Ten walkers set off from Hare Hill Park on a lovely bright day for our group walk as part of the South Pennines Walk and Ride Festival. The walk lived up to its title by including stretches of old packhorse roads over Blackstone Edge and later on the Long Causeway, and the quite modern permissive path over Great Manshead Hill. A little soggy going was encountered on parts of the old tramway route from Withens Gate to the Shepherd's Rest! It was good that the day attracted several walkers who are not regular members of the group and who definitely enjoyed the day. It would be nice for our group to include a weekend as well as a weekday walk in the festival's programme next year. It's probably best if they are walks starting in our group's area - suggestions welcome!

Andrew