This weekend was wetter than any for several months, so I got some chores done at home on the Saturday and only ventured out walking on the Sunday. Jeff and Helen drove up separately and met me at the Cat and Fiddle Inn at 10am for a walk in the Cheshire Peak, nearly three months after our last walk together on The Roaches (just a few miles south) just before the start of lockdown!
The first 45 minutes or so of the walk was in persistent drizzle, over Whetstone Ridge and down into the head of the Dane Valley, but we remained optimistic that the forecast of a drier afternoon would be correct. Sure enough it had pretty much dried up by the time we reached the two pretty stone bridges and waterfall at Three Shire Heads for a short tea break.
Three Shire Heads
We continued around Cut-thorn Hill and over the moor to descend into Wildboarclough, then climbed steeply back up to Shutlingsloe, enjoying views south to The Roaches and north to Shining Tor, and a few sunny spells.
Jeff and Helen on the track around Cut-thorn Hill, with a view of The RoachesShining Tor, from ShutlingsloeLooking towards The Roaches
The busiest section of the walk was along the main stone-flagged path to Macclesfield Forest, where we found a sheltered spot for lunch. We then continued along footpaths and lanes to Lamaload Reservoir, then ascended steeply up Shining Tor from the west, a route I’d only taken once before, and that way back in 2012!
Helen and Jeff below Shining Tor
On reaching the summit of Shining Tor at around quarter to three, we agreed that the direct route back to the Cat & Fiddle would end the day too early, so took a more scenic route, dropping down over Goyt’s Moss then reascending via the lane past Derbyshire Bridge.
It was lovely to spend a full day catching up with Jeff and Helen having only seen them relatively briefly during lockdown. We were lucky with the weather in the end, with no more rain after Three Shire Heads, and the cloud off the tops – although it lingered on Kinder most of the day.
The glorious sunny weather continues so I brought Spring Bank Holiday week to an end (after three days back in the office) with two more walks in the Peak District.
On Saturday it was a solo outing. I decided to head northwest for a walk around the Hayfield skyline, but starting down in Chinley. The route started with an ascent onto Mount Famine to gain the skyline proper, and views towards Kinder Scout. From there I continued up the ridge, over South Head, to Brown Knoll, taking the short detour to visit the trig point at the summit.
Kinder Scout, from Mount FamineSouth Head, from Mount Famine
I dropped down to the top of Jacob’s Ladder, then opted to take the scenic route around Kinder Low End and back up to Red Brook, rather than over Kinder Low itself, a path I’ve only taken once before I think. Having gained the edge of Kinder Scout, I continued past the Downfall and had first lunch near Sandy Heys with great views over Kinder Reservoir and all today’s hills.
Looking down from Kinder Downfall
The stone flagged path west from Mill Hill led me easily down to the main road at Hollinworth Head. From there, I followed quiet footpaths south to Lantern Pike, a great viewpoint for second lunch, before dropping down to Birch Vale and re-ascending to Chinley Churn before dropping back down to Chinley and the car.
Looking over the moors to South Head and Mount Famine (left), Chinley Churn (centre), and Lantern Pike (right)
On Sunday I had arranged to meet up with Heather, Grahame and Ashleigh for a socially-distanced walk from Winster. Okay so it was a day earlier than groups of more than two are technically allowed by the new lockdown rules, but hey who’s checking the small print?! I paused briefly on the drive up to tick off the latest new addition to the list of Derbyshire Tumps: Scarthin Rock above Cromford Mill, which was a good little viewpoint and a worthy place to re-complete this minor hill list!
Cromford Mill, from Scarthin Rock
Once we’d all convened in Winster, we set off north across the valley, down and back up onto Stanton Moor: always a scenic spot and not as busy as I had expected. Having dutifully visited the Cork Stone and Nine Ladies Stone Circle, we followed the lane down through Stanton in Peak, then crossed the fields to Alport.
Looking back over the valley to WinsterGrahame, Heather and Ashleigh on Stanton Moor
We had lunch beside the River Bradford, then followed the Limestone Way up over the pastures to the rocky outcrop of Robin Hood’s Stride. A few boulderers were enjoying the rocks but the summit itself was again pretty quiet. From there it was only a short walk back across the valley and into Winster.
Ashleigh, Heather and Grahame on Robin Hood’s Stride
Another great weekend in my local hills, and great to walk with company again on the Sunday. Hopefully the Covid-19 R value remains low enough that we will continue to be permitted to do this kind of thing, as it makes lockdown so much more bearable!
Thanks to the Covid-19 lockdown, for the first time since 2008 I was not able to spend Spring Bank Holiday week in the Highlands. A sad loss of what is usually my best Scottish week of the year, and particularly frustrating in the present sunny weather, but I was determined to use the Bank Holiday weekend for some good local walks instead.
On Saturday, Amina (from band) joined me for a walk from Baslow, as the east of the Peak District was forecast to have the driest weather. She’s been doing a lot of running during lockdown, and her improved fitness was apparent immediately as we walked briskly up hill onto Baslow Edge. We followed Baslow, Curbar and Froggatt Edges north – one of my favourite walking routes in the Peak – enjoying views over the Derwent Valley and plenty of sunny spells.
Amina at the end of Baslow Edge, with Curbar Edge aheadCurbar Edge. There was a strong westerly wind!
We then dropped down through the woods to Grindleford Station, and re-ascended through the attractive mossy woodlands in Padley Gorge to emerge in the Longshaw Estate. From there our return route was along White Edge, at the top of the moorland ridge, where we felt the full force of the strong westerly wind, making progress harder than it might have been.
Looking towards the Hope Valley from White Edge
Then it was just a short walk along the edge of the forest to Wellington’s Monument and back down the track to Baslow. A lovely day with great company and scenery, and it stayed more-or-less dry throughout.
Sunday was the greyest day of the weekend, so I spent the morning doing a few chores around the house before driving across to Repton for a local walk after lunch. I parked near the Farrows’ house and walked over the fields from Mount Pleasant to Bendall’s Cottages, then up the track and back down through Hartshorne Wood to Hartshorne. There I spent 90 minutes chatting with Jeff and Helen in their garden over freshly baked almond bread and scones!
Undulating farmland near MiltonCow parsley above Repton Common
Suitably refreshed, I headed back over the hill to Repton by the slightly-more-direct route, and spent another hour or so catching up with Dave, Jo and Jess in their back garden before driving back to Hilton. Although I enjoyed all my local explorations walking from home during full lockdown, it was good to be able to omit the flat miles from Hilton to Repton and back today!
Monday was a perfect sunny day, not what one expects on a Bank Holiday at all, so I got a fairly early start to drive up to Ashopton, by the Ladybower Reservoir bridges, where I claimed the last proper marked roadside parking place at just after 9am! Clearly others had formulated similar plans, although the early arrivers had dispersed themselves well and were not really evident at the roadside!
My walk started by climbing up onto Derwent Edge, with great views over Ladybower Reservoir to Win Hill and Kinder Scout. I followed the edge north as far as Back Tor, then turned west to descend via Walker’s Clough to the reservoir track.
Derwent EdgeDerwent Reservoir
From there it was just a short walk through the totally-full Fairholmes car park to escape the crowds again as I ascended through the woods to Lockerbrook Farm. There I picked up the ridge path to Alport Castles, where as usual there were not many others around. I paused for lunch below the crags before continuing down Alport Dale to the road.
Looking up the Woodlands Valley
My third ascent of the day took me gently up to Hope Cross, enjoying views up Edale, and then along the ridge to Win Hill, another busy spot so I didn’t visit the very summit this time, instead bypassing a few metres to the south. That just left a steep descent back to Ladybower dam, by far the busiest place I found. I wove through the crowds, keeping my distance as best I could, to return around the lake shore to the car.
Tuesday is a fixed Rolls-Royce holiday, so I had another day off work to enjoy. I arranged to meet up with Ruth in the South Pennines, roughly half way between our houses. We parked at Ogden Reservoir, near Rochdale, and walked via the Pennine Bridleway and Rochdale Way up on to Blackstone Edge – a new Hump for me to bag!
Ruth near Blackstone EdgeRuth on Blackstone Edge
After lunch near the summit, we followed the Pennine Way south for a couple of miles, back over the M62, and then picked up paths down beside Piethorne Reservoir to the car.
It was great to catch up with Ruth at least for a few hours on a week when we would usually have been Corbett-bagging together in the Highlands. We agreed to meet again in a few weeks for something similar.
With the relaxation of the lockdown rules opening the option of travelling away from home for exercise, I was keen to visit some hillier terrain in the Peak District, and headed up there both days this weekend.
On Saturday, following the best of the weather, I decided to walk in the east, starting in Grindleford. Taking one of my favourite routes, I ascended from Grindleford Station up beside Padley Gorge then up through the Bole Hill quarries and onto Over Owler Tor. There are so many changes of vegetation and scenery in such a short distance here!
Birch woodland on Bole Hill
Then I continued along the moorland ridge to Higger Tor and up on to Stanage Edge. A fair number people were out and about walking and climbing, but there’s so much open space around here that it was not at all difficult to maintain social distancing.
Stanage EdgeLooking down over North Lees towards Eyam Moor and Offerton Moor
I dropped down past Green’s House to Bamford Station, enjoying good views back up to Stanage,then crossed the main road and reascended the other side onto Shatton Moor for lunch, enjoying the views of Edale and the Hope Valley.
Looking from Shatton Moor towards Bamford Edge
From there I dropped down Abney Clough then climbed back up onto Eyam Moor, with excellent views up Bretton Clough with all the spring foliage. Then it was just a short walk back down the lane to Grindleford.
I broke the drive home with a few minutes’ walk from Crich village onto ‘The Tors’, a newly-identified Derbyshire Tump.
On Sunday I fancied a shorter walk, nearer to home, so I put together a 13km loop to tick off another new Derbyshire Tump: Baley Hill, on the rim of Dovedale. Not wanting to include any of the main valley path, lest it be hard to maintain social distancing, I started in Parwich village and followed typical White Peak footpaths through limestone-walled fields to Alsop-en-le-Dale and then around the rim of Dovedale to my objective.
Looking up Dovedale from Baley HillDovedale and Hall Dale
After lunch on the summit, during which only one other group passed by, I headed back over the fields to Tissington and then through Alsop Dale back to Parwich. I had thought I would be re-completing the Derbyshire Tumps today, but it turned out on getting home that another one was found yesterday near Cromford: a target for next weekend!
I met up with Jeff and Helen for a social-distancing walk in the Peak District, keeping enough distance to avoid infection risk but close enough to enjoy conversation! We started near Upper Hulme, heading up onto Hen Cloud and then over The Roaches. We then headed through the woods to Lud’s Church before regaining the ridge at the Hanging Stone and dropping down steeply to Dane Bridge. From there we followed the river upstream as far as Gradbach Mill, then took smaller paths east over the moorland to Gib Tor, then south to Ramshaw Rocks and back to Upper Hulme.
Looking back along The RoachesLud’s ChurchHelen and Jeff on the Hanging Stone
It was lovely to get out in the fresh air and spring sunshine for what one fears might be the last such outing for some considerable time.
I went for a couple of hours’ easy running in the White Peak, up Dovedale and back down the Tissington Trial. A few photos are available here: https://photos.app.goo.gl/Qsxc2XuALXp4As1h7
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.
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.
Dave, Jo and I enjoyed a sunny post-parkrun walk to Cheeks Hill, the highest point in Staffordshire, for CUHWC’s 30th anniversary round of the County Tops.
Mum and Dad visited for the weekend. After a Saturday morning parkrun at Conkers, we went for an afternoon stroll by the River Trent at Foremark, and on Sunday a longer walk through Lathkill Dale.
Heading to the Peak District for the first time in months, I did a four-hour walk from Hayfield along the eastern skyline from William Clough over Kinder Low and Brown Knoll to Mount Famine.
After a brisk morning parkrun at Conkers, the weather was too good not to head out again for an afternoon walk! I headed up Dovedale from Thorpe to Milldale, returning via the pastures to the west.
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.
My parents visited for a long weekend. Despite rather grey weather, we enjoyed contrasting local walks around Bradgate Park, Brassington and Shutlingsloe.
I took advantage of excellent sunny weather over the August Bank Holiday weekend for two walks in the Peak District: a round of The Roaches and Gun with Dave and Jo on Sunday and a quick blast along White, Curbar and Froggatt Edges on Monday morning.
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