And this time it’s the next to the last stage. I finished the Pennine Way in July in Edale and now I’m picking the journey up from Edale, walking westwards to Prestatyn in North Wales. From there I’m following Offa’s Dyke Path down to Knighton through the Welsh hills. Should be luvley. 180 miles in 12 days will be ok.

Today was 18 miles from Edale to Macclesfield through the Peak District. Up hill and down dale again but great country. Our old lass gave me a lift down to Leeds station at 5.30 this morning and I started out walking from Edale at 8.00. Cold wind but not the rain that was threatened on the forecasts. 

Straight away the route cuts up a thousand feet north westward towards Chapel en le Frith. Knackering with a rucksack of clothes and camping equipment but looking back from the top is well worth it.

Chapel en le Frith is one of those towns that feels like a village, and it’s billed as Capital of the Peak District. It might be but it’s got a great Morrison’s with a cafe where I got three cups of tea and a dog’s doodahs bacon sandwich for three quid. Excellent. And the toilet paper was first class too. 

From there it was uphill again, all by road this time, over the High Peak and down towards Macclesfield. The view below is out towards Merseyside and the Irish Sea behind the hill to the left. A long way behind the hill. But I’ll make it in three more days. 

Anyway I might stop here for Bilbo’s birthday party with Gandalf’s fireworks. Who organises this stuff in the middle of nowhere? 

Actually my dear darlings it sounds great. But I’ve got a destiny with the Way and I need to crack on. Airbnb tonight and it looks a nice room. Under a roof for a change, and back under canvas tomorrow. Please don’t rain! In Macclesfield waiting for the Airbnb owner and looking forward to a good sleep.

Night night.