I am David, the Vicar of All Saints Church in Glossop. I moved here in September 2025 from Kent, where I had lived since childhood, so the change has been quite an adventure.One of the great joys of living in Glossop, has been the opportunity to walk in the hills - almost directly from my doorstep. Hiking has always been a great pleasure for me, so now living in the midst of this stunning countryside surrounded by hills is very special.As a way of getting to know the wider Peak District, I set myself the challenge of walking the Ethels in 2026. The Ethels are 95 summits, mainly in the Peak District and mainly over 400m. The Ethels were chosen by the then Council for the Preservation of Rural England (CPRE and now known as the Campaign to Protect Rural England) and are named after Ethel Haythornthwaite who was instrumental in establishing the Peak District National Park.With 95 Ethels to complete, it meant ascending about 8 a month. As it happened, I managed more than anticipated, and completed the set by the end of June. As a result, I am now attempting to put together a collection of 40 walks, covering all the Ethels. I am in my mid-60s and moderately fit, which gives a benchmark as to how demanding or straightforward the walks are likely to be. They are generally up to around 10 miles long, and some rather shorter; a few are up to 12 miles long.The Rambling Rector is a rambling rose which I once had in my garden. It seems a fitting nom de plume for these notes.

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Click on the link for details of the walks:-

• Bleaklow and Alport Moor

• Eccles Pike from Combs Reservoir

• Mill Hill and Featherbed Top

• Sponds Hill and Black Hill

• West Nab