Walk Leader: Dave Gosling

A hired bus took most of us from Hayfield to Buxton where we met the remainder of the group. Nineteen of us - seven from South Manchester (Roger, Duncan, David Clift, Mike Magee, Steve Millward, Nicoletta) and friends from High Peak, the Irregulars and Sherwood groups set off from Buxton Railway Station at 9.00am on a cloudy, cool day.

We were following the route of the Peak District Boundary Walk which has been designed by the Friends of the Peak District as published in their book and on their website. We left Buxton through the Cote Heath allotments off Byron Street and the Dukes Drive Farm to Cowdale and Deep Dale. First stop for food and drink was taken at Blackwell Mill cafe, then we walked via Wormhill, Hargate Hill, Haydale and Dam Dale where we had lunch after approximately 4 hours of walking, just short of 10 miles completed.

So far so good, but after lunch we were met by heavy rain being driven into our faces by a strong wind. The steady climb out of Peak Forest became bit of an ordeal as cloud came down and with it minimal visibility. A sequence of difficult stiles and muddy tracks also slowed us down.  After crossing the A623 there's a steep climb through gorse and then a series of boggy fields to Blackbrook. From there the route climbs via Bowden Head, Malcoff, Shireoak Farm and eventually onto the Roych Clough bridleway which we followed to South Head. In rain and cloud, visibility was down to ten metres so the splendid views were for another day. A faster group went ahead to Hayfield and the rest followed (missing out the section of the official route which goes via Bowden Bridge). Mike offered the thought that it is for weather like this that we buy expensive kit, which was certainly tested on this occasion. Nevertheless, we all happily finished the route by 5.45 just before darkness fell.

Thanks to Roger for the photos:-