There was no lakes today due to the forecast which, after scouring the webcams yesterday didn't turn out all that bad. I'd treated Brad and Holly to an extra long walk this morning but I still needed my walking fix and it didn't take much persuasion to get me out onto my local moors. It had been a tepid morning so much so I felt too warm in my down jacket whilst out with the dogs this morning and as the day went on I expected the temperature to gradually rise all be it, into single figures. I arrived at Wilderswood at 16:00pm which would leave me enough time to walk up to Winter Hill and take in Two Lads on the way back. To say the temperatures had taken a nose-dive would be an understatement not helped by the windchill which even at car park level, saw me reaching for my hat before I laced up.

There was a few folk milling about either returning from a walk or like me, just about ready to set off. Another reason for this afternoons walk is to wear in a new pair of Salomon Quest GTX Boots that I purchased a few weeks ago, talk about killing two birds with one stone eh. I don't ever remember having to wear in a pair of Salomons as they have always fitted like a glove but this particular pair were giving me jip across the tops of my toes, thankfully after a couple of miles the Nubuck finally weakened and I'd soon forgotten about any discomfort.

I traced my steps passing the Transmitter station and followed a trio of walkers who joined the new slabbed path on the fringe of Rivington Moor. It had gone 17:00pm and there was only ten to fifteen minutes of light left which was just about enough time to get me to Two Lads before I lost the light for good.

The trio had left the slabbed path and had taken an off the route path onto Rivington Moor 'that's brave I thought' they must know what they're doing because being on the moor in the dark takes some experience, being on the moor and off path, takes balls. These lads were really against the clock. With five minutes of light left I dropped from the summit and started to make my way over Crooked Edge Hill, Pike Cottage bound.

The sun had officially gone down but there was still enough lingering light to see me over Crooked Edge Hill from where I spotted the trio on the moorland below. They were still off path but closer to Rivington Pike than they were away from it, a little unorthodox but at least they're on route. I picked up my pace my boots feeling light over the semi dried moorland forgetting that my knees don't like running, which is odd because they never complain when descending steep scree but that's by the by. More folk were returning to their cars by now as the light continued to fade, no epic colours just multiple shades of grey mingling into the low bank of cloud.

Despite my knees complaining I kept up the trot and descended down to Pike Cottage where a string of outdoor lights brought some colour to the end of the day, An elderly couple stroll behind me, locals perhaps as they didn't seem to be in any rush. My car was the only one left at the car park light fading into darkness now my headlights streaking through the woodland before I joined the tarmac of Georges Lane. It was only a short walk, perhaps it shouldn't have made the website but being out there on the moorland, well you just want to share it with the world don't you.