MWIS promised a sunny day so I headed to the Dark Peak for a circuit around Ladybower as my first local walk of the year. Unfortunately the reality was sleet and low cloud until mid-morning as I crossed Win Hill, but the sunshine did burn through by lunchtime for the return leg along Derwent Edge!

https://photos.app.goo.gl/iXxm7mjT7exrcbLYA

Ruth visited me for a sunny weekend in the Peak District. We walked around the Manifold and Dove valleys on the Saturday, and from Chinley to Glossop via Kinder Scout on the Sunday.

https://photos.app.goo.gl/SNnE2QVRK9MALcSD7

With a dry day forecast I headed to the White Peak for a walk starting in Longnor. Unfortunately, the forecast proved wrong, with long periods of drizzle, but it was still a pleasant walk over a few nearby P30s.

https://photos.app.goo.gl/uuPNh4jKPqoxGk7u9

I headed up to the Dark Peak to walk around the Edale skyline, starting in Hope. Sunny spells and good visibility gave excellent views, especially with the heather starting to come into bloom. Definitely feeling the benefit of my recent high-altitude training in the Alps!

https://photos.app.goo.gl/8vgJLj2t4YU8SKXw7

Mum and Dad visited for a long weekend. Despite showery weather, we walked in the Peak District both days, heading to Lathkill Dale and Haddon Hall on Saturday and to Stanage Edge on Sunday.

https://photos.app.goo.gl/tn3iwAVrxBm9oDCV9

I made my first visit of the year to the Dark Peak, where I enjoyed sunshine all day for a circuit from Ladybower Reservoir. I started on the familiar ridge of Derwent Edge, then looped back round to the east to explore some of the hills around Bradfield Dale.

https://photos.app.goo.gl/2uH1R6y3Vu1S8K4E9

Mum and Dad visited for the weekend. On the Saturday, we walked in the Manifold and Dove valleys, starting in Ilam.

https://photos.app.goo.gl/7dWq6wGAzDNM2TCY8

For today’s local walk in the White Peak, I started in Winster and did a circuit to the northwest, including Stanton Moor, Lathkill Dale and Robin Hood’s Stride. A good cloud inversion in the Derwent Valley lasted most of the morning, and the sun shone most of the day. At 36km, this was my longest walk in almost a year.

https://photos.app.goo.gl/8Vyu2TPYkbpBpuYGA

Today’s local walk started at the Cat and Fiddle Inn, between Buxton and Macclesfield, and explored some of the minor summits to the west and north: an area I had barely previously visited. A decent day out, though the weather was not as amazing as forecast.

https://photos.app.goo.gl/rL6RYJG4FEjgwmFQ9

As usual, Ruth visited me for the weekend of the CUHWC Edale trip. On the Saturday, we walked in the central Peak District. Our varied route from Pilsley took in Eyam, Sir William Hill, Froggatt Edge and Chatsworth Park, in varied weather!

https://photos.app.goo.gl/FRAcGEfxwbo1C5up8

Today’s short morning walk was in the Derwent Valley near Matlock. Starting at Lea Bridge, my route took in Bow Wood, the subHuMP of Bilberry Knoll, and a section of the Cromford Canal.

https://photos.app.goo.gl/nLFmzANyrd1zzKso6

The Peak District felt a bit of an anticlimax so soon after returning from Corsica and the GR20, but the good weather nevertheless made for a pleasant circuit north from Hayfield. I ticked off three new P30s around Glossop, and Doctor’s Gate was also new terrain for me.

https://photos.app.goo.gl/mJ5BhfEYu5UXvaHW9

Mum, Dad and Ruth visited me in Hilton for the weekend: the first time we’d all been together since Christmas. We walked in Charnwood Forest on the Saturday, and around the Goyt Valley (near Buxton) on Sunday.

https://photos.app.goo.gl/teZirGBbuTKh7SUW6

As the forecast was dry (which seems a novelty at the moment!), I decided to head to the Hope Valley for the day. My walk was roughly around the skyline of the valley, with an extension to the south-west to tick off a few obscure P30s that I hadn’t previously visited.

https://photos.app.goo.gl/psjxwWdPSjr3wCfm8

For today’s walk, I headed to the southern edge of the Peak District. Starting near Blore, my route took in various minor hills around the lower Manifold valley. The forecast was for heavy showers, but fortunately they all missed me!

https://photos.app.goo.gl/MFhdBfN76DAxwrVh6

Today’s walk was in the south-west corner of the Peak District, with conditions that started rather grey but brightened as the day went on. My route from Roach End took in Wincle Minn, Sutton Common, Shutlingsloe and Gradbach Hill.

https://photos.app.goo.gl/rjZWqwWZCma53JZJA

After a morning spent orienteering near Leek, I headed a few miles NE into the Peak District for an afternoon walk taking in the high moors of Merryton Low and Revidge.

https://photos.app.goo.gl/E569Y8BBtBWN4PCNA

I headed up to the White Peak to tick off a few more obscure P30s, starting in the village of Elton. An excellent winter’s day, with temperatures well below freezing, lots of ice and snow underfoot, and clear blue skies overhead! Minninglow Hill, Moatlow Knob and Anthony Hill were the somewhat-unexpected highlights.

https://photos.app.goo.gl/8VcocEbHybxdpL7k9