Saturday 28 March 2026 - TGO Challenge Reunion at Hayfield

After a parkrun at Wythenshawe, (results here) Sue and I had various jobs to do before heading to the Sportsman Inn at Hayfield where a TGO Challengers' reunion meal was on the menu.

Everything's a bit of a rush at present, so this entry comprises just a few pictures from a 5.5 km walk from the inn. We thought we might meet Graham Brookes's contingent who were on a full day's walk, but they were much later. Sadly no pictures of ourselves or any of the 30+ attendees on this occasion. We were too busy chatting to remember to take any 'people pictures'. I'll try to catch up with a few folk over the next couple of weeks.

As we dropped down to the river, a noisy robin caught our attention.

The River Kinder was in a good mood, and hopefully the resident heron found something to satisfy its hunger. It's not quite the time when baby mallards can satisfy any hunger, but there is frog spawn for any heron who's desperate!

We took paths to the east of the river, all the way up above Kinder Reservoir as far as Peak & Northern Footpaths Society's sign number 285.

The weather had cheered substantially from the downpour that we had driven through on the way to Hayfield, with nice views towards Kinder Scout.

The turnaround point offered views of the reservoir that would soon be diminished by fresh spring foliage.

A steep descent returned us to a riverside path that we followed before joining a tarmac lane near the disused sheepwash.

The sheepwash was relocated from further up the valley in the early 1900s, when Kinder Reservoir was built, and it was positioned under an ash tree that is now about 150 years old. It provided shelter from the weather for the 500 or so sheep that regularly bathed here in a cocktail of chemicals.

This pleasant amble - 5.5km with 120 metes ascent - brought us back to the inn in plenty of time for an excellent meal, served very efficiently. It was good to catch up with a few good friends.

Saturday 5 April 2025 - TGO Challenge reunion walk from Hayfield

After completing the Lyme Park parkrun, Sue and I went to park outside the Sportsman Inn, near Hayfield, and set off on Graham Brookes TGO Challenge Reunion walk at about 10:30, half an hour after others had started.

It was a lovely blue sky day with a cool breeze and good views across to Kinder Scout.

We followed the Pennine Bridleway around Mount Famine and were surprised to catch up with Graham's group near spot height 431.

The group had been decimated by a stiff breeze on Mount Famine. Some had returned to Hayfield, others had chosen a lower level route to Whitehough. Spectacles had been blown away, hats and buffs also. Sue and I were happy to pause with the rag tag band in the shelter of a dry stone wall.

After the welcome coffee and cake break (Sue and I hadn't stopped since leaving home at 8:15) we strolled on towards the splendid viaduct near Chinley.

After that, nice paths led to the Paper Mill Inn, outside which David and Martin, who had taken a short cut route, were tucking into their beers.

Water power was needed to operate the mill, hence this weir on Black Brook.

After our lengthy lunch break, there being no time pressure, we headed steadily up Chinley Churn The ubiquitous Primroses were joined by Butterbur, Lesser Celandine, Lady's Mantle, Buttercups, Dandelions, Dog Violets, Wild Garlic, Garlic Mustard, Forget-me-nots and more.. It was breezy on top.

At this point most of the party disappeared, probably finding a direct route back, whilst Graham led his remaining few followers over rough ground to view some fossils.

There were a number of resting places, to which our party took full advantage whilst Graham rummaged for more fossils.

David enjoyed a snooze. The sheep were curious.

Those last few pictures are in a sort of random order. After that we wound our way down to Peep-O-Day Farm and some nice paths featuring lovely sunken lanes, back to the Sportsman Inn.

We got back in plenty of time for the 7:30 meal for 23 reunioners, Sue and I having followed the 19km route with 600 metres ascent shown below.

Alistair reappeared from a bus for the tasty meal, and after most people had adjourned to the campsite we took ourselves home. Luckily for Alistair, our route passed his house.

Thanks go to David Hardy for organising the reunion, and to Graham for arranging the walk, albeit he failed completely to keep all but a few of his followers in order!

Saturday 16 March 2024 - TGO Challengers Reunion at Monyash

Twenty or so 'Challengers', many being 'former' TGO Challengers, turned up for this reunion. About 14 of them joined Graham Brookes on a 20 km Lathkill Dale > Youlgreave > Limestone Way circuit - a classic day out from Monyash.

There was lots of water emerging from the cave near Ricklow.

A sunny spot was found for elevenses, where due to supply issues, Sue had to ration the shortbread distribution to a surreptitious few!

One of the first flowering plants of the year beside the Bridgewater Canal in Manchester, Butterbur is rampant at the moment in Lathkill Dale.

Elf Cups were also found beside the path.

Lesser Celandine

Beyond Youlgreave

The Limestone Way footpath was muddy and boggy in places. Those not wearing boots will have got wet feet.

One Ash Grange Farm was a particularly muddy zone, but not without the attraction of a handsome peacock.

There's not a lot more to say. After the enjoyable walk during which a 'pub contingent' got separated from the 'butty contingent' and needed to take a short cut along the road from Youlgreave to catch up / overtake the rest of us, Sue and I enjoyed afternoon tea with Ali, Adrian, Gayle and Mick in their hired cottage, before adjourning to the Bull's Head for beers and a good meal.

It was good to see those who turned up, in particular Alistair P and John Woolston and his little dog that migrated to his rucksack after lunch.

Here's the route of the 'butty' brigade - 20 km, 350 metres ascent, taking around 6 hours.

Saturday 7 October 2023 - Aviemore parkrun #252

We are in Newtonmore this weekend for a TGO Challenger reunion.

It's raining!

Not to be put off, we took a short drive up the A9 lake to Aviemore, where we joined about 70 other 'like minded' (for want of a less polite description) souls, on a splash through the wood and moorland near to the railway line to the north of the town.

The pictures below follow our progress under the railway line to the start, the briefing, and thence on the route at a few choice points when I stopped for a breather and risked drowning the phone.

The last picture was taken at the finish. Sue finished in position 14 and had already adjourned to the café to dry out. I took my time. Back in Newtonmore later, we are warm and cosy, but still drying out.

A link to the results is here.

https://www.parkrun.org.uk/aviemore/results/252/

Meanwhile, many of our TGO Challenge friends are out for the day. They will return drenched. The rivers and side streams are in spate.