It had rained cats and dogs yesterday which wasn't so bad a hardship as I spent the morning in work. Today looked the better day out of the weekend but if I'm honest, I needed a rest day. It was meant to be a bright day but high level cloud had crept in by mid morning which kinda hung around for the rest of the day, that said, at least it wasn't raining.

I'd taken Brad and Holly out on a three miler early this morning, ate lunch and left home for Winter Hill which saw me arrive at Wilderswood around 14:30pm which was just enough time to complete a short circuit of Winter Hill just in time for the sunset.

Despite the weather not turning out quite as forecasted there was still plenty of folk about confirmed by how busy the car park was at Wilderswood where I drove straight into a space just after another car had left.

There was no need for a pack but I pocketed my new pair of finger-less mitts and beanie into the pockets of my Rab down. Within minutes of parking I'd locked up and passed through the gate before joining the path towards Two Lads which I will flank and summit on my return.

With only quarter of an hour of light left folk including mountain bikers were still heading for Winter Hill the later would soon be making their return.

I however, had done some Olympic bog dodging and made my way towards Two Lads summit with a few minutes to spare before the sun went down.

With light to spare I left Two Lads and made the decision to cross Crooked Edge Hill, that way I'd be walking towards the setting sun, or what was left of it. As a couple made their way towards the summit I began my descent sighting two walkers stood still watching the sun go down before they too began their descent. Next I'm passed by a solo lady who looked up with a 'hi' followed by a fell runner with cheery 'how do' By now the sun had descended into the lower bank of cloud and what light there was continued to fade.

Pike Cottage was lit up in rope lights while below lights flicked on over the towns of Horwich and Adlington. The tempreature had risen but only slightly and not even for me to remove my mitts and beanie. A young couple sat at one of the tables thier hands cradling hot cups as they too watch the last light erupt into a fiery afterglow. Down at valley level it was beginning to get dark and I was able to see the brake lights of cars some five miles away. Folk scattered the lane here and there walking back to their cars as the silence of the night drew further in.