When it comes to Peak District walks, they don’t come much more iconic than Kinder Scout – but if you absolutely cannot be bothered to walk to the highest point in the national park, have you tried its gentler little sister before?
Way further down at the head of the Kinder Valley you’ll find Kinder Reservoir, which allows for a much easier walk that still has some of the best views in the Peak District.
On even the most simple of loops of the beautiful body of water you’ll go through woodland, over little wooden bridges and stepping stones, along footpaths by the water and across fields full of sheep.
It’s one of the most diverse walks you can do in the Peak District and packs a lot into just a few kilometres.
Kinder Reservoir is also a beautiful walk in all seasons, going from bright green fields in spring and summer, through to the pretty purple heather later in summer, shades of orange and red in autumn and dramatic frost-covered landscapes in winter.
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You’ll pass within sight of the impressive Kinder Downfall waterfall too, and the dramatic crags of High Peak.
If you start your walk from the car parks nearest Kinder Reservoir (but be warned, they can get full quickly), you’ll be looking at a circular route that’s just sky of 7km and should take you two hours.
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Views on a walk around Kinder Reservoir in the Peak DistrictHead to the Pack Horse Hayfield after your walk
But you can also factor in a trip to the closest village of Hayfield, a classic Peak District village with stone cottages and cosy pubs.
The best pub here is, of course, the award-winning The Pack Horse, which is in the Michelin Guide and also the Top 50 Gastropubs.
It’s a pub where you can have a world-class meal that shows off the best of British produce, while sipping an ale, with muddy boots on your feet.
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The Pack Horse also serves an amazing roast and a fantastic pre-hike breakfast.
If you fancy taking on this Kinder Reservoir walk in the Peak District, you can view routes either HERE with All Trails, or HERE with the National Trust.
As always when you’re walking in winter, make sure you have suitable clothing and footwear, good maps, and factor in daylight hours.
Green light given for new train station in Greater Manchester town without one for 60 years
Emily Sergeant
The green light has been given to build a new train station in a Greater Manchester town that’s been without one for 60 years.
It’s been a whopping six decades, but the residents of Golborne will soon be able to hop on a train out of there, and that’s because a planning application to connect the Greater Manchester town, in the Wigan borough, that was submitted back in November of last year has been approved by Wigan Council.
This means connectivity is finally one step closer to becoming reality.
Plans to deliver a new £32m train station in Golborne have reached a milestone moment. 🚅@WiganCouncil has given the green light to the planning application for the station and #TfGM have appointed a local company to design it.
In case you didn’t know, Golborne currently has no direct bus, train, or tram services to Manchester, while the wider area is the largest and most-populous area in Greater Manchester not connected to the rail network.
The application includes plans for a new accessible two-platform rail station, including step-free access throughout with a footbridge across the tracks and lifts to both platforms, a new hourly service between Wigan and Manchester Victoria, and onwards to Stalybridge, an improved town centre car park, and also new walking and cycling links to the town centre.
According to Transport for Greater Manchester (TfGM), the Golborne station scheme forms part of a wider ambition to bring eight commuter lines into the Bee Network by 2028 – of which ‘significant investment’ has been put into.
A CGI image showing an aerial view of the proposed Golborne train station / Credit: TfGM
The planning approval milestone will also help to boost access to jobs and opportunities for people both in the town and in the wider Wigan borough.
Now that plans have been approved, this means TfGM, Greater Manchester Combined Authority (GMCA) and Wigan Council, working with Government, will now develop a full business case and detailed design throughout this year.
To deliver this work, TfGM has appointed Golborne-based engineering firm Murphy to develop the final station designs.
Subject to approval from the Government, work to make the Golborne station vision finally become a reality will begin in 2026, and it’s hoped that the first trains will stop there in 2027.
Featured Image – TfGM
Travel & Tourism
Tram disruption to continue into the evening following damage in city centre
Daisy Jackson
Disruption to Metrolink trams will continue into the evening as engineers scramble to repair damage to an overhead line.
Power has now been restored following an earlier incident but services are still unable to run through Deansgate-Castlefield, a crucial stop in the city centre.
It’s left trams operating on a revised service pattern while damage to the overhead line is repaired.
Earlier today a driver in Manchester city centre reported a loss of power and damage to a pantograph – which is used to connect trams with the overhead power lines.
Images now shared by TfGM show the damage that has taken place, with the pantograph collapsed onto the roof of the tram.
The new tram service pattern began at 3pm and will continue until further notice, as follows:
Altrincham – Cornbrook
Eccles – Cornbrook
Manchester Airport – Firswood
East Didsbury – Firswood
Rochdale Town Centre – Exchange Square
Bury – Ashton-under-Lyne
Trafford Centre – Wharfside
Customers are able to use their Metrolink tickets on Bee Network bus services and some train services while the disruption continues.
TfGM’s Network Director for Metrolink, Ian Davies, said: “We are sorry to anyone whose journey has or will be impacted because of today’s disruption.
“Power has now been restored, and the cause has been identified as damage to overhead lines near to Deansgate-Castlefield Metrolink stop.
“Specialist engineers will be making repairs today and staff will remain out on the network to assist passengers with their journeys.
“We have had to make some changes to services while the repair work takes place, and I’d encourage people to continue to check the Bee Network app, website and social channels for the latest information and advice for the remainder of the day.”
Daisy Jackson -
28th December 2024 
