Station to Station

I set off from home today and ran down to the Roman Lakes and along the Goyt Way to Strines Station. It wasn't as cold as it has been and by Windybottom I was feeling rather warm and took off my jacket, hat and gloves. Fortunately my Lowe Alpine waist belt is quite capacious and though it was stuffed the zip still shut. Hardly anyone about early on a Monday, just a few dog-walkers and horse-riders.

Brookbottom

From Strines I took the track up to Brookbottom. I seem to recall that I once ran all the way up here but not today, my stiff right thigh still hurts on steep uphills so I ran-walked up to the Fox. Brookbottom is such a hidden little hamlet, like somewhere from a story with the houses all huddled together. The Methodist church is undergoing conversion into a house, it will be a very spacious one, who will have the money to buy it?
Back along the upper lane through the golf course and down by Linnet Clough. Up Lakes Road, nearly ran all the way to the top but not quite, I have no wish to wreck my good physiotherapy work now I am on the mend finally. 11.7km 1hr27

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Taxal Edge

A very cold and dry early morning start at 8am from the canal basin car park in Whaley Bridge. A fair sized group of us ran up and over the reservoir and up Macc Road, through Taxal Beeches and onto Taxal Edge. The views around were stunning over to Ladder Hill on one side and to Bowstones on the other. We ran down to Kettleshulme and back round the lanes and through the fields to Whaley. Approx 5.5miles.

Chadkirk and Canal

Today I ran through the estate and down Marple Hall Drive to the new zig zag path down to the Goyt. I am pleased that the new bridge over the river was completed last year as it makes a nice shortish circular route that is largely off road. It was bitterly cold but I could  see that the bluebells are starting to push through in the woods and there are plenty of daffodils coming up in the walled garden by Chadkirk Chapel. A treat for a nice Spring day.
I finished the run along the canal and over the aqueduct and up to lock 7. I stopped off at the allotments on the way back to see what work Steve has done preparing the ground. It is all coming along very nicely.

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Steve on the plot

Chadkirk bridge

Rowarth and around

Wintry Sunshine over New Mills

Today I started my run up the lane from the Little Mill Inn in Rowarth towards Lantern Pike. It was colder than I thought, almost freezing, and the path was still icy in parts. I took the climb up the rocky track very steadily, pausing to stretch my right leg which is still very stiff and sore. As I climbed the path towards Matley Moor, the view opened up ahead of me of the hills towards Kinder, where there is still plenty of snow.
I followed the Pennine Bridleway, then took the path through the heather to join the lane. The peat is eroded right through in parts by mountain bikes, exposing the rocks beneath. I followed the lane round to Cown Edge farm, where I walked through a flock of very pregnant ewes, not wanting to startle them up from their rest. Up to the top of the ridge to enjoy the amazing views across towards New Mills, Manchester and the Dark Peak. Running downhill through the fields of close-cropped grass at the top of the Edge is a superb pleasure and I find myself running slowly to savour it. Then the tumbling steep descent down into Rowarth (which is a horrid stiff ascent on the Coombes Tor race) and back to the Little Mill inn to collect the car. A lovely hour well spent.