The Gritstone Trail: Solo Hiking Through Rural Cheshire

This was such an entertaining journey! From witnessing other walkers chased out of fields by cows (they were fine don't worry!), a sheep cuddling up to a horse, hiding in the corner of the pub at The Wild Boar during karaoke night when I was journalling & charging my devices, and meeting plenty of interesting animals!
Normally a 35 mile trail, I did 39.5 miles due to diversions etc (all of my miles were tracked using the Strava app), 6 miles on Day 1 (I started it late on in the day), 14.5 miles on Day 2, and 19 on Day 3.
As I currently live in Cheshire, this is the most local thru-hike I've done, and it was incredible to see the stunning scenery of the rolling hills and endless sea of beautiful meadows.
The first night I wild camped, and the second night I pitched my tent in a small campsite around the back of The Wild Boar Inn.
You'll hear me talk about my knee in the video as I injured it on the first day unluckily! It was only an issue when going downhill otherwise I didn't really feel it, but as you'll also see, by the end I was in agony and had to cut it short just 15 minutes outside of Kidsgrove Station as it bloody buckled! Luckily Cameron was already there to pick me up.
It was completely swollen for the next few days and I luckily haven't had an issue from it since, I must've twisted it or trapped a nerve. Other than that, it was such an incredible hike.
Watch until the end for a surprising revisit of one of the areas!
And a massive shoutout to Cameron for dropping me off, picking me up & buying me a Domino's when we got back!
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Thank you to everyone watching, I appreciate each and every one of you!
If you like, you can buy me a drink here! - www.buymeacoffee.com/tinypine
Also, my brother and I hiked Hadrian’s Wall to raise money for Mind, we got 55 miles in before we were forced to cut it short due to food poisoning from an Inn we stayed in! We're better now, and will continue the walk Spring 2023 so if you’d like to donate and support us I’ll add the link below! It’d mean so much, and for a good cause!
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[@anthonyrobinson5694]

As a vetran of LDPs, C2C x2, Pennine Way x2, Lands End to John OGroats, Complete circumnavigation of the UK (Excluding N. Ireland) and my last Hike in 2020 The Norfolk Coastal Path, I think this one would be a nice hike 20 yrs ago, but now rapidly approaching retirement (in 3 months time) I think I will sit back and enjoy the views and commentary. Thank You for taking tthe time to video this for those of us that can, sadly no longer get out and about in this Fantastic Island. Tony in Essex.

[@Orenjen]

That’s amazing! So impressive, if there’s any advice for any of the trails you feel you need to give advice on I’d love to hear! And which were your favourites? I hope to get to where you are one day, retired (or almost) with a multitude of long distance trails under my belt. Thank you for your comment it means a lot, especially coming from someone with so much experience in this!

[@anthonyrobinson5694]

@@Orenjen My first hike was the Pennine Way in that long HOT Summer of 1976, ask your Parents if you are too young to remember it (South to North) and I carried approx 30kg, way too much to carry so on all other hikes I cut it down to 25kg but still took a still camera, OH what a pity we did not have today photographic equipment like Cell Phone or GoPros. Always make sure you have enough food and water for two days hiking on top of your Hike duration (ie if you hike for 10 days carry 12 days worth of foood) as there are not many shops out there in the middle of no where. Top up water bottles as you go from FAST flowing streams ONLY, less risk of water bourne insects. On the outside of your Rucksack ALWAYS strap your waterproofs and a spare water bottle for easy access in times of need. Nibble on Trail Mix or fruit through out the day with a hearty breakfast to set you up for the first 10 miles. Apart from those few tips ENJOY the views you see and although I was a Solo Hiker I was never alone on any of my hikes, there is always someone doing the same route, with the exceptions of the Lands End to John OGroats and the Complete Coastal Route of the UK. Enjoy your hikes in the future as I can now with KZbin relate my past experiences with people like you who are a lot younger than myself. Tony in Essex. PS Some of my Digital Photograph can be viewed via Facebook WITHOUT the need to send a Friends request as I make sure they are visible to ALL. Tony in Essex a 65 yr old ex hiker

[@Orenjen]

@@anthonyrobinson5694 thank you so much that’s very helpful, to myself and others. And lands end to John o groats is an absolutely incredible feat, as is the entire UK coastline! They’re hikes I wish to complete in the future, though not for a few years as I want to complete a few shorter ones first. I haven’t done the Pennine Way but it’s at the top of my list, as is the C2C which I’m hiking this summer! I’ve done the West Highland Way, Cumbria Way, Eastern Hadrianic Way, half of Hadrian’s Wall (got food poising half way!), Gritstone Trail, Lakeland Heritage Trail & Ullswater Way, as well as tens of non designated trails devised by myself across the lakes, Peak District & Wales, and solo wild camps.

[@anthonyrobinson5694]

@@Orenjen The Pennine Way crosses the C2C at Keld, a very pleasant Village/Hamlet with a very narrow River Swale in the middle of the valley, and the Tan Hill Inn (the most isolated & Highest Pub in England). Its also the same location for the Female Sheppard series on TV. Nothing in the UK can compare with the peace and quiet of Swaledale with all its stone barns. Stunning views in the Summer, dreadfull in the Rainy season or on a foggy day. Tony in Essex.

[@archiebald70]

Love this route. I do the Disley to Teggs Nose section regular.

[@Orenjen]

Oh that’s awesome, it’s a lovely route, will definitely be doing this again!

[@stevenpanter943]

❤

[@thepeakdistrictviking]

My old stamping round, underrated in my opinion. Great video

[@Orenjen]

Definitely underrated, and thank you!

[@Silent-Trails-uk]

Lovely video. Planning on doing the Gritstone Trail this week so this was a big help research wise 👍🏻

[@Orenjen]

Oh I’m so glad 😁 if you have any questions about the trail ask away!

[@owendiaram3870]

A nearly 90 minute long video? We've been blessed.

[@johnschannel449]

enjoy your videos hope you get over 1000 subscribers soon

[@Orenjen]

Thank you!

[@anthonyrobinson5694]

WOW love the Wallaby, didnt know we had any in the UK.

[@Orenjen]

I know it was definitely a surprise for me too!

[@nigelgregory5996]

well done on completing this trail. been on it many times at different locations and will be doing the complete trail this summer. and yes been chased by cows at that very spot for some reason. The white large object you mentioned is Jodral bank, a well known land mark for space exploration i understand. i dont know if the tea rooms were open but their scones and clotted cream is amazing as well as the tea cakes you get at Teggs Nose. Good point to know is the wild Boar Inn does not serve food if camping overnight.....Hope your knee is better now.

[@Orenjen]

Thank you! And I love Jodrell Bank and go there all the time (as I don’t live too far from it) I just didn’t realise that’s what it was! Yes the cafe in Teggs Nose was great, and thank you my knee is much better now 😁

[@anthonyrobinson5694]

Yes, road walking is quickker than cross country hiking, there is road walking section on the Coast to Coast, after crossing the Main Road (the A1) to the East of Richmond before you get back on the North Yorkshire Moors appox a full days hike (18 miles) Tony in Essex

[@ervinslens]

Gorgeous thumbnail my friend, this looks and sounds so peaceful and simply enjoyable! Music fits perfectly!

[@Orenjen]

Aw thank you so much ☺️♥️

[@anthonyrobinson5694]

One final massage from an old Hiker with nearly 30 years of hiking in the past, look after your body now and rest often and enjoy the views while hiking, you should be taking a 5 or 10 minute breaks every HOUR on you Hikes, OR you may end up like me struggling to walk the 5 minutes to my nearest Tescos and you may have 20 or 30 years to enjoy your hobby. Tony in Essex.

[@Orenjen]

Thank you, that’s so important. Sometimes I do forget to take breaks and hike a good few hours without stopping, but I’m going to keep that in mind for sure.

[@anthonyrobinson5694]

Hiking that trail with its well defined footpath route even with all the braken and nettles is much preferable to hiking across the Windswept wide open Moors and Peak Bogs and no visible trail in part of the Decent from Kinder Downfall on the first day of the Pennine Way South to North. Tony in Essex.

[@Orenjen]

You’ve got a point! Nettles might suck but it could be worse 😁

[@ramblingracheltrailtales]

Hi, well done for completing the Gritstone Trail. It looks like you had good weather for the most part. There's so much to see along the way. I really want to have a go at this at some point. Thanks for vlogging and sharing your experience.

[@Orenjen]

Thank you! And you should definitely go for it, it’s a lovely trail ☺️

[@StuHoffman]

Introspective

[@Daytona2]

That was just magical, Jennifer - what a wonderful home trail to have as a bolt hole 🌱🌄 What was the verdict on your knee ? Ironic that you did all the hills, then it gave out on a canal towpath. Counterintuitively, the muscles are under more stress going downhill, which is why injuries can be more apparent then. It's known as eccentric exercise. (Google Michael Mosley Just One Thing) ikwym about self imposed time stress, it's horrible. Oh man... The Wild Boar Inn filming is YT gold - all the drunk old men hitting on you 🧀😱😳(It must be Apple Maps, as the Google Maps location for the Inn is correct) What a dick that jogger was, scaring the cows. I avoided a similar situation many years ago when a group of people ahead of me went aggressively through a herd. I think that cows are the no. 1 animal killer in the UK ? I know a retired cowman who's worked all round the world and he says not to trust them. Thanks for sharing 🙌

[@Orenjen]

Thank you! And my knee recovered in the following days and I’ve not had an issue with it since, which is good, but strange. It was probably a trapped nerve or something slightly out of place, it was swollen and hot to the touch and yeah it gave out along a bloody canal of all places!😂 And oh my god I was absolutely cringing in the corner when those blokes kept coming up to me!😂 I was there to charge my phone, write, drink some wine and watch the “live music”, but I found myself in the middle of a DJ/karaoke set full of pissed up blokes wanting to dance 😂 In hindsight I should’ve circled around the cows rather than straight through following the path, I was lucky as I wasn’t chased out, but as I walked and spoke calmly to them they seemed to be fine, unlike the runner! I might’ve gone on a bit in the video about the cow incident 😂 but it’s important to make people aware of how dangerous they can be.