Wednesday 24th September 2025
After a late breakfast we drove over to Trentabank Reservoir. From there we walked to Shutlingsloe via Oakenclough and Wildboarclough. It was the reverse of this walk which we did in March 2025.
Approx 6.5 miles, and 1250 feet of climbing.
We saw a couple of walkers near Oakenclough, and maybe 7 or 8 around Shutlingsloe.
Views from top as far as Welsh mountains and hills beyond Manchester. Lunch at top. Actually quite cold after sitting still a while.
Tuesday 23rd September 2025
A beautiful sunny morning, with less wind!
Lazy start, then coffee, after which I took Harry’s car to Tittesworth reservoir.
I did the walk anti-clockwise, which is just under 5 miles. This included a brief visit to the East bird hide, where a blue tit was the only critter I saw, apart from a guy who seemed to be camping, with a vespa type bike, and some baggage. I greeted him with a wave and went on my way.
There are good views of the nearby rocks.
Later I saw one fly agaric in the woods.
Singing to myself, and thinking about lunch, I rounded the corner - a bloke on a bench…then no more benches for about half a mile.
The one in the photo amused me - a mixed message here? Should I or shouldn’t I?
The water level was quite low.
I finally stopped for lunch about a mile before the visitor centre. (The Crabapple trail was closed for work on the paths.)
https://www.walkingbritain.co.uk/walk-2749-description.
Graded as easy, but the first section was hard work.
We parked at the Ryles Arms, on Hollin Lane.
We walked along the road to the footpath.
Very steep to begin with. We spotted a stag on the skyline. One minor deviation from the route, where we misidentified a wall!
We walked for about 4.5 miles. Break for coffee when we reached the high level path, sheltered by a wall and with a view over the Macclesfield area,
and the other way to Shuttlingsloe.
Then onwards and still slightly upwards
- we met one walker coming in the opposite direction and some cows, one posing as a limestone rock.
Then we walked past the tower,
and to the path down before Lingerds Farm. A large group of walkers were coming up the hill.
When we reached the A54 we walked for about 150 metres at the side of the road - it wasn’t busy this morning. A slight orientation problem at one point, but we found our way to Higher Pethills Farm and Lower Pethills with holiday cottages and alpacas .
We found a sheltered spot for lunch. then followed the path back to the road and to the pub, where we had a drink before going home.
September 2025 - the early part of the month was not idle, but we did no new walks. Some social occasions, our wedding ceremony, seeing Anne and Dave Holden, and Anne Sirot, some drawing, some swimming…
Elaine Arnold’s memorial service, and after all of this we headed off to our ‘home in the hills’ at Ridgehead Farm Cottages.
Wednesday 27th August
To Rushden Lakes, then to Stanwick Lakes. We walked from there to Little Addington along the Nene Way.
Lunched at The Bell.
There were a couple of moderate showers on the way back. Saw a couple of martins flying. Picked up some windfall apples.
Monday 25th August 2025
A bright and sunny morning. Norma came round bearing home grown tomatoes.
Out to collect Kate, then on to Rushton.
Parked on Manor Road and walked the two miles to the BullPen for coffee, passing a children’s playground
where we couldn’t see the access.
We paid our own homage to the red kite sculpture.
On the way back we picked a few blackberries but they were going over slightly (approx 4 oz which I have frozen.)
We walked almost 4 miles in all. Pretty hot, so we didn’t rush.
Thursday 14th August
Almost 8 miles. We walked over to Testwood Lakes, where we had a coffee from the flask.
A Sailability session was in progress. A retired OS worker came over and talked to us a while.
We continued round the northern end of the lake, and down across the bridges
(one of which was blocked…) and then past Nursling Mill.
Our return route was via the Test Way, close to the railway and Nature Reserve.
We spent a while picking two tubs full of rather excellent blackberries. Quality was carefully tested as we picked. Another pause on a bridge to load them properly in the backpack and drink some water.
On a little further along a shaded (and in places muddy!) path, then along the boardwalk. One section was broken and missing.
Through to Totton Civic Centre and park area, and into town to buy sandwiches and a lead to recharge my phone. Back to devour food and drink more water, before returning home via Rum Walk.
