The uncertainty over coronavirus has us all leaning into the wind

In the latest of his reflections on place and pathway, Will Gore recalls a gathering in the Dark Peak which almost knocked his family off course

The Peak District offers unrivalled landscapes – it also offers a fair gale too (Getty)

When the wind blows hard, the gritstone escarpments of the northern Peak District can feel dangerously, wonderfully exposed.

A few years ago we had a family gathering to celebrate my mother’s 70th birthday, returning to the hills of her childhood. We’d found a remote cottage to house seven of us, just south of Hathersage, and I secretly hoped for snow. But while the skies were grey, the clouds held only rain: the River Derwent was swollen and fast-flowing.

We were due to stay just for a long weekend, and only the Saturday held out the promise of clear weather. Even then, walking plans needed to suit all ages: Beatrix, our daughter, was only just four. So we headed to Stanage Edge, which allowed for various alternative routes.