Monday April 1st (Easter Monday)

Chinley, Foxholes Clough, Brown Knoll and South Head

It wasn't a particularly promising day but David put on a brave face and decided to go out, anyway- but not too far. As ever, Chinley was the choice as it is close and I decided to merge a few walks that we'd done in the past, for the sake of variety. From the usual parking spot I walked up Over Hill Road and up to Throstle Bank. I took the bridleway past the New Allotments and down Foxholes Clough- this was the intersection of a couple of walks, one of which we did on our wedding anniversary outing to the Sett Valley Café back in February. From the end of the clough, I swung right/south east, past Far Phoside and up to Peep-O-Day, where I perched on a couple of stone blocks to have my lunch.

Blocks of contrasting texture

Rather than either following the path through Maynestone Farm or going over Mount Famine, I dropped down (steply!) to pick up Coldwell Clough and then to Oaken Clough, passing a sign to South Head via Dimpus Clough!

South Head and Mount Famine
(via Dimpus Clough)

Near the top of Oaken Clough I passed two Landrovers from the Kinder Mountain Rescue Team- apparently they had four teams out looking for someone who had become stuck in the Kinder bogs and had injured themselves. The weather at Brown Knoll was pretty well unchanged- not a lot to be seen.

However, by the time that I reached the top of South Head, there was a bit of sun and some reasonable views.

Mount Famine from South Head

Kinder from South Head

Brown Knoll (still in the shadows) from South Head

On the way back to Chinley I passed the farm at Hollands again- the place that I'd seen an emu last time. This time...

Wonder Warthog

And...

I arrived back at Chinley after a walk of just under 11 miles with 750m ascent.


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