Diary Update - 20 to 30 December 2025

Saturday 20 December 2025

Wythenshawe parkrun #645. Muddy. 34:26 for me, 26:33 for Sue. Full results here.

Tuesday 23 December 2025

GM Ringway Trail, stage 20 - diary entry here.

Later - drinks and 'nibbles' with R & J. What a lovely evening.

Wednesday 24 December 2025

Xmas Eve in Timperley - a joyous occasion, with Uno and Labyrinth featuring after the meal.

Thursday 25 December 2025

An early start. Sue and I joined a party of 326 runners and walkers for Alderley Park parkrun #169.

Sue did well, in 25:39. I took 34:05, after waiting at the back of a crowded start.

Callum did exceptionally well. Full results are here.

After that lovely way to start the day, Sue and I drove to Bacup for a family Christmas lunch. Delicious. Well done, Kate. Followed by Rummikub.

Friday 26 December 2025

A 10km walk around Appleton with Sue and Jenny - on a lovely sunny day. Diary entry here.

Saturday 27 December 2025

Wythenshawe parkrun #646. Still muddy. 33:27 for me, 30:43 for Sue, who ran with Jan and Owen.
Full results here.

Sunday 28 December 2025

A 14.5km walk from Buxton with Sue B, Sue W and GI. Lovely route. Overcast but fine.

Diary entry here.

Tuesday 30 December 2025

Where am I now?

Yes, it's pretty obviously Wilmslow, in the Lindow Common area. A 7km stroll whilst Sue was getting her hair cut.

During the walk I discovered a 'Spunch' event that was taking place - a form of orienteering using satellites to record progress. There were over 200 people of all abilities taking part. It looks like great fun. I think I'll give it a try. An example of an event is here (that link may change) and Si Entries have details of all events. This could catch on....

Here's my route.

That's it for 2025, which seems to have been a pretty active year despite fewer postings - about 170 - than usual during the period when these pages have mutated from 'blog' entries to 'on-line diary' entries - not that there's really much difference except that the latter name seems more appropriate.

With very best wishes for 2026.

Martin

Sunday 28 December 2025 - A Circuit from Buxton

Sue and I met Sue W and GI on Corbar Road in Buxton at 9:45. Both Sue W and GI had planned routes. GI's got the vote as it was less undulating and a little shorter. It proved to be a cracker.

We left Corbar Road after a few metres and headed up a stepped path through Corbar Woods to Corbar Hill. The security gate at the entrance to the woods was rather ineffectual, and we passed through with ease.

We soon reached a large cross at Cuckoo Tors, where our outgoing route would be re-joined for the final steep descent in a few hours' time.

Boxing Day's blue sky had proved to be an isolated cloudless day, so today we were in a cool breeze under grey clouds. But thankfully no rain, and good views down to Buxton, where we tried to pick out Colin Jones's house.

We trundled around the edge of the escarpment, reaching a high point of 507 metres at a trig point on the top of Black Edge.

Lovely belvedere paths led around the hill, soon offering views down to the quarries above Dove Holes and more indistinct peaks beyond that mess.

Elevenses were taken in a sheltered spot near an ancient fort after we'd turned the corner between Short Edge and Combs Edge.

Another trig point was reached. I can't find it on the map!

It's a lovely walk above the escarpment at the edge of the plateau.

Lunch was taken in the shelter of a dry stone wall, next to a locked bothy. There's an unlocked and clean but unfurnished bothy a bit lower down, but the shelter provided by its gloomy interior was not needed today.

This bothy was very much locked.

We enjoyed a good view down to Combs Reservoir from our lunch spot.

The sun was shining on the High Peak summits beyond Chapel-en-le-Frith. It never reached us...

Beyond Combs Edge, we passed some climbers. With no gloves, they admitted to having uncomfortably cold hands.

We continued the circuit, pausing occasionally to admire the views, which admittedly would be better on a sunny day, though conditions today were much better than on Sue W's last visit. There was a bit of bog/mud in places but nothing to trouble our lightweight boots.

On reaching the large cross pictured earlier, we returned through Corbar Woods to Corbar Road, taking care to follow the correct route through the admissions door.

Late Oyster Fungi, sadly out of focus, drew Sue's attention today.

We were back at the cars by 3pm, after our 14.5km walk, with 350 metres ascent, taking 5 hours including quite a few stops. Here's the route.

This is a really excellent route. Thanks to GI for introducing us to it.