Three Go Wild In The Peak District
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| “We are The Trio, That’s Right!” |
Day 0
Hired car - VW Polo - Oh dear, will we all fit in. Three peoples kit + tent an’ all.With the parcel shelf left behind and half the rear set folded down, and without Eddie, bless his little cotton socks, it all magically does. Including a guitar!
Day 1
A leisurely start to the day. We didn’t wake up a t dawn, as I promised the troops, but 7AM instead.
We left the house at about 9:00, good music on the stereo, making up for the late start by taking the senic route to the M1 due to David’s map reading skills.
We started talking about music...guitar...harmonica....There was a pause. WE FORGOT THE HARMONICA !! Er I mean RAINCOATS!! (The harp was in the raincoat pocket)
Went home, left again at 10:00, much to Eddie’s dismay.
After a 3 ½ - 4 hour journey and after viewing a large group of classic Harley Davidson bikes we arrived at the mediaeval - theme’d ‘Bull I’ Th’ Thorn’ Inn. (which David thought was more civil war than medieval, what with the suits of armour and such).
We pitched camp in a field overlooking the road and the hills.
After spending £109 at Waitrose we had a classic first dinner of frankfurters and mash and watched a yellow moon rise and played half a monopoly game.
The monopoly game wasn’t finished by half ten and so was preserved for later.
Alex and Mike are annoyed that David writes the journal into the early hours of the morning: “David’s writing a diary and he’s taking too long.”
Monday
Drizzle.
Up at 8:00.
Drizzle.
Snackfood and meusli for breakfast.
Finally left at about 10:30 for Castleton.
Alex had a novel way of packing his lunch - he stored most of it safely in his belly.
Paid for four hours parking - should be enough- at Castleton car park and marched off up towards Mam Tor invisible in low cloud.
Before the trip, Mike had bought a copy of White Peak Walks - The Northern Dales by Mark Richards. It is part of a series of guide books he is writing on the Peak District.
The series covers both the dark (high) and white peaks in about three or four books. They give you a bit of history and include hand-drawn Wainwright - style maps.
This was from the book - walk number 1 - 5 miles
It was hard work reaching the saddle (Hollins Cross). Alex is enjoying himself now, but he wasn’t impressed with the car park start!
“This what I like!” he says, as he climbed the steep rocks to Hollins Cross. He is doing well - in the lead for most of the time. Of course, I’m taking frequent rests purely to take in the ever impressive view and to take pictures. Honest. All that wheezing is just for effect.
We get an idea to write a hillwalking song based around ‘We are the road crew’ by Mo
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| From Hollins Cross |
Lunch on Mam Tor. Wow! Nairn oatcakes + salami! What a find! Thanks Cameron! (Oatcakes and salami or chorizo is the lunch of the editor of tgo) The only slightly strange part is the only oatcakes I could find had raisons in. Not bad though...
No-one likes the down bit much, especially when Mike takes the wrong turning after we reach the Blue Jon Mine! Mis-reads the map and sends the troops uphill instead of down. It did result in some stunning but misty views though! Saw more dogs out for the day and a few ponies.
The intermittent drizzle turns to proper rain. Alex fortunately still has his rain trousers on, but not his jacket!
Blue Jon Cavern looks interesting, we’ll have to come back for a proper visit.
Finally find the way down via Teak Hill Cavern. I think this is the right way... A short road walk leads us back to the car after 4 ½ hours walking. 6 ¼ miles and xxxfeet of ascent. Not bad!
Back at camp, dinner is Jackie’s stew now it’s properly defrosted. There is loads of it! Enough to feed an army! Or all three of us.
After dinner the marathon Monopoly game finally grounds to a halt long after dark. David won, Mike got bankrupt, Alex got bored.
We end up stargazing, looking at the rising moon. Alex teaches us where Venus and Jupiter are, David learns how to find the North Star.
I went and filled up with petrol. Requests for ‘something to play catch with’ result in the proud purchase of a cricket set comprising of a half size set of cricket stumps, bat and unusably light ball and a Frisbee, which Alex promptly looses (remember it’s dark now (Sigh) (Don’t worry - we’ll find it in the morning)).
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Tuesday
Day off.Visit Buxton - It’s market day! (Not much of a market, it turns out)
Bacon and eggy bread for the troops. Alex finds his Frisbee.
Using the midget cricket set from Tesco a quick and entertaining game of cricket ensues. Alex scores 4 runs, David 9 and Mike 10!! Who’d have thought. Game ends through injury when Alex involuntarily does the splits.
Buxton is 10 miles away. It’s a very nice town (well, there’s lots of outdoor shops)
David got a gillet, which we went back and changed for the right size and Alex got sunglasses and a putty rubber for his drawing. Bought a T-shirt for Jackie.
Cheeseburger, cheesy chips and a hotdog for lunch, from a street -thing.
Looking for the tourist information place we found a greenhouse on the side of a building, that David took quite a fancy to...
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| Greenhouse collage |
We got back to the [very windy] campsite to find we now have neighbours - 6 teenagers dropped off by an adult, who took a while to erect a massive tunnel tent.
Thinks: Hmmm... Where to tomorrow? Looks like it could be Cheedale. Weather looks good.
Dinner was ‘Look what we found’ meatballs. Two packets, but it wasn’t enough. The 500grams of spaghetti made up for it though.
Jackie didn’t like the idea of Cheedale when I explained we would have to walk through the middle of a stream!
Oh yes, before dinner we went on a 20 minute ‘quickie’ on footpaths around ‘Th’ Bull I’ th’ Thorn’, part of which was on a dismantled railway. Alex couldn’t quite see the point, really.
The wind really picks up tonight! We fear for our cheap Gelert tent and its flimsy fibreglass poles! Mike props up the corners from inside with rucksacks and hopes for the best.
Wednesday, 12th August
Happy Birthday David! Well done tent!
Woke up late at 9:00!
‘Quick’ breakfast - eggy bread and cereals, Jackie phoned to wish David a happy birthday and we were set to go.
On the way out the pub landlord informed us that someone had left the tap on overnight, flooding the field!
Later we work out what happened:
Most mornings there is a man that uses a pressure washer. When that is on it sucks the water so hard there is none left to feed the tap in the field.
I remember David saying he could not get any water one morning. We think he left the tap on so when the pressure wassher was turned off the water was free to flood the field!
When he said he was on a meter we did offer several times to pay for it but he declined.Today is Cheedale. 4½ miles along a valley floor and back up over a hill. Walk number 22 - 4½ miles.
Parked car at the head of the Tissington Trail valley car park at about 11:30. Well, no need to rush things.
Started off ok but became a little confused over the route description did not coincide with the proliferation of foot paths and one or two signs that pointed the wrong way; part of the path was on a dismantled railway (Tissington Trail), which was flat and boring, but occasionally a sign labelled ‘Cheedale’ would point down a bank towards the valley floor and the river, which looked a lot more interesting.
We took the second exit, leaving the railway earlier than the guide book would have liked. It got me thinking after a while that we were lost (Hard to do I know, following a river ‘an all), but 30 seconds talking to a ranger at Wormhole Springs about where we were, springs, watercress and liverworm confirmed Mike knew exactly where we were after all. There’s a first time for everything I suppose.
The water at Wormhole tasted pure and clear. We made sure we got it from the source after the warning about liverworm living in the watercress a bit further into the river.
Sadly by this time the batteries for the camera had long since expired. Mike was in trouble.
The first half of the walk, forgetting about the boring railway, is very atmospheric. The stream follows a tree-lined gorge where at times the footpath completely disappears and a line of stepping stones in the river takes over! After Wormhole the gorge opens up and things get a bit muddy.
A while after Wormhole, and after Alex had an emergency toilet break, we turn right over a footbridge and the path leaves the mud and climbs sharply past sheep and then cows (much to David’s distress - he and his fellows on the Duke of Edinburgh chain gang got chased by cows the previous month).
We pass a farm and now the path was supposed to follow one or two bridleways downhill towards the the railway at the start of the walk. Instead it deteriorated into quite a complete but a rather meandering tour of most of the hillside on bridleways constructed by the deranged mind of the sadistic land owner.
Finally made it back to the trail and retraced or steps to finish at about 5:30. 6.3 miles and xxxfeet of ascent. A good day.
Back at the campsite we are pleasantly surprised to find the showers are free! Glorious warm/hot/cold FREE showers!
We are making a bit of an effort to be presentable because we’re going to eat at the pub to celebrate David’s birthday.
David plumps for Creole prawns and a fish pie with a cheesy top, Mike tries attacking breaded mushrooms followed by pork belly cutlets with real crackling and a caramelised onion and mash potato tower and Alex tries a fish cake before zeroing in on the sausage, egg and chips.
The boys even had room for chocolate fudge cake for pudding.
The beer was a very clean tasting Robinson’s Umpire.
Staggered back to the tent and...
Thursday
Day off.
Hmm... Where to today... A drive methinks.
After a leisurely breakfast off to Longnor to see the strange village that Gary (a colleague in Panavision) recommended as being full of the strangest people on the planet and so well worth a visit.
Longnor. A quaint village. We had a good hour and a half chat with one of the not-so-locals minding a shop for his daughter. It turns out he’s not a local but comes from Stoke(?) . Enlightening and enjoyable (Although Mike got bored with the rantings of an old man :) ).
After buying a few things including a Bakewell pudding (Later used as the official birthday cake of David on a windy hill the next day), we stopped for lunch in a picnic area - a pay and display (again!) At this point David realised Mike had used the entirety of his £8 which he had bought with him in parking fees (‘Lend us a quid, Ill pay you back...’)...
A quick (as in it never started) card game is hindered by the dehydration of Dad.
David tried salami and Austrian smoked (processed) cheese in non-raison-ed oatcakes, without raisons that is.
After We tried to find a pub called ‘The Hobbit’ mentioned in the guide book, but we didn’t find it, however.
Quite apt really.
After a wonderfully long and deep discussion on which cavern to go to...
(Mike: Where do we want to go?
:Pause:
Mike: Hello?
:Pause:
Mike: Ok we’ll go home... Right...
David: Where are you going? Blue Jon’s that way...)
...we decide to go to the Blue Jon Cavern, in the one area in the world where Blue Jon Stone is mined.
A delightful place. Cold, wet and cavernous. Like a cavern should be.
After buying souvenirs (Alex and David bought a ring, David a bracelet and a geod, Alex a notebook with a built in calender.
Went shopping for dinner - beef mince and pita bread for tacos- on the way back to the campsite. We came across a Spar but had no place to park, so we stopped in ‘Parking Ticket Land’ (Pub car park with a sign:
Don’t worry, we were ‘in-an-out’ and escaped clamp free.
As it turned out later pitta bread wasn’t such a good idea for tacos, the ‘pockets’ favoured by the doner kebab trade fell apart when full of taco mix.
We took the scenic route and happened upon the perfect spot for a picnic at Monsal Head, overlooking the viaduct.
Finally parked and headed North about 1 o’clock on guidebook walk number 6, Hathersage Moor (5 ½ miles).
This appeared to be a popular hill as there were a myriad of footpaths confusing the chief navigator.
We decide to make our own way, first a steep climb next to a precipice (Millstone Edge) on our left which gave stunning views West, through a swarm of lazy flies and then via some stones (Over Owler Tor) to Higger Tor where we marvelled at the acrobatic feats of a crow fighting the howling
winds rising up and over from the valley below. More stunning views. We could even see where we went on day one, far to the North-West.
We had a windy lunch!
South off Higger Tor, we headed for Carl Wark Fort, an ancient earthwork. Here we saw a kestrel
lazily looking for his dinner.
From there the footpaths disappeared so we ‘rode the heather’ down to the road via another pile of
rocks (Toad’s Mouth) where a dead sheep lived - er - died.
Over the road and followed a delightful stream and then rounded a large duckpond towards the NT
visitor centre Longshaw Lodge. Unfortunately by this time two of us were in dire need of the loo.
We raced up to the cafe only to find it shut, but the shop happily sold us some overpriced chocolate before it closed. We took our revenge out on the conveniences! That’ll show them!
Relieved, we headed back to the path but not before we took pictures of finches and ducks.
Continuing on our now protracted sojourn down a valley, a short climb past a small millstone quarry at Owler Tor and through more heather we finally arrived back at the car at about 6:00. A full day. Actually walked 5 ½ miles; we agreed with the guide book!
Today Alex wore his track shoes and he found them far more comfortable than the ‘hand-me-down’ fabric boots of David. Until he found a bog that is...
He also worked out a good way of shading in his cartoons.
A leisurely start, fried breakfast then off at 12:00. We took the scenic route via Axe Edge Moor to The Cat & The Fiddle Inn.
The second highest pub in England. We had lunch, (nice beer) as we watched the visitors battle the howling wind outside as they came and went.
We tried to take the scenic route to Buxton by driving the wrong way down the Goyt Valley (Well it looked so inviting) until we were stopped by a ranger.
Finally Buxton again to get Alex some socks (Mike’s sure he bought half a dozen pairs with us. Where does Alex put them all!) Finally we head back to the campsite as we ran out of outdoor
Hmm... Where to today... A drive methinks.
After a leisurely breakfast off to Longnor to see the strange village that Gary (a colleague in Panavision) recommended as being full of the strangest people on the planet and so well worth a visit.
Longnor. A quaint village. We had a good hour and a half chat with one of the not-so-locals minding a shop for his daughter. It turns out he’s not a local but comes from Stoke(?) . Enlightening and enjoyable (Although Mike got bored with the rantings of an old man :) ).
After buying a few things including a Bakewell pudding (Later used as the official birthday cake of David on a windy hill the next day), we stopped for lunch in a picnic area - a pay and display (again!) At this point David realised Mike had used the entirety of his £8 which he had bought with him in parking fees (‘Lend us a quid, Ill pay you back...’)...
A quick (as in it never started) card game is hindered by the dehydration of Dad.
David tried salami and Austrian smoked (processed) cheese in non-raison-ed oatcakes, without raisons that is.
After We tried to find a pub called ‘The Hobbit’ mentioned in the guide book, but we didn’t find it, however.
Quite apt really.
After a wonderfully long and deep discussion on which cavern to go to...
(Mike: Where do we want to go?
:Pause:
Mike: Hello?
:Pause:
Mike: Ok we’ll go home... Right...
David: Where are you going? Blue Jon’s that way...)
...we decide to go to the Blue Jon Cavern, in the one area in the world where Blue Jon Stone is mined.
A delightful place. Cold, wet and cavernous. Like a cavern should be.
After buying souvenirs (Alex and David bought a ring, David a bracelet and a geod, Alex a notebook with a built in calender.
Went shopping for dinner - beef mince and pita bread for tacos- on the way back to the campsite. We came across a Spar but had no place to park, so we stopped in ‘Parking Ticket Land’ (Pub car park with a sign:
PATRONS ONLY
CLAMPING IN PROGRESS
£40 REMOVAL FEE
Friday
Off to the Surprise View Car-park. (Surprising because we had trouble finding it!)Finally parked and headed North about 1 o’clock on guidebook walk number 6, Hathersage Moor (5 ½ miles).
This appeared to be a popular hill as there were a myriad of footpaths confusing the chief navigator.
We decide to make our own way, first a steep climb next to a precipice (Millstone Edge) on our left which gave stunning views West, through a swarm of lazy flies and then via some stones (Over Owler Tor) to Higger Tor where we marvelled at the acrobatic feats of a crow fighting the howling
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| We found a hornet sheltering from the wind. |
winds rising up and over from the valley below. More stunning views. We could even see where we went on day one, far to the North-West.We had a windy lunch!
South off Higger Tor, we headed for Carl Wark Fort, an ancient earthwork. Here we saw a kestrel
lazily looking for his dinner.
From there the footpaths disappeared so we ‘rode the heather’ down to the road via another pile of
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| Crow |
 |
| Kestrel |
Over the road and followed a delightful stream and then rounded a large duckpond towards the NT
visitor centre Longshaw Lodge. Unfortunately by this time two of us were in dire need of the loo.
We raced up to the cafe only to find it shut, but the shop happily sold us some overpriced chocolate before it closed. We took our revenge out on the conveniences! That’ll show them!
Continuing on our now protracted sojourn down a valley, a short climb past a small millstone quarry at Owler Tor and through more heather we finally arrived back at the car at about 6:00. A full day. Actually walked 5 ½ miles; we agreed with the guide book!
Today Alex wore his track shoes and he found them far more comfortable than the ‘hand-me-down’ fabric boots of David. Until he found a bog that is...
He also worked out a good way of shading in his cartoons.
Saturday- Last day
Day off.A leisurely start, fried breakfast then off at 12:00. We took the scenic route via Axe Edge Moor to The Cat & The Fiddle Inn.
The second highest pub in England. We had lunch, (nice beer) as we watched the visitors battle the howling wind outside as they came and went.
We tried to take the scenic route to Buxton by driving the wrong way down the Goyt Valley (Well it looked so inviting) until we were stopped by a ranger.
Finally Buxton again to get Alex some socks (Mike’s sure he bought half a dozen pairs with us. Where does Alex put them all!) Finally we head back to the campsite as we ran out of outdoor
shops to visit...
Chicken in oyster sauce stir fry tonight. Blimin windy! The campist is a little more crowded now
and every tent bar one is being buffeted. The one that isn’t is cunningly pitched in the lee of a bunch of tall trees. We must remember that one!
(When Mike congratulated him on his choice of pitch he remarked ‘Aye, cheers mate, I’ve been camping before)
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