Cromford 30th October 2011

This was similar to the walk I did a few weeks ago.  Parked at Cromford wharf and walked along the canal to High Peak junction. Staraight up the high Peak trail up to Black Rocks. I picked up one of the waymarked walks in the woods before I got to Black Rocks, and after a while this was closed off due to forestry works. Got lost for a bit looking for one of the other walks. Found the Green one which took me back to the top of the High Peak trail. Back down the hill and along the canal to the car.

Not very exciting but a decent walk when I only had a few hours to spare. I also put myself under a bit of pressure as I only had 2 hours on my parking ticket....quite a brisk walk to fit into two hours.

Pleased that the new gaiters I bought in Keswick did thier job and kept my boots and feet dry, as it was a wet start to the walk.



About 5 miles OS OL24 White Peak.

Dove Dale 29th October 2011

I have started working away for the next few months so don't want to be disappearing on all day expeditions on Saturday or Sunday. As a result I think the pattern up to the end of the year will be short 4 - 5 mile walks.

Anne still isn't 100% but convinced he to come on this one. Also on the basis that we wouldn't be going too far we also took Tammy. Start at dove Dale car park and simply walked along the bottom of the valley as far as the two caves before Mill Dale. Back again the same way and much to Tammy's consternation we crossed the river on the stepping sones with her on the end of the lead paddling across.

Scenery fantastic as usual, and despite her aches and pains Anne enjoyed it (particularly the caves).

About 5 miles OS OL 24

Crich 22nd October

I only had Saturday afternoon spare, and this was a good one to do as I am only about 15 minutes drive from the start.
Clear , bright , cool autumnal day. Start - Amber Gate railway station just off the A6.
Couple of hundred yards along A6 (towards Cromford), and then up Chase Road to Cromford Canal. Along towpath (towards Cromford) to next bridge. Cross bridge and follow the waymarked path through Crich Chase. At the top edge of the woods turn right through a stile across two fields. Right on Chadwick Nick lane for about hundred yards and then take the path to the left across the fields to Crich. Great views SW / W across the derwent valley from here. Also Crich stand is visible to the North.
Path eventually ends in Crich , not far from the Market square. Left at the market square and then right to Coasthill which eventually end in a footpath. Follo this across two fields, and then right down the road with the entrance to the tramway village. Follow road around to Crich stand. More spectacular views across to Alfreton from here.
The footpath leads around the top of the quarry and drops down across the tram tracks. Path drops down past Wakebridge farm to road. Cross road and footpath continues just to the right. Follow path down through woods and past old quarry workings before reaching Cromford Canal.
Two miles back along the towpath to the start.

Great walk for a Saturday afternoon in Autumn.

About 6.5 Miles . OS OL 24 White Peak.

Castle Crag October 9th 2011

I had to drive home today so this walk fit the bill for 2 – 3 hours before setting off.

I walked out from Rosthwaite and took the footpath up the South Eastern side of the fell. Everything written about this fell is true. It is unique and even though it is less than 1000 feet the views across Derwent Water are fantastic.

I dropped down to the Western side and then did the valley walk around the foot of the Fell, around Low How wood and then back to Rosthwaite along the banks of the river Derwent.

A very enjoyable walk to end the weekend.

About 4 – 5 miles OS OL4

Skiddaw October 8th 2011

Being a walker of conscience I didn’t drive to the car park on the top Northern edge of Latrigg, but left the car in Keswick.

So out of Keswick via

Spooney Green Lane

and the tourist path up to Skiddaw. Given that my joints were aching from yesterdays walk and it was misty and it was p******* it down this was quite a brutal slog. Unfortunately no views to enjoy, and then once on the summit plateau absolutely battered by the North wind. So all I was left with was soaking wet feet (my fault I think – gaiters shouldn’t have been over the waterproofs), aching legs and more positively  a sense of achievement .

I had planned to do Skiddaw little man and Lonscale fell but decided not to in the foul weather.

I did detour of to the summit of latrigg on the way down, and again due to the mist , no views.

About 11miles OS OL4 North Western Area

I was on the summit for at least 45 seconds !!

Dale Head - Hindscarth - Robinson October 7th 2011

Long awaited trip to the Lakes. Anne has kindly given me a weekend pass for this.

I got up at stupid O clock and was in the Keswick area just after 8 AM. By 8.30 I was parked up at the Slate mines car park on Honnister pass.

I was the only person there at that time and it was cold and misty. I have to say driving back to Keswick for a coffee and booking a lake cruise did cross my mind.

However, I set forth up the path over the road up to Dale Head summit. The path follows a fence for a lot of the climb. At the point the fence ended I marked a waypoint on my GPS….just in case.  Soon I was at the top…a great feeling – my first solo Lake District Mountain. However, Alfred Wainwright wasn’t impressed with me

 “Indeed if a car be used to the top of that pass, a man of conscience must feel he is cheating the mountain”

Hmmm – my legs certainly felt they had been engaged in some vigorous exercise by the time I got to the summit… 1300 feet in 1.25 miles is a fair old rate.

On the walk along Hindscarth edge I was treated to some great views in the gaps in the mist. The walk to Hindscarth was quite easy as there wasn’t much elevation involved from Dale Head. The view down the Newlands Valley was spectacular – we did that walk a few years ago – Little Town – Maiden Moor  - High Spy – Dale Head tarn and then back down the valley.

Hindscarth to Robinson was a different proposition. The joining path between the two mountains – Littledale edge dips down and up quite a bit. Once I got to the bottom of the dip I found the walk up to Robinson quite strenuous – about a 200 foot climb.

I sat at the top of Robinson for a while and enjoyed the views down to Buttermere, and South to glimpses through the clouds  of some of the big peaks.

There wasn’t an obvious round walk back to the Slate mines , so I retraced my outward journey – missing out Hindscarth. Although it was the same route it felt different as all the ups and downs were reversed.

Looking back at the Slate Mine on the ascent to Dale Head

Newlands Valley from the top of Dale Head

Dale Head Summit

Newlands Valley

View of Buttermere with Crummock Water in the distance from Robinson

Hindscarth

Littledale Edge between Hindscarth and Robinson

Top of Robinson

Predictably on the descent from Dale Head I lost the path and my GPS came into its own navigating me back to the top of the fence to rejoin the path.

Not an epic , but I was well pleased with my first solo Lakes  effort

Around 11 miles OS OL4 North Western Area

Bleaklow 2nd October 2011

Sunday afternoon after a taxi run to Manchester.

Parked up at Snake summit and walked the Pennine Way up to Bleaklow Head. The weather was  cloudy  with a bit of rain. I could imagine in poor weather this would be a grim place. The peat groughs along the path looked pretty soggy, so I stuck to the path. Onceat the summit there is a large cairn with a pole in the middle. However, you don;t have to wander far from this before it is out of site - an easy place to get lost.

Great view of the northern edge of Kinder filling the horizon - I was walking the full length of that a couple of months ago

I would like to come back here for a full day and allow some time to have a look for the Superfortress wreck.

About 5 miles OS OL1 Dark peak

Stannage Edge October 1st 2011

Apparently the hottest October day on record. A glorious way to spend a Saturday morning. I parked on a layby on Ringinlow Road just above Hathersage. Climbed the small hill opposite (Higger Tor) to enjoy the view before starting.

From Higger Tor, back across the road, and onto a footpath across to a car park at the foot of Stannage Edge. Then simply all the way along the edge to High Neb. As the weather and the views were so fantastic, I just did the return by the same way.

The only blot on the lanscape was a convoy of 4x4s driving along the edge on the return leg.

New boots and socks………luxury!!!

Around 6 miles OS OL1 Dark Peak