a relatively misty and slightly drizzly morning for one of my favourite walks. Bareholme Moss and Hey Moss just out of the clag There were plenty of sheep to admire on the way up to Laddow Rocks. I passed what appeared to be a Palaeolithic footprint in one of the rocks on the side of the Crowden Great Brook. Palaeolithic footprint? As I passed Laddow, the mist was beginning to lift a little and I had a good view of The Castles. Crowden Castles from Laddow At the Black Hill/Soldier's Lump I took a quick selfie before having lunch. I was there... I always like to go via the Hey Edge trig point on the way back; the path makes it relatively easy to spot from a distance. Although the trig point looks quite white from afar, it's a little forlorn when you get to it! Hey Edge trig point in its puddle On the final descent back to Crowden, I stopped to "admire" Crowden Great Quarry. Paul and I climbed there once- never ...

Stanage End, Stanage Edge and The Standege Pole After a six-week layoff for David, we went out to do this walk which we last did on January 2nd. The weather was better than it had been for most of the month. Jacinta- raring to go! We made it up to The Edge and along to the Stanedge Pole without any problems. It's an easy ramble but it was ideal for testing out David's foot and the boot insoles after the six weeks "on the bench".  Stanedge Lodge from The Pole All seemed well and we came back down to the path below The Edge- with the added bonus of the climbers and the occasional millstone discarded in the bracken. Abandoned Millstones Although there was quite a few climbers, the Stanage North area was more or less deserted. The Marble Wall area (Stanage North) It was lovely to be out together again and, and although not a long walk, it was really nice after such a long break. 6.9 miles, 270m ascent, 3¾ easy hours.

Chinley, South Head and Brown Knoll (Jacinta) I ventured out to Chinley on Friday as the forecast was good. Stopping for a coffee at the Café on the Green, I was delighted to see that they were still using some of the Denby that David and I donated a couple of years ago. Green Denby rehomed and reused! We are, apparently, known as Mr & Mrs Denby because of these donations. There was hardly anyone around as I made my way up to the Cracken Edge and beyond, down to Peep O' Day. It was the same during the next section of the walk up to South Head, where I stopped to have some lunch and watch the sheep. I decided to walk up to Brown Knoll which was very pleasant, lots of birdsong and waving grasses- and it was worth the effort and the extra 1½ miles. Brown Knoll trig point with Suffragette ribbon I went back the usual way- the best sight was an old grey dog out for a walk on his own. The farmer that I met said that he lived up near his farm, and was often to be found having a little...