Our holiday started with a rush of hot air, and I’m not talking about the often-promised Indian summer. To start our trip to the Mendips we had booked a flight in a hot air balloon; what better way to

■ Distance: 8 miles/12.8km ■ Time: 4½ hours ■ Grade: Challenging

Walk through three counties visiting Cheshire’s Matterhorn, Derbyshire’s ancient bridge and Staffordshire’s secret church all in one Peak District hike.

A stone’s throw from the north-east of Manchester, this is a fabulous high-level circuit above beautiful Peak District reservoir valleys.

Explore the Peak District ’s rugged beauty with the Dark Peak’s wilder side.

Outstanding views, relatively easy navigation, pub/café at the start/end – is this a perfect ‘short day’ route in the Peak District ?