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.
Popular pumpkin patch attraction describes ‘catastrophic’ impact of Storm Boelo
Daisy Jackson
Bates Farm, one of the most popular pumpkin patch attractions in the North West, has shared its heartbreak after Storm Boelo forced its closure on the busiest day of the season.
The Warrington-based family farm said the financial impact has been ‘honestly catastrophic’, after they had to cancel all tickets for Sunday.
Sisters Ali and Fiona Wilshaw, who run the farm, said it was simply not safe to allow members of the public onto the farm in the storm, with ‘crazy’ gusts of wind.
They later shared a video that showed their marquee was badly damaged and many footpaths turned to deep mud.
The sisters said they were ‘heartbroken’ to have to close at such a busy time, but stressed to followers that ‘your safety and our integrity will always come first’.
On Saturday, as Storm Austen and Storm Boelo chased each other across the UK, several people shared videos of themselves getting battered by the weather at Bates Farm.
And it’s pretty clear from that why Ali and Fi decided to cancel all tickets and close for the day on Sunday.
They wrote: “We have put in so much love, energy and investment putting on this event at this scale. The cost to cancel and refund everyone today on our busiest day of the season is honestly catastrophic, but business aside, your safety and our integrity will always come first.
“To think last night we were running round Tesco trying to stock up on milk and now we are in the depths of recovering the site to go again tomorrow. All emails and enquiries are being responded to as quickly as possible and we are doing our best to open up more available slots next week.
“We are being tested like never before, but pulling together in true force. Huge shout out to the whole team and Farmer Fi the absolute queen in any crisis.
“Thank you all for your patience and especially thank you to those who have sent such kind words and support, we are so grateful to have customers like you.
“We will be back tomorrow to enjoy the remaining of this tough season, we are putting in so many provisions with wood chip paths, undercover seating and an indoor barn to make your visit as enjoyable as possible. Ali & Fi.”
Anyone who had tickets to visit Bates Farm on Sunday will be refunded, and can book in for another date.
Bates Farm has safely reopened its autumnal experience and pumpkin patch today.
EasyJet is paying for passports for newborns to help families take their first holidays
Daisy Jackson
EasyJet has announced a new scheme where the airline will cover the cost of a baby’s first passport, allowing young families to take those memorable first holidays.
The company has announced that it will pay for a child’s passport (£66.50) when parents book an EasyJet holiday, making it a little easier to start those travel adventures sooner.
Research conducted by the airline and easyJet Holidays has found that 75% of parents agree the move would make a holiday with a baby feel a bit more affordable.
Their surveys also found that four in five parents believe a baby’s first holiday is a landmark family moment, and more than half called it one of their proudest parenting milestones.
But parents also said that they needed an average of four attempts to get an approved passport photo of their baby (have you tried making a newborn follow instructions…?).
easyJet holidays has reported – even this early in the year – a 10% increase in infants travelling this year compared to 2025.
And now, the thought of a holiday with your newborn is more tempting than ever, with the offer to get a free passport for your baby from easyJet.
To claim it, and save £66.50, you can use the code FIRSTPASSPORT until 26 November – find out more HERE.
easyJet Captain Kate West, said: “We carry millions of families across Europe every year, and we know that travelling with a baby brings a whole series of exciting firsts.
“We want to make travel as easy and accessible as possible for everyone, including young families, so they can enjoy all the experiences and memories that travel can bring.
“We hope that covering the cost of a baby’s first passport goes a small way towards making that first family adventure a little easier and gives our youngest travellers a warm welcome to the world.”
Stuart Wright, Customer Director at easyJet holidays, said: “Travel has a unique way of bringing families together, and a baby’s very first holiday is often one of those moments parents remember for years to come.
“By covering the cost of a baby’s first passport, we’re helping more families start making those memories that little bit sooner.”
Daisy Jackson -
28th December 2024 
