Tuesday 8 September 2026 - Neptune's Staircase on a rainy day

On a thoroughly wet day we took advantage of a short break from the heavier rain to climb Neptune's Staircase and wander along the towpath of the Caledonian Canaĺ. A 6 km 'there and back' walk.

There were a few people about - some clearly plodding along the route of the Great Glen Way, others cycling or dog walking. Here I am at our 3 km turnaround point.

On the way back we passed a horde of Canadian canoe/kayakers heading very slowly towards Gairlochy.

Our own outing was intercepted by the café at Neptune's Staircase, where we lingered for some time with lattes, cake and Squaredle.

Back at mobile home number 63, we relaxed into an afternoon of jigsaw, Boggle, reading (Seascraper - Benjamin Wood), and the start of a big transcription project. 

Monday 7 September 2026 - Beaches between Arisaig and Camusdarach

With high winds forecast on Munro summits we chose to stay near sea level.

After driving to Arisaig and enjoying coffee and cake in the excellent café beside the slipway, we set off on a somewhat convoluted route north to Camusdarach. Sue made it all the way - a 16 km round trip.

There were quiet roads, nice beaches, and rocky promontories. The latter involved slippery rocks, dense undergrowth and hidden chasms.

By the time we'd had lunch in a sheltered spot (it was windy), I'd had enough and turned round shortly beyond Traigh. It was a not unpleasant stroll along the road whilst Sue enjoyed the Camusdarach beach. A four hour walk of 12 km for me - an extra hour for Sue.

At one point the sky blackened with rain, but it just missed us.

I had time to visit the War Memorial near St Mary's Church with its flat-topped tower.

There are two War Memorials in Arisaig, one of them being devoted to Polish servicemen who trained here in WW2.

Here's my route - 12 km with 150 metres ascent, taking 4 hours or so.

Sunday 6 September 2026 - Fassfern and the pony track

Pictures aren't loading very well. Maybe it's the weak WiFi that also affects the TV.

On a drizzly day, Sue and I enjoyed a morning in the mobile home and in the afternoon we went to nearby Fassfern for a walk in the woods next to a torrent.  The area is home to forestry and old pony tracks that we followed in a 6 km loop with 150 metres ascent. There would have been good views into Moidart if the cloud hadn't concealed them.

Sue found some interesting fungi, and I spotted lots of Scarlet Waxcaps. We were out for just an hour and a half and saw half a dozen or so people enjoying dog/children walking in the rain.

Here are some of Sue's pictures - smaller images stand a better chance of loading. 

Tricholomopsis rutilans

Leccinum scabrum

Laccaria amethystina

Suillus grevillei

Cantharellus cibarius

Russula sanguinea 

Saturday 5 September 2026 - Penrith parkrun and a trip to Corpach

On the road again. We joined Lindsay at Penrith parkrun to celebrate her 400th parkrun. Well done Lindsay and we are pleased to hear that your new job is going well.

Sue did 25:22 in position 123 out of 341 participants.

I did 38:07 in position 305.

Full results are here.

After the 2 hour drive to Penrith, we spent another 4 hours in the car. Intermittent rain and dazzling sunshine greeted us over the border.

Cloud lifted briefly off the crowded Glencoe summits.

Our home for the week - a mobile home in Corpach, next to Loch Eil. 

It's very comfy, with a good view along the loch.

On the site, Woody's pop-up provided excellent burgers and chips, allowing a portion of our Timperley Beef Stew another 24 hours to thaw out.

I've found another, rather laborious, way of posting pictures...

Friday 4 September 2026 - GM Ringway Trail Stage 12 - Norden to Bury

This was a repeat of our walk on 25 September 2025 that Jeanette missed due to injury.  A diary entry for that walk is here.

I'm having technical problems uploading photos and have little to add to those taken in the sunshine last year. Those that do upload tend to be in the wrong order.

Bear with me. Anyway, today we had intermittent drizzle - most welcome after the summer's drought, but not ideal for photography. 

After the 9:03 from Victoria to Rochdale, and an Uber that dropped us outside a café in Norden, we enjoyed coffee and cake before setting off back up the path to Greenbooth Reservoir, past a Vauxhall Viva that will be lovingly restored. 

After the reservoir we ascended Knowle Hill, close by towering wind turbines, to the high point of the day, with extensive views over Greater Manchester and beyond.

After the gentle descent, we reached the remains of Cheesden Lumb Mill for a coffee break sitting on the stone remains. 

The walk continued through pleasant countryside, passing last year's lunch spot before the steep climb to Scotland Lane.

Lots of fungi, including these Apioperdon pyriforme (aka Pear shaped puffball).

Photos won't load at all now...some edits may appear in due course, eg below!

Lunchtime, in the absence of any suitable benches, drifted into the afternoon, by which time we had crossed the M66 motorway and entered the Nature Reserve at Chesham Green Wood. Plenty of benches here.

Good paths led to Burrs Country Park and the River Irwell, from where a kilometre of pavements got us to Bury Metrolink station before 4:30 for a gentle ride home.

A view from the ascent to Scotland Lane

Friday 28 August 2026 - GM Ringway Trail Stage 11 - Littleborough to Norden

This was a 'catch-up' walk for Jeanette, who missed our first visit to this stage on 2 September 2025. On that occasion we enjoyed superb weather and I penned a detailed diary entry here.

Today was showery, with a five minute spell of heavy rain.

We started with a short walk from Littleborough station to 'Coffee on the Corner', where in the absence of Sheila, who I think knows the manager, the welcome was a little less friendly than before and we were shoo'ed to a cramped outside table that just about protected us from the drizzle, on account of Rufus being an unwelcome visitor to the cosy inside of the premises. "Cash only" had me thankful that unlike some folk I generally do carry a little rarely needed cash.

As before, we started down an alternative route that short-cut the published route due to some paths across the railway being closed (we assumed they are still closed).

That meant we passed the lovely old building that was home to a local MP for Rochdale, Gordon Harvey (1858 - 1922) - he was MP from 1906 to 1918.

On leaving the conurbation, we rose steeply past a couple of farms. This was my view ahead, after the sharp shower during which I hadn't noticed the others hiding behind a wall!

The rain soon stopped and we splish-sploshed our way as far as Dobbin Hill, before descending to Watergrove Reservoir where we paused for a coffee and cake break.

The crenellated drystone walls hereabouts are some of the most substantial I've seen.

The reservoir seems to have a little more water than on our visit last September, despite the recent paucity of rain showers. Last winter was wet at times.

Leaving the reservoir, we passed the ruins of 'Little Town' before rising then descending to cross Higher Slack Brook by way of a slippery wooden bridge, then rising on the Pennine Bridleway to pass a number of artefacts by way of reminders of the industrial landscape of the past.

Lunch was taken by a small reservoir below the flanks of Rushy Hill, as on our earlier visit.

After that we proceeded to the spectacular gorge of Healey Dell. Rufus was a bit miffed to find a poorly stocked library.

The path through the gorge eventually released us onto a narrow lane that passes Healey Dell Heritage Centre & Tea Rooms. Coffee (etc) and cake all round (mostly).

From there, the GM Ringway route rises to the disused railway that crosses a splendid viaduct. Sadly, that route is currently completely blocked by repair work to the viaduct. So we had to return to the point at which we had earlier entered the gorge in the other direction.

It wasn't too difficult to find a route back to the other end of the viaduct, soon after which we rejoined the GM Ringway route by a pond that was being guarded by a large goose.

After that our route rose gently to cross Rooley Moor Road at a point where new hardware has been installed in an effort to dissuade mechanised vehicles and bikes. That road is on the bike route I take from Timperley to my daughter's house in Bacup. It's a horrid descent over boulders into Bacup, and the road is also used by the Pennine Bridleway on the Mary Towneley Loop.

It was then a pleasant descent to the Greenbooth Reservoir's dam, and a stroll down a woodland path to reach the lane leading to the A680 road at Norden.

Jeanette summoned a Uber taxi (I'd never before used one) which soon deposited us at Rochdale railway station where we had two minutes to buy a ticket (Sue - the other three of us travel free of charge), jump on the train to Clitheroe via Victoria, from where its an easy tram ride home.

A lovely day out despite a bit of drizzle and a five minute deluge. It was a shade over 19 km with 450 metres ascent, taking five and a half hours.