A party of six set off in warm sunshine and we were soon admiring the views from Rushup Edge down into the Edale Valley. We continued in a westerly direction and once across the road our route took us over a series of challenging stiles through fields until the gradual descent into Sparrowpit. Bennet’s Well provided a point of interest, it’s waters eventually reaching the River Mersey and the Irish Sea.
Passing The Wanted Inn was more of a challenge than the aforementioned stiles, but we were soon in the welcome shade of woodland which followed the line of Rake Vein and into Perry Dale, where we stopped for lunch. A short walk down the dale brought us to the start of a long, hot climb to higher ground and Watt’s Plantation. After another mile we reached Oxlow House and the end of our walk. The circling hang-gliders were enjoying the conditions as much as we had done.