On Stanage Edge

On Stanage Edge

Yesterday was the hottest July day for a decade and it was the one day that I put aside each week to do my freelance writing. But it would have been foolish not to get out to the countryside.

On the way to the station I bumped into a friend with something similar in mind, he and his other half were about to drive off in their camper van to walk Hadrian’s Wall. And another friend was off to walk with her walks group on Congleton Edge. It seemed that everyone was downing tools and not working. Lovely for those of us able to but tough for those left in the office.

I headed off on the slow train through the Peak District from Manchester to Hathersage in Derbyshire passing some stunning scenery. It was a hot day to be walking anywhere as I wandered through Hathersage - a lovely town, complete with a 1936 open air heated swimming pool, cafe, bandstand and bowling green (see my Instagram for 2 July).

A while later I was up on Stanage Edge, I had hardly seen anyone on the way up from the town and was enjoying the solitude. There were some walkers and climbers about and plenty of sheep but I felt satisfied and pleased to have come somewhere new for me.

It was in the 30°Cs/ high 80°F and I a saw walker faint as I waited for the homeward train. Back at Manchester Piccadilly hoards of heated commuters were massively delayed by network infrastructure failings, it was a good day to not be working…