Category: Derby

Parents’ visit (2nd-7th May 2019)

My parents visited me in Hilton for the long May Day bank holiday weekend. As Dad and I were taking part in the Woodhouse May Day Challenge, a 13.5-mile trail race, on the Monday, our walks the previous days were shorter and more leisurely than they might otherwise have been. The weather was dry and bright but with a cold northerly wind.

On Saturday, after a morning run at Markeaton parkrun, we headed to Blore for an afternoon walk through the Hamps and Manifold valleys, with good views of Dovedale and Thorpe Cloud for much of the time. On Sunday we walked from Thorpe on the Limestone Way through Tissington village, returning via the Tissington Trail. Both were areas I hadn’t previously explored very thoroughly, adding to the interest.

Full photo album at: https://photos.app.goo.gl/ysvMppTTHn77gcef6

Mum and Dad above the Hamps valley

Fauld Crater (6th April 2019)

A few years ago my parents and I were walking near Hanbury in North Staffordshire and saw surprising signs warning of unexploded bombs! We were skeptical, but a little research on getting home that day revealed that it was the site of the Fauld Explosion, in which an arms depot accidentally blew up in 1944, in the largest explosion ever seen in the UK. But I never got around to returning to the area to get a view of the crater… until this afternoon! It was more impressive than I expected, and the short stroll fitted the bill on a rest day before tomorrow’s Loughborough Half Marathon.

Photos at: https://photos.app.goo.gl/raZ4EASufCjMFzDg8

The Fauld crater

Alport Castles and Derwent Edge (31st March 2019)

Loading my photo archive onto this blog over the past few weeks has inspired me to get back out into the Peak District more often. I devote more of my weekend time to running, orienteering and brass banding these days, but that’s given me a break from many local places that had become over-familiar and boring, such that I find myself with renewed interest in re-exploring!

With a good clear and dry forecast today, and following a couple of weeks of dry weather, it seemed a good time to head to the moors of the Dark Peak. I opted for a 28km circuit starting by Ladybower Reservoir at Ashopton Viaduct. I started by ascending via Crook Hill to Alport Castles – always a dramatic viewpoint – then dropped back down to Howden Reservoir and followed the track up to its head at Slippery Stones. Then I took the high moorland route back over Margery Hill, Back Tor and Dovestone Tor, with their interesting rock formations and great views over the Reservoirs to Bleaklow, Kinder Scout and Edale.

Just a couple of photos here. As always, the full album is on Google Photos:
https://photos.app.goo.gl/QgjhTWyAMMVWGFht9

Looking over The Tower at Alport Castles, to the Woodlands Valley and Kinder Scout
Win Hill, from Whinstone Lee Tor

Peak District with a few Duffers (17th-18th February 2018)

Ruth came to visit the South Derbyshire Duffers for the weekend. After a morning dash around Rosliston parkrun, we had time for a Saturday afternoon walk on Stanton Moor and Robin Hood’s Stride. On the Sunday, we were joined by Phil Withnall for a longer walk around the Lower Edale skyline.

https://photos.app.goo.gl/tmNFPvNo258PafeB7

Ruth, Dave and Jo atop Robin Hood’s Stride