Unfortunately, I had to sit out last weekend due to the poor weather, but I still managed a wind-swept, unrecorded walk over Winter Hill during a break in the weather on Sunday afternoon. By midweek, the damp weather was replaced by winter sunshine, which extended into Saturday, the day I was working, but all was not lost as I took advantage of the sunshine leaving straight from work for Wilderswood to hopefully enjoy three hours of winter sun while timing my walk to coincide with the sunset.

The sunset wasn't as dramatic as I'd witnessed from up here before, but after not walking in the lakes for two weekends now, my go-to local walk never failed to disappoint.

It had only taken me 45 minutes to drive from Preston to Horwich, and I'd have arrived even sooner had I not gotten caught in matchday traffic as my route took me past Bolton's ground. I was a tad nervous about driving to Wilderswood on such a nice day as parking might be an issue, but I managed to grab the last spot where I reversed my car before polishing off two tuna sandwiches, which I had washed down with summer fruit juice.

Now that I was parked nerves were settled, and given that I know I have a solid three hours before sunset, I was able to do the walk as planned, first making my way through Holden's Plantation to Dean Mills Reservoir before the gentle hike onto Counting Hill and Winter Hill, from where, if my timings are correct, I'll be walking back to Wilderswood facing this evening's sunset, if everything goes according to plan that is. I'd changed into my walking gear at work, so all that was left to do was throw on my Rab down jacket and shoulder my pack before making my way towards Rotary Way and Holden's Plantation.

Adam Hill was soon reached, where I found the summit crowded with this large flock of sheep. Legend has it that a wild panther is going around killing sheep has been spotted around this area, and witnesses have even taken to Youtube to upload their experiences of sheep kills and prowling eyes in the darkness.

It's all spooky stuff, but logically, I still think the sheep kills are by foxes and not a wild cat. Adam Hill is one of the areas where most witnesses say they've seen what they describe as the panther. If you were to believe the legend said panther would have a field day up here today!

Continuing my descent I heard a drone fly overhead which continued as far back as the transmitter station before returning the same way. I've seen many drones and truth be told they don't bother me especially when they're as quiet as this one.

On reaching Two Lads summit the guy operating the drone was sipping from a flask packing the drone away. I was quite envious of the footage he'd of taken and I passed him with a hey-up.

I was totally oblivious of the spectacular moon rising behind me until I had descended as far as Pike Cottage just ten minutes from the car when I turned around to find a full moon which had almost doubled in size sitting directly above Two Lads summit and on the spur of the moment I began to re-ascend back towards the summit before having a 'what are you doing moment' Yes, it was an awesome sight but I was in the wrong place at the wrong time and I turned back towards the sunset.

Folk in thier dozens were by now walking back to their cars on the track below and after descending the last sixty metres or so I joined them. I was right the sun had decsended into the bank of cloud but the colouring was spectacular and it remained that way for the ten minutes it had taken for me to reach the car. Mountain bikers were still on the hill, most descending but three were first gearing it on to Two Lads summit. Almost dark now as I began my kit down, normally I'd be eager to go but with sun setting in the west and the moon rising in the east I hung about for a few minutes as the day edged towards dusk.