Exploring Scottish Trails: CW-LE: Nantwich

Rest day, and so shortest day's mileage of the walk - not even 3 miles - over Hollins Cross to Castleton. Practising the art of walking very slow - lovely views back over Hope Valley helped.

Ken (who was also walking the PW south and who I kept meeting up with most days) was due to finish sometime after 2pm today (Sunday), and I was up for a hill run, so in spite of the thunderstorm warning I headed back over to Edale, but running. Without the pack it felt amazing.

Didn't meet up at the Old Nags Head though, suspect he'd set off and finished early due to forecast, so I enjoyed a pint then an even faster blast back over. Second run in 6 weeks, no harm done.

Next day was a moderately short walk to Buxton through the Limestone (White) Peak District visiting various Dales...

Cave Dale, Hay Dale, Monks Dale (lush!)

Then Miller's Dale for lunch at the Angler's Rest (where I'd visited 7 years ago doing the same walk) and a chat with fellow walkers, one of which had done an "end to end" in the past, so plenty to talk about!

Then Chee Dale, lovely stuff, stepping stones beneath the cliffs.

Got to Buxton via Midshires Trail before the forecast rain.

Next day I was following the Dane Valley Way (crossing the Great British Watershed over to the Western side for final time).

Over Axe Edge Moor then down via Gradbach Mill (coffee, pasty & cake), then Dane Bridge Brewery too soon after..

Ditched the right of ways and took to lanes to get to Congleton due to overgrown paths (bracken, nettles, brambles, thistles, and then cows with calves).

Today (Wednesday) was a tough one - almost dreaded this as lots of road walking to try get towards Welsh Border and Offa's Dyke Path over next few days.

The Trent & Mersey Canal provided some respite from traffic.

But then it became an Urban walk through Crewe (KLF's It's Grim Up North playing in my head) and eventually ended up in Queen Park (manicured & gated) then stress-free bikepath to Nantwich but my feet were aching with the 20+ miles of hard surface pounding at speed.