What an amazing day we had for our first Day Walk of the year!
The weather was perfect, not too hot, not too cold and not a single drop of rain in sight. We were rather concerned on the journey there, going over Whinnets Pass to Castleton, as we were in thick cloud the visibility levels were pretty bad; but as we dropped into the Hope Valley the sun came out and the cloud cleared.
If you haven’t done this walk before you really should book on it next time. It is a mixture of all the best bits of quintessential English countryside, rugged moorland, streams with waterfalls through wooded gorges, country estate parkland, beautiful green fields full of new born lambs and the final mile alongside the stunning River Derwent.
I am not going to go on about the food, but I feel I must mention The Swan Inn at Kettleshulme which some of us stopped for dinner at on the way home. If you like fish this place should be on your list. You do have to book as it gets very busy but it has a really different menu, specialising mainly in fish and the food is very very good. It is also in the middle of a great walking area – The Goyt Valley, Gritstone Trail, Toddbrook Reservoir are all close by. What could be better than a fab walk followed by wonderful food? (And beer and wine, of course).
North Cheshire Nordic Walking 