David and Jacinta's Walks- 2023

 Hayfield, Sett Valley Trail and Peep-O-Day There was time for a short walk today as Jacinta had an evening commitment. We went to Hayfield, starting with our usual coffee at the Sett Valley Café. Their menu is quite varied and adventurous for such a small place. We walked up towards Chinley Churn- unlike our walk in February, the day was not clear. Climbing done- about to descend to Higher Hills Cottage We occasionally glimpsed Kinder through the mist but at least it was dry and still. We descended to Higher Hills Cottage, where they have accumulated (or acquired) huge numbers of horseshoes. Lots and lots of luck! From there, it was down past Whiterakes to Peep-O-Day. Whiterakes with Chinley Churn behind From Peep-O-Day we walked back to Hayfield, passing the Phosides, the bottom of Foxholes Clough and the ruined mill behind Phoside Farm. The ruined mill at Phoside Farm Despite the rather muddy and saturated paths across the last few fields, it was a very pleasant excursion in a f...

 Chinley Churn Circuit A short walk was in order for this beautiful, clear late-October day. We had not been to Chinley for a while and decided to do something a little different. From our usual parking spot near the station, we treated ourselves to a coffee at The Green Lane Social and then started up Stubbins Lane and continued up Oven Hill Road (a great name!), past the track that leads to the east of Chinley Churn and up to a place with another great name, Throstle Bank. As we approached the bridleway to the west of Chinley Churn we were treated to a view of The Dreaming Spires of Manchester. The Dreaming Spires of Manchester (and sheep) More special, though, was the sight of three Common Buzzards wheeling above us. David was only able to capture the flight of one of them, though. We followed the bridleway north through the New Allotments and stopped for a break, with a different view of the familiar features of Kinder- Mill Hill, the Shooting Cabin, William Clough and Sandy Ha...