After a very unsettled and very Autumnal week the forecast wasn't looking the best with squally showers continuing throughout so I set out looking for a weather window spotting such an opportunity on Sunday morning over the Peak District where, would you believe a bright morning had been forecast, all I needed was for that forecast to stick firm, it did.

I'm still exploring the Peak District returning to old favourites once again one of which is Rushup Edge, the perfect ridge walk spoilt only by its shortness in length and, although popular, the ridge doesn't receive the same numbers that neighbouring Mam Tor does yet has the same appeal in my eyes. Todays walk starts from the Mam Tor National Trust car park which feels like the cheaters ascent due to the summits proximity to the car park.

From Mam Tor I travelled the ridge towards Hollins Cross then descended into Edale from where I walked along Edale Road to Barber Booth. From the outskirts of Barber Booth I ascended the pass before turning right onto Chapel Gate then followed the exceedingly steep grassy path onto Rushup Edge, it's what I would call saving the best until last.

While the Lakeland fells lie under a blanket of cloud this morning in the Peak District I spied a weather window that should last me the duration of todays walk and judging by the clear blue skies I might just get my wish. Although it was bright and sunny even at valley level it was blustery forcing me to add my jacket before I laced up using my car as a wind break and for the first time since last April I also added a pair of gloves. The leaves scattered in mini tornado's at the rear of my car while at the same time lifting my base layer as I bent down to double knot my boots, flipping eck talk about a deceiving forecast.

It is here I am stopped by a young girl who was curious about my camera clip which was attached to the left shoulder strap of my pack "whats that she asked?" I could see a DSLR camera strapped around her neck but I was more curious about where she'd appeared from, turns out she'd walked an off the path route from Mam Tor just over my left shoulder. This girl won't be the last person to ask about my camera clip which I'm always being asked so I replied "Peak Design for the patented version or Amazon for a copied version, I've had this for three years now and it's never let me down but you'll get a good twelve months out of the cheaper ones"

Conversation soon turned to the glorious weather while adding "one weekend your walking in shorts and T-shirt the next your thinking is that really windchill I can feel" The transition between Summer and Autumn this year only seemed to take a couple of days.

The steep pull onto Rushup Edge was as steep as my last ascent only I'd forgot about the false summit which I cursed while pushing forward where my walking poles were at shoulder height such the steep gradient and for the duration, felt just as steep as my direct ascent on Red Pike back in July.

I was rewarded with scattered sun light which I thanked the gods for and promised never to moan about the ascent again, what ascent - it was well and truly forgotten by now.

I was blessed in sporadic light as I walked the last hundred feet before the sound of the traffic travelling along Sheffield Road below brought me back to reality, the same road where my car was parked which within ten minutes I'll be kitting down at.

The cloud continued to thicken as I watched the sun disappear behind a southern sky ever thickening, ever grey which was my queue to stop gazing into the Edale valley and to get back before the showers arrived. I'd just got back to the car when the trees began to sway and the sound of the wind toppled that of any passing traffic, brace yourself, here comes the rain.