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The Manc - 3rd April 2020

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The Peak District walk with amazing views, a cosy cafe, and a great pub at the end

Lantern Pike walk in the Peak District

If you’re looking for a country walk that’s got a bit of everything – we’re talking views, lakes, history, picturesque villages and, crucially, pints – this is the one.

Step across the Greater Manchester border into High Peak, and you can take on a circular walk that’s got it all.

The walk takes in all the best bits of the English countryside, from rolling hills to proper pubs.

Park in the village of Hayfield, then head out west to join the Sett Valley Trail, which joins Hayfield and New Mills.

The trail itself is 2.5 miles and follows a former railway line – but now it’s a tree-lined trail that’s perfect for a gentle stroll, cycle or even horse ride.

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You’ll pass the Birch Vale reservoir, but won’t be following the trail all the way to New Mills.

Get as far as Emma’s Sett Valley Cafe and stop for an early break – indulgent hot chocolates, great bakes, and a decent amount of brunch dishes beneath colourful festoon lighting.

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Emma's Sett Valley Cafe — Emma’s Sett Valley Cafe. Credit: The Manc Group

Emma's Sett Valley Cafe — Emma’s Sett Valley Cafe. Credit: The Manc Group

Once you’re fuelled, head slightly back on yourself to skirt Birch Vale Reservoir, cross the River Sett, and walk towards Sitch Lane.

The road will take you to the very edge of the Peak District ready for an uphill climb to the peak of Lantern Pike.

It’s not a giant by Peak District standards (373m compared to Kinder Scout’s 636m) but the views are 360 degrees – fields on all sides and the incredible Manchester skyline in the distance.

Walk straight over the summit and down the other side, walking along the edge of Hey Wood and across fields full of friendly cows, past Little Hayfield and back into the main village of Hayfield.

Views from the Sett Valley trail

Summiting Lantern Pike — Views from the Sett Valley trail

Here you’ll find The Pack Horse, a country pub that’s gained some serious accolades in recent years.

The pub has been added to the Michelin Guide and earned a place in the Top 100 Gastropubs, plus was named in the The Good Food Guide’s Top 100 Pubs.

Famed for its seasonal, locally-sourced menu, at this time of year you can expect hearty post-hike lunches like sharing pies, Manchester eggs, and incredible Sunday roasts.

Despite a top-notch menu, the pub is more than happy to welcome in customers (and dogs) who are covered in mud – as all good countryside boozers should.

Sharing pie at The Pack Horse in Hayfield

The Pack Horse in Hayfield — Sharing pie at The Pack Horse in Hayfield

You can see a map of the circular walking route at AllTrails HERE.

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Featured image: The Manc Group

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Mercury Prize 2026 review: RAYE takes home the crown as Newcastle celebrates the very best in music

Clementine Hall

One of the biggest nights in music kicked off last night as the Mercury Prize 2026 was awarded.

If there was ever a night to fall head over heels in love with British and Irish music, the 2026 Mercury Prize made a very convincing case.

Bringing together some of the country’s most exciting artists under one roof in Newcastle, this year’s ceremony was a reminder of just how much talent is packed into the current music scene.

From established legends to the names shaping what comes next, it was an absolute belter.

Images: Audio North

Images: Audio North

Held at the Newcastle Utilita Arena for the second year running, I think everybody in that room felt very lucky to be there to see firsthand who took home the coveted prize.

The shortlist brought together an impressive mix of artists, with Florence + The Machine, Olivia Dean, JADE, Suede, Pulp, Dave and Sir Paul McCartney among the big names making the lineup very star studded indeed.

Suede kicked things off with ‘Dancing With The Europeans’, bringing their unmistakable energy to the ceremony, while Pulp delivered ‘Begging For Change’ as part of the HELP(2) charity compilation.

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It was a line-up that demonstrated the sheer range of music being made across the UK and Ireland, from contemporary pop to established rock and even jungle thanks to Bradford’s own Nia Archives.

And of course, there was one woman who had every reason to leave with a smile on her face.

RAYE took home the coveted Mercury Prize for THIS MUSIC MAY CONTAIN HOPE., an ambitious, genre-hopping album that blends jazz, soul, R&B and classical influences into something so fabulously unique.

Image: Audio North

Newcastle’s own Knats performance was definitely a highlight of the evening, combining slick jazz with spoken-word poetry against a projection of The Tyne Bridge.

A fitting image, and one that underlines the importance of holding such huge events in the north and highlighting the obvious talent that thrives here.

The 2026 Mercury Prize was a brilliant showcase of the country’s music at its best.

And with RAYE taking home the trophy, it’s clear there is plenty of ‘hope’ left in British music.

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Featured image – Audio North