Around Moel Arthur again and up to the top. 8 miles 250m climb

Repeated the previous Clwydian walk with family visitor and added the extra 70m to get the splendid vies from the top. 5*

Around Moel Arthur, Denbighshire. 6.2 miles 180m climb

First strenuous walk of the year, taking in the slopes of Moel Arthur and part of the Offa’s Dyke path, with all the good views of North Wales still in place. Great to have this facility almost on our doorstep. 5*

Three days of walking in Derbyshire. 24 miles, up to 350m climb

The first of the Long Walkers walks for 2025 started in Edale with a fairly gentle circular on the first mile or two of the Pennine Way which then dropped down to follow the contours of the railway track via Barber Booth back into Edale. 

The ‘long’ circular walk on the second day took us much higher to climb from Chinley up on the Cracken Edge Long route.  Fortuitously the party took the unintended clockwise route and returned the same way and so avoided some rocky scrambling descents.  Interesting Millstone Grit mining quarries with some archaeological remains still intact. Wonderful 360 degree views from the top with Manchester in the distance. 

The last day explored the canal and river bed from Chinley through Buxworth to Whalley Bridge.  Quite a lot of climbing to return to Chinley by minor roads in unexpectedly warm sunny weather. 

Overall 5*

Finnieston to Kelvingrove, Glasgow. 6.5 miles daily flat

From the Merchant City via the Clyde Walkway, past some of the new public buildings along the banks of the river. It was difficult to relate my location to the Glasgow I was brought up in, as almost all of that area was inaccessible active shipyards at that time. Some of Glasgow’s older public buildings are very fine, but there as an air or neglect about the areas we passed through, even although they were set up for leisure activities. Similarly, the city centre was more run down than I imagined for Scotland’s largest city. Ended at the University, which seemed little changed and returned via the wonderfully miniature Subway, now much upgraded, but still very small. 3*

North Wirral Coastal Path. 5.2 miles, mainly flat

First walk of 2025 and not too far from home, but a lovely Winter day with blue sky reflected in the sea at full tide. A new quieter shortcut across the sand dunes gets you to the coast to bag a bench for a quick picnic. 4*