Solomon's Temple, the Goyt and Corbar Hill 21st March 2009

On top of Solomon's Temple on Grinlow.

A "view" from the top of Solomon's Temple. Heading towards Errwood Reservoir.

Looking to the cross on Corbar Hill.

Walk stats: Distance:11.6 miles;Climb:2550'.

Time:5 hours 42 minutes;On the move walking average:2.5 m.p.h.;Overall walk aveage:2.0 m.p.h.

Group:Martyn, Richard, Roger, Dave J., and Mike D.

This was an excellent walk despite the disappointingly cool and largely sun free misty weather. The three walks linked together quite well using the Poole Cavern/Buxton Country Park car park on Green Lane as the starting location. The views from Solomon's Temple are, we understand superb, so we will have to revisit in the future to verify the fact for ourselves! The stretches across Wild Moor to Errwood Reservoir lived up its name although we did encounter more people here than we expected. Lunch was taken just beyond the Errwood Reservoir where the high point of the day was the date and prune cake made by Roger's wife Margaret. On this occasion Roger was in no position to add to the rest of the group's endorsement to this being a good "walking cake"!

The walk through Buxton's Pavilion Gardens and along the Serpentine was a really lovely link between the walks and an unexpected bonus.

Birds seen or heard today included:Blackbird, Robin, Coal tit, Great tit, Blue tit, Chaffinch, Pheasant, Canada goose, Mallard, Coot, Moorhen, Greenfinch, Red grouse, Buzzard, Jackdaw, House sparrow, Dunnock, Tufted duck, Woodpigeon, Carrion crow, and Curlew (probably the bird of the day).

After walk drinks were enjoyed at the Wilkes Head in Leek. The Hartington bitter as usual was good, but today was a little on the cool side.

The only downside of the day was the wrong result at the Millennium Stadium, Cardiff, but MU and Chelsea were surprisingly beaten, making it a good end to the day for at least one of group!