07/07/13 - Hot, Hot, Hot

Distance - 6.55 miles (but it felt a lot more)
Geocaches - 6
Pubs - 3
Walk from - AA 1001 Walks - Walk 723

Hayfield

We are up in the northwest to deliver a consignment of kitchen utensils to a student who has moved from University accommodation to a house that knocks the spots of the Young Ones Student house.  It may be missing a few pots and pans, but it has broadband, Sky TV and a dishwasher.  Things do improve.

So we have a Saturday in Manchester - staying at one of Lennie Henry's many purple themed gaffs.  We take in the usual sights - the canals, the town hall and a bar that is in a converted subterranean men's toilet.  I know how to show a girl a good time.

As the weather is going to be wall to wall scorchio - we need to be up relatively early and get the most of the walking done before the mid day heat.  We have forgotten to pay Lenny for breakfast, so we head off with Sonia trying to get me to pull in any of the golden arches that we pass.

I have better ideas and outside Glossop, we hit Jen's hot food van.

A fine place to breakfast

We are 15 miles outside Manchester - proving again why it may be the best city to live for the walker.

After this bacon sandwich from the gods, we park up at The Sett Valley Trail car park.  Early part of the walk is straight forward, along an old railway track.  Cache one involves Sonia diving into the undergrowth just as horse riding muggles go past, reassuring their charges that "nothing to worry about - just a lady in the bushes."

Sonia does the same at cache 2 and not to be outdone, I have a go at number 3.  And fail.

We make up for this by dropping down to the reservoir for a bonus cache that also provides a great photo opportunity.

One of the better views of the day

We pick up the Pennine Bridle Way.  This is ominous, as no doubt its going to involve height gain and in this heat, that's one thing that we can do with out.  It's a gentle climb to Lantern Pike, but we feel every footstep.

Sunglasses definitely needed today

There's a cache around these parts - but we cannot find it.

We have the height but now the heat (and hay-fever) is relentless.  We are not the only one suffering, as we pass a dry stone wall and see these two panting.

Too hot for Sheep

Turn right at Matleymoor farm, leaving behind the PBW.  We pick up the Glossop main road and join a group of elderly ladies who are on the same route. 

It is really getting intolerable now.  The flaps come down on my Summer walking cap, but thankfully, I don't have a photo of this piece of sartorial elegance.  We arrive at Tom Hey's Farm, where it is obvious that a) the Path is going back uphill and b) its going onto the moorland, away from the road and our salvation in town.

That Path is uphill - and away from the pub.  There is always another day....

It doesn't us long to come to the decision that we will take our lives in our own hands and head down on the main road - footpathless but all downhill.

Stop at the Lantern Pike Pub for the best pint of lemonade of all time.  Then it's a short drop back to Hayfield.  Lunch at the George Hotel and then head to the Kinder Lodge - where they have the promise of an outdoor TV and Strawberries and cream for the tennis.

Alas, it was too hot to even sit outside

Watched the first set and then listened to the rest after picking up Ellie and hitting the M6.

Not a bad weekend for Mappiman and Great Britain.