DGH and JRH Walks- 2022

  Shining Tor and The Cat and Fiddle Well, at least Jacinta got one walk in this month. After the Covid hiatus and its aftermath, it was great to finally set out on Bank Holiday Monday. A familiar, undemanding walk up to Shining Tor; although it was cloudy, the views were good. Two of "The Three Peaks of Cheshire"- Shining Tor and Shutlingsloe As we were going well, we went on to the (thriving) Cat and Fiddle for a coffee and a packet of English Truffle crisps for one member of the party. The Cat had an impressive new roadside sign whilst maintaining the original relief sign on the front of the "pub". The new Cat and Fiddle signage The original "Cat" It was a "There and Back" walk, just over 7 miles and the last UK walk before Paul and David embark on AV2 on Wednesday. Jacinta and Shutlingsloe 7.2 miles, 279m ascent.

David: Chinley, Mount Famine, South Head, Brown Knoll... and lots of Hot Sheep With my trip to The Dolomites and Alta Via 2 only a few days away, it made sense me to have a walk to loosen up a bit. As it was a Bank Holiday weekend, popular places would probably be crowded, so Chinley was a good choice- we've always managed to park there. There are lots of options for the walk, as well. We've already done the walk a few times this year and it was impressive how much cotton grass there was, and how high it had grown where earlier in the year there'd just been rough grass. Cotton grass beside the path In preparation for my trip I took the steepest way up to the top of Cracken Edge and walked along the top edge of the quarries. I'd never seen climbers there before and watched one top out and inspect a somewhat loose stake to belay to. Topping out- Cracken Edge Quarries Speaking to the climber, the route was HS and she had also placed a runner on the right-hand rope, so the ...

  David and Paul- a walk on Bleaklow With our planned trip to The Dolomites to walk Alta Via 2 just over a week to go, we met up at Old Glossop to catch up, get some exercise and do a bit of planning. One of our favourite outward walks from Old Glossop is up above Yellow Slacks, pausing for a break (and Skittles) at Dog Rock before continuing along Dowstone Clough to the Hern Stones. We heard, and saw beaters trying to put grouse up for hunters, but only heard about three shots in the entire walk. Bleaklow looking north from the Hern Stones (foreground) Although the plan was to go north to the Wain Stones, there was a bit of chat going on and we ended up plodding up the Pennine Way to Bleaklow Head, where we had our lunch. The cairn and venerable stake at Bleaklow Head I was very glad that the banner that had been flying from the stake last time I visited had been removed. After our lunch, we continued along the Pennine Way until Torside Clough and forked westward towards Glossop L...

  The Helicopter Walk with an Excursion to Alport Farm Back to the Peak District after our trip to Italy, and (hopefully) getting into the groove for The Dolomites. A bit of a late start, and David went out on his own; parking was in the usual place, the Birchen Clough car park just off the Snake Pass. The heather was in full bloom, with many surfaces a beautiful purple hue. From the Dinas Sitch Tor path, there was a good view of "The Helicopter Rock" and Fairbrook Naze. Helicopter Rock (skyline left) and Fairbrook Naze As the intention was to get a few miles in, I decided to visit the Oyster Clough shooting cabin. This is really a favourite place and, happily, it was clean and tidy. As I was approaching I could see a group of five leaving on the far (eastern) side of Oyster Clough and on leaving there was another team approaching the way that I'd come. With so much traffic, it's nice to know that people take care of the place. The Oyster Clough shooting cabin On cros...