The calm…

House sparrow, Stretford

Met Office storm warning alerts were pinging on my 'phone every five minutes so I thought it might be prudent not to set off for a walk. As it happened it was a perfectly calm mild grey day and I could have done so anyway.

The starlings have been a notable omission from the garden this Autumn. Today a dozen of them discovered the mealworms I put in the feeder yesterday. Even the squirrels and magpies couldn't get their noses in until they'd moved on. This gave the spadgers the opportunity to monopolise the fat feeders all morning, I'd refilled them, too.

Starlings, Stretford
Starlings in Winter plumage in a shady corner on a gloomy day. I might as well be taking pictures of black cats in coal cellars.

I got a fit of the fidgets so I thought I'd do a reconnaissance mission. There are a few walks in the Hayfield area in High Peak that look interesting but I wasn't convinced of the bus connections so I thought I'd do a dummy run.

As the train pulled into the station at Humphrey Park Station a goldcrest bustled out of the conifer by the platform, singing loudly, not something you find yourself writing very often. It was so loud I thought at first it was a robin tuning up.

I got the train to Glossop then walked round the corner for the 61 bus to Buxton which stops at Hayfield Bus Station. It runs every half hour and is a picturesque ride.

Hayfield Bus Station is a turning circle with a public toilet. I had twelve minutes to wait for the 358 to Stockport, an hourly service. I got a bit distracted by the mixed tit flock in the trees by the bus stop and the greenfinches over by the houses before I started having a look round. 

Four local walks

There's a lot of walking to be had round these parts, not all of it hillwalking but that's the main attraction. There were a couple of information boards on the wall, one showing four of the local long walks up tops. The knees made disapproving noises while I was looking at them. I fancy some of the hillwalking round here but not now and nothing too ambitious, late Spring and Autumn generally provide the best light and weather and time to enjoy them.

Bluebell Wood local nature reserve

The knees approved much more of the Bluebell Wood nature reserve's being wheelchair-friendly. This reserve's part of the Sett Valley Trail. I wondered how far that was then noticed the sign at the end of the car park. I think this might be one of my walks in the new year.

Sett Valley Trail 

I wandered back over to where the bus was waiting at the stop. It's a nice easy run to Stockport via New Mills and Marple and I just had five minutes to wait for the 25 bus back home.

So getting to Hayfield from Glossop or Stockport is a doddle and I've added to the list of walks to be had for next year.