Happy Birthday to my Dad !!!

A few of the sweeties he got for his birthday.

Picture proof that I don't stand a chance - I inherited the chocoholic gene !!!

Weekend Walking

This weekend started off pretty miserable weather wise - a fair bit of mist hanging around the hilltops very early on so I put off going out until mid morning by which time it seemed most of it had blown over. The grey cold looking sky was very surprisingly deceptive as it turned out to be quite mild.

My original plan for Saturday was to go across Arnfield/Ormes Moor over to Dovestones but because I'd left it a bit late for going due to the earlier mist thought I'd do a shorter walk of Hadfield/Arnfield/Higher Swineshaw Reservoir/Slate pit moor overlooking Buckton Vale/Swineshaw Moor/Ogden Clough/Arnfield which by the time I got back home to Hadfield would be a little over 12 miles.

Unfortunately, I had to leave my little walking buddy, Leo, at home as he's been limping a bit; we think he cut his paw on some glass on the road. Limp or no limp he was not impressed at being left behind !

Footbridge - Ogden Clough

Lower Swineshaw Reservoir

Slate Pit Moor - Buckton Vale Quarry on the distant hill

One of the many streams running into Ogden Brook

Arnfield Flats

Was fortunate to be able to get out again and do the walk originally planned for Saturday. Hadfield, Tintwistle, Arnfield Top of Ogden Clough, Ormes Moor, Chew Hurdles, Along the rim overlooking Dovestones Reservoir, Descend Wimberry Stones Brow to Dovestone Reservoir, Return through Mossley, Heyrod, Stalybridge back to Hadfield = 16 miles.

Weather was mild once again, mist kept off the moors until I got to Chew so all in all started out very well, that is until I stepped into a particulary deep boggy section. Due to the recent snowfall it was only to be expected it would be extra squelchy now the snow had melted so I had been picking my way carefully to avoid anything more than ankle deep. The stile I was heading for was in sight and only a very short distance away when I noticed some walking poles. It was in that fleeting second on catching sight of them thinking it was strange somebody would leave them there rather than take them with them (serious walkers do not leave their rubbish behind unlike the idiots that leave broken glass and litter lying about the village) that I went down like a lead balloon thigh deep in the thickest black morass ever. I must admit it is a very "hairy" moment when you think oh s@@@ until you realise you've stopped sinking and need to get yourself out of that one. In hindsight I am sure the poles were left as a warning I only wish I'd spotted them sooner would have saved me being well and truly christened bog style!!!

Left Walking Poles Mark the Spot

Unfortunately they mark a spot about 30 yards from where I got my christening

Despite getting the heeby jeebies from my wee mishap, the rest of the walk was enjoyable. It was only a short distance to Chew Hurdles. This is a pic overlooking Chew Brook with a patch of Dovestone Reservoir showing in the distance

Overlooking Dovestone Reservoir

Looking back along the rim path




Weathered rocks overlooking Dovestone Reservoir

Weekend Walking

What a treat today was - another beautiful day to go out walking !!

Today I had company on my travels - my little buddy "Leo". He has boundless energy and can't sit still for more than a minute which can be a pain when I want to take a pit stop and simply eat my lunch. I think this is his favourite walk - lots of holes to get stuck in, plenty of water to wade in; he always ends up filthy by the time we get home.

We went from our home in Hadfield along the Longdendale Trail, up Torside Clough, quick lunch stop at the Wain Stones, Higher Shelf Stones and back down through Little Clough towards Glossop, then final leg back to home to complete our 12 mile journey.

Torside Reservoir, Longdendale Valley

Torside Clough

Bleaklow Head

View From The Hern Stones

Memorial Plaque at the crash site of the B-29 Superfortress "Overexposed"
3rd November 1948

Trig Point at Higher Shelf Stones

Graffiti it gets everywhere - Higher Shelf Stones

Leo looking a bit grubby now

A useful website on Derbyshire walks, some info on the Bleaklow walk:-

http://www.trekkingbritain.com/bleaklowfromoldglossop.htm

If you are interested in the history of the aircraft wreck sites, Mick Melvin has a web page dedicated to this:

http://www.btinternet.com/~mick.melvin/darkpeak/shelfstones.html

Weekend Walking

Last night on my way home from work the "Gritters" were out in force, I must have been showered with sprays of grit at least 3 times over. This in addition to internet weather reports did not bode well for the weekend. So what a surprise it was when the weather turned out to be so lovely.

I went out for my walk packed up with waterproofs, fleece, thermal gloves & woolly hat - all the usual stuff as the weather is so changeable up here, but it was like a Summer's day and I didn't need any of it at all. Despite the good weather there were hardly any walkers about and when I chatted briefly to the only other person I came across up on the ridges (and she was wearing a "Park Ranger" badge) she said exactly the same thing.

Nobody about - just " Me and My Shadow ..."

Rhodeswood Reservoir, Longdendale Valley

From the old quarry above Didsbury Intake

Looking down towards Torside Reservoir

A picturesque part of the quarry
(I must admit I find old quarries interesting)

On the way down to Crowden

(looking over towards yet another old quarry)

Carved Bench in Crowden Picnic Area

Quick Note on Recent Blog Changes

For those that "drop in from time to time" I am sure you will have noticed a few changes to the look of these pages recently. It's taken me a while to attempt doing it as I'd had huge problems accessing & editing my Blog when E-Blogger decided we all had to make the change over from Beta. As I'm fairly new to all this I was a bit wary of making the switch but everything seems to be running smoothly.

I have been doing a fair bit of "tinkering" and experimenting with E-bloggers new features which I love. I've changed the way my postings are listed so instead of the last 10 postings showing up, you can just click on a topic in the categories listing as an alternative to the Archives. Also, I even have my very own "widget" now (that's the "Just Giving" target box in the sidebar for those that think "what on earth is she on about"). This is so much better than the discreet little link that used to be half way down the page.

During my surfing travels I picked up a few graphics on the way. I know some people dislike "Blinkies" but I think they brighten up the place and I loved the ones at Otto's, there are so many to choose from. Country Graphics have some nice pics and they can be found at: http://www.countrygraphics.us - very useful for the crafters out there.