Friday/Saturday 13/14 March 2026 - Shepley and Holmfirth

We used to stay with old university friends of mine, Jill and James, in Wokingham on our way to the Channel Tunnel. But a little over a year ago they moved north to Shepley and it has taken us until now, 13 March 2026, to visit them.

Shepley turns out to be a nice village surrounded by a wonderful network of footpaths. The Trans Pennine Trail and many other named routes are nearby.

Arriving mid morning, we enjoyed a short 3km circuit before lunch, crossing and re-crossing the railway near Shepley station.
 

After lunch, James stayed at home whilst Jill took us around one of her favourite circuits from home. A 9km loop starting past St Paul's church.

We soon entered a field via a kissing gate next to a fancy wrought iron gate.

Jill was recovering from an injury caused by slipping on a rock. Her wrist is bandaged and the incidence of slippery stepping stones almost forced her into splashing across the river and getting wet feet near the start of the walk. Luckily, Sue was on hand to cajole and assist....

... and to go back to pose.

The area seems to be home to several neat and well organised farms. A grassy field was followed by one containing winter greens of some sort. The farmers here (unlike some in Cheshire) seem to be aware of the need to keep footpaths in place through fields of crops.

Some of the stone stiles have ancient ornate stone posts with directions to nearby villages. 

The Kirkburton Parish Walk is one of numerous signposted routes. The footpaths are regularly checked for obstacles, etc, by volunteers from the Peak & Northern Footpaths Society. Jill is one of the volunteers, and we were on her 'patch'. So photos of obstacles (a couple of trees fallen across the paths) were taken for submission to the action unit.

The undulating route passed through a couple of valleys.

Shelf fungi - Hairy Curtain Crust - adorned a gatepost.

There was also lots of Mica Cap fungi (and many more).

At one point the weather threatened, but nothing much came of it as we dawdled along a path next to a field of very green crops.

After more pleasant woodland, we crossed the railway line near Shepley station after choosing not to impede the 4:30 train to Barnsley.

Then a short stomp up the hill to Jill and James's house, for refreshments and a lovely meal.

Here's the route - 12km including the morning's 3km, with 300 metres or so ascent, taking about 3 hours in total.

Saturday 14 March saw Sue, Jill and me heading off to Penistone parkrun, on which I have reported at the end of this posting. In the usual parkrun spirit, it was an enjoyable event, taking place on part of the Trans Pennine Trail.

After returning to Shepley for showers, etc, all four of us headed to Holmfirth, which was very busy. We avoided a traffic jam by parking at a sports ground and walking 1km into the town.

A suitable table at a coffee shop was found, and we had eaten the last of their chocolate croissants before I could find my camera...

A lady at Ashley Jackson's gallery tried very hard to sell us something. It was nice stuff, but probably of more interest and relevance to local inhabitants rather than us from Manchester. It wouldn't surprise me if Jill and James were to acquire something from here, if only to replace an ancient framed photo in their hallway of the Rochdale Canal in Calderdale that Jill thinks I gave her on her 30th birthday., nearly 30 years ago. Doesn't time fly! I must try to find the negative and provide a replacement, as the photo has faded over the years.

After a leisurely lunch back in Shepley - the sausage rolls sourced yesterday at the butcher's in Penistone were delicious - we packed up for the easy hour and a half drive back to Timperley, with a promise to meet soon in Hathersage, which is a little closer to them than it is to us.

Thanks for the hospitality, J and J, and we will see you again soon.

'In Between' - Family, Jazz, Jodrell Bank, Aspire, etc - 15 February to 12 March

 15 February 2026

It's always nice to see a happy grandchild.

We went to see Daddy play his guitar in Hootin' Annies Big Band.

It was great.

16 February 2026

It was the turn of Louisiana Nights to play at Eagley Jazz Club.

2 March 2026

After a spell in Wales we returned to Eagley to enjoy a splendid performance from 'The Night Owls'. Was this their last performance together? If so, a sad day.

16 March 2026

While I'm at it I'll insert here a snap of John Hallam and the Tom Kincaid Trio (featuring Dave Tomkins on Bass and Eryl Roberts on Drums). Another fine performance.

4 March 2026

Sue and I enjoyed a leisurely visit to Jodrell Bank, thanks to a birthday present that allows us to visit any time this year. So we'll be back, there's lots to see, and 35 acres of grounds to explore.

8 March 2026

A family lunch in Timperley. Everyone seems happy.

11 March 2026

Sue gave an excellent hour long talk on the GM Ringway trail to 30 or so attendees at Stockport Walking and Outdoor Group's regular Wednesday evening slot. A good turnout, also attended by the trail's PR officer.

My blog entries on this trail are here.

12 March 2026

To conclude this 'catch-up' posting, a few pictures from an excellent menu at the Aspire restaurant. Sue and I joined Paul and Jeanette for a delicious meal from the students of South Trafford College.

'In Between' - Some parkruns - 31 January to 14 March

31 January 2026

A lovely sunny morning at Wythenshawe Park, for their parkrun #651.

I managed 31:35 in position 196/347. Sue went to Brueton and did 25:54 in position 200/715

Full results are here and here.

7 February 2026

We did the University of Stirling parkrun on a damp morning and reported on it here.

I took 34:04 in position 210/286. Sue took 26:08 in position 80. None of the other friends staying at Tigh Mor joined us. Full results are here.

14 February 2026

Another lovely morning at Wythenshawe Park. The going was frosty but firm.

Owen was accompanied by Gaynor, and nobody fell over or even got wet feet.

I managed 33:36 in position 270/369, and Sue did 25:20 in position 96.

Full results are here.

21 February 2026

Sue and I joined Paul and Jeanette on the Old Railway Trail parkrun in Llangollen. I reported on it here.

The full results are here. This is how we fared.

Sue - 25:26, in position 28/100
Paul and Rufus - 26:14, in position 31/100

Martin - 33:07, in position 68/100

Jeanette - 45:17, in position 90/100 - walking to avoid aggravating an injury.

28 February 2026

Back at Wythenshawe for run number 655.

Near the start. Muddy.

Come on Freddy!

Martha finished just behind me. I couldn't keep up with her the following week.

It was a day of pacers provided by Winston. Anthony finished just two seconds inside his 30 minute pacing objective.

 

Freddy eventually got round, but he did complain

I wasn't last in my age group...

Ancient Maggi Gmerek got inside 40 minutes. Well done.

I managed 32:08, in position 176/302, and Sue finished in a creditable 24:55, in position 48/302.

Full results are here.

7 March 2026

Wythenshawe parkrun #656. The usual routine, and warmer weather led me to cycle to the park today.

292 participants lined up at the start, and the mud near Oliver Cromwell wasn't as deep as last week. Although it's still far from dry.

Paul has to start about 100 metres behind everyone else to avoid Rufus's barking from drowning the sound of the Run Director.

He soon catches and passes me.

Today my time was 33:57, in position 212/292. Sue did 25:37 in position 62/292, and Paul/Rufus took 27:35 in position 107, but Paul was taking it easy due to a big race the following day.

Full results are here.

14 March 2026

As we were staying with Jill and James in Shepley we couldn't resist a short drive to Penistone parkrun.

A pleasant walk from a car park, past St John's Gardens and church, brought us to the bottom of a hill from where the run starts.

A large puddle, thankfully not on the course, provided a photo opportunity.

We started nearby, ominously at the foot of a slithery hill.

As is usual these days, I set off at the back. It's amazing that 241 starters could get so spread out on the circuit of a medium sized field.

It looks as if even the tail walker passed me as I paused to take photos.

After the field, a 'there and back' run along the track of a disused railway. Outgoing, it seemed to me to be quite uphill.

After a while I did pass a few people, and I met Sue and Jill coming back down the gently sloping path.

There were good views across the valley to Thurlstone.

After a few more photo stops, I sped up towards the end and even managed to run back up the hill to the finish at the top of the field.

Today my time was 32:45, in position 163/241. Sue did 25:15 in position 66/241, and Jill took 30:09 in position 138. (Nearly a PB)

Full results are here.