Kinver and Vale Head Farm - another Big Pathwatch walk

I was dreading this walk. It is a square I am walking for The Big Pathwatch (click here for details), so it should be fun, but my last experience,wading through wet, waist high vegetation put me off a bit.
Anyway, time to bite the bullet and survey the next square. It's near Kinver, South Staffs.
I started by the path which leads to the Lydiates (See map at the end)

First, to Vale Head Farm. Lately a riding school/livery yard, and now part of the Glasshouse Trust (Click to see more), offering opportunities for youngsters with special needs.
The path was not immediately apparent, and my heart sank.

But then I saw it, greener than the rest of the field.

I could just make it out: it heads to the telegraph pole.

And the comforting sign showed I was on track.

The next path was clearly visible

Looking back towards the Lydiates

The path isn't quite as on the map, but it is very clearly signposted.

I passed some inquisitive goats,...

...heavily laden apple trees in the orchard,...

...and plenty of free range chickens.

The path led through fields

Looking back

There's a clear view of the buildings where once we kept our ponies.

I liked the carved footpath signs.

They pointed into a wood, 

...and on to Kinsgford Lane. Although not marked on the map, the path carries on by the roadside - safer than my planned road walk.

I've lived in the area most of my life, but I'd never realised that the land on the "far" side of the road was also part of Kinver Edge!

The car park comes into view.

Crossing the road by the rather grand village sign,..

I walked down Rocky Wall

...as far as this sign to Britch Farm.

On the map, the path wiggles, but on the ground it is now straight, and easy to follow


Looking back to Britch Farm, with the Sheepwalks behind. This is one of the biggest fields I have ever seen

This part was just being harvested.

...while the other side is already ploughed for the next crop.

My route - marked out in blue. I've now walked all the paths on this square - and they are all clear and well-marked. Well done to the local farmers.

other Big Path Watch posts:

    my first square

    the disastrous one

For mobile users: click here for the latest list of posts. For computer users, it's already visible at the side

In the Peak District - Shining Tor and the Goyt Valley

This fabulous walk takes in the highest point in Cheshire: Shining Tor.


Parking at the car park near the dam at Errwood reservoir, in the Peak District's Goyt Valley,

...we started by following the reservoir edge.

It's a wild and lonely place.

Then we turned up past these old woods with their mossy walls.

There were plenty of wild bilberries. (Later I found a massive purple bruise on my leg, which when bathed turned out to be bilberry stains!)

The path climbed steeply, leaving the water far below.

The heather on Wild Moor showed some interesting patterns.

The path followed this wall, so way-finding was very easy. 

Eventually we reached the sign we wanted - to Shining Tor.

At the path junction, a party of ramblers.

This is the final bit of the path, leading to Shining Tor

 The view from the summit...

...and the summit trig point. The highest point of modern Cheshire, at 1834 feet. (559 metres) 

The pointed hill is Shutlingsloe. 

The path along the summit is flagged, which makes for easy walking

We liked these tiny star flowers, growing in an unhospitable environment.

The peat bogs - showing just why the stone flags are a good thing!

The whitish settlement in the distance is Manchester.

  
These rocks are known as Pym Chair

The view over towards Jodrell Bank, and the mountains of North Wales - not very clear to see today, unfortunately.

One of my favourite place names - Windgather. Very appropriate. (I spent the coldest night of my life here at now-defunct Windgather Youth Hostel. Six blankets and all my clothes - including hat, as the snow blew in through the old barn which was the dormitory - I did love it though)

 
Ahead of us, the sun shone on Kinder Scout, Derbyshire's highest point, and the start of the Pennine Way

 More lovely heather- covered slopes

Reaching the road after Pym Chair, we turned right, down The Street - a clear path fairly near the quiet, single track road.

And we returned to our starting point.

Today's walk: an excellent route, which is very easy to follow. I would describe it as moderate: although  it starts fairly steeply, after the first mile the walking is easy, with only gentle gradients. Start at the carpark by the dam at Errwood reservoir. Follow the reservoir. As it ends, take forest road,  which turns into a path between two woods. Reach the high wall, and follow it for  about a mile, until you reach the sign for Shining Tor. Follow the path to the summit, then take the flagstone path along the ridge, past Pym Chair, and the summit of Cat's Tor (not very difficult.) Turn right at the road, and follow it back to the car park. About 5.5 miles. Allow about 3 hours, and you'll do it comfortably. Great views, wild scenery, easy paths. The summit views are good - Manchester, Wales, Warrington Power Station, Jodrell Bank, the higher Peak District of Kinder Scout

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