With much of the country experiencing rain this weekend I'd set myself up for a three day home staycation and bored by watching the rain pour down the windows by mid afternoon I I was becoming fidgety, I'm just not good at doing nothing.

I checked the forecast which looked as wet as it did this morning and without really thinking about it I went upstairs and changed into my walking gear "where you going in this" Paula asked? "Winter Hill" I replied "you bloody madman"

It was actually sunny when I left home but the closer I drove to Horwich the darker the clouds became until spots of rain started to hit my windscreen and by the time I'd parked up at Georges Lane those spots had turned in the first of many downpours I'd experience this afternoon. Looking back over Horwich I could see the sun was still shining over Wigan but that view brought little comfort as the rain clattered against my car. The thought of "what the hell am I doing here" did cross my mind as my windows started to steam up "it's just a shower, it'll soon pass" I thought but several minutes later I was still listening to the rain battering the windows.

Eventually the rain eased and the clouds lightened which was my queue to exit the car. I'm packing extremely light, no pack, no poles just a waterproof jacket, shorts, boots and mobile phone for taking pictures.

My jacket was almost completely dry and although still damp, my shorts were doing their job too. That was until the fringes of the downpour I'd photographed over Chorley reached me starting firstly with a pitter patter before the taps were turned on full. I was less than five minutes from the car when I took this photo but what the hey, it's only rain and believe it or not I've really enjoyed this afternoons walk.

Walking in the rain isn't just about being miserable and getting wet, the rain clouds were magnificent to watch and with it came light so dramatic I actually forget about the soaking I was taking.