Grindleford Sept 17th 2020

 This is the second time I have done this walk from the Walks in the Dark Peak book written by Paul Beasley. This was also an opportunity to try out my new Osprey atmos 65 rucksack.

Parking on the approach road to Grindleford Station is free as all the parking pay points are covered up.

The walk starts with a steep path up through the woods to Bolehill Quarry.

clearing at the top of the first steep climb through the woods

Bolehill Quarry

The path crosses the A6187 near Surprise viewpoint with fantastic views to the South.

view back down to Grindleford

After passing through the car park the walk opens out onto Hathersage moor, and after passing several Gritstone outcroppings reaches Higger Tor.

Mothers Cap

Higger Tor - Lunch time stop

After some lunch on Higger Tor the paths drops down before climbing back to Carl Wark Fort, and then back down through the soggy section before reaching the road at Toads Mouth. I lost the path just before Toads Mouth and ended on a steep bracken strewn bank with Meg at the bottom unable to get back up to me !. A short scramble and we were re-united.

Carl Wark Fort

A nice cooling dip in a muddy pool

From there it was a lovely stroll back down Padley Gorge back to the car. For some reason I didn't take any pics on this last section.

About 6 miles OS OL1 and OL24. A lovely varied walk with climbs , woods, water and open moorland.

Cromford Sept 9th 2020

 A lovely short walk on the hills overlooking cromford and then back along Cromford Canal.

From the car park at Cromford Wharf head back to the road and turn right. After a couple of hundred yards the road goes under the railway bridge and the footpath sign is just after this on the left. The path climbs steadily up to Coumbs wood and after a right turn onto Heartstone lane (not a lane - still a footpath) the path reaches a field on the edge of the wood with fantastic views down to Cromford and acrosss to Black Rock.  

view from the edge of Coumbs Wood

Radio mast above Black Rock

The path then drops down to Castle Top Farm before turning left and heading though Bow Wood. The path drops down to a road and then it is a short stretch of road walking to get to the footpath over the Derwent and railway line to reach High Peak Junction. All there is to do then is a nice stroll along the canal back to the start.

Bow Wood

Bridge over the Derwent and railway

Cromford Canal, High Peak Junction

Back along the towpath

About 3.5 miles. OS OL24. An excellent short walk.

Hadrians Wall Trek 31/08/20, 01/09/20

 The plan was to walk the entire long distance path from West to East in five days. However, by the end of day 2 Rowan's feet were shredded. Added to walking for two days with a knee injury and the sole of one of his boots coming away, and an over optimistic 22 miles planned for day 3, we decided it was sensible to stop at that point. 

Day 1 Bowness on Solway to Carlisle

We (Rowan and I) stayed at the Cumbria Park Hotel on Sunday night, and booked a taxi from Carlisle to Bowness on Solway for Monday morning. From the start at Bowness it was a 15 mile flat hike on tracks and roads back to Carlisle.

First mistake I made was advising Rowan he could wear trainers on day 1 due to the flat and tarmac terrain. There was a lot of road walking but also (about 50% on tracks). the first bit of track was across a wet pasture and then back onto the road. Within an hour he was getting blisters.

Walking along the estuary between Drumburgh and Burgh by Sands

Loads of signs like this along the 3 mile stretch between Drumburgh and burgh by Sands

Port Carlisle - about a mile in

Just before burgh by Sands

Statue of Edward 1 in Burgh By Sands

Edward 1 died near here on his way north to do battle with the Scots - therefore the statue.

There was a nice picnic spot here- Kirkandrews on Eden I think

River Eden on the edge of Carlisle

River Eden

as we came into Carlisle we entered Bitts Park and then we were soon at eden bridge and about 1/2 mile from the hotel.

So, day 1 - 15 miles and surprisingly tough in terms of how stiff and sore we both felt at the end.

Day 2 Carlisle to Gilsland

This day was a first day(and last !!) with full packs. We were well stocked up with snacks for a few days as the expectation was there wouldn't be any shops to stock up on the way due to the pandemic.. the packs were heavy and possibly that contributed to our bailing at the end of this day.

We were feeling great and enjoying the walk for the first half to Newtown. I only had my richo compact with me so didn't bother trying to take a picture of Blencathra and the Skiddaw range in the distance to the South at one point(just before Crosby on Eden).

Blocks just below Eden Bridge. Startpoint

Near to our destination for day 2

River Eden just outside Carlisle

Crossing the M6

The second half just seemed to get harder and harder as the afternoon went on. before we started the second half we stopped at a honesty cafe(shed in someone's garden with snacks and a price list). We had a nice chat with another Father and Son team doing the challenge. 

Our first sight of the wall

When we got to Gilsland it was clear that we couldn't carry on. Rowan's feet were shredded, he had a knee injury, and we were both knackered after an 18 mile hike. If I had split the next section(21 miles) into two it might have been do-able.

The end of the adventure

On Wednesday morning we got a taxi from Gilsland to Haltwhistle, and caught the train back to Carlisle.

Although it felt like a failure we did cover 35 miles in two days. despite the disappointment there were sections of the walk we really enjoyed, so we are determined to return and complete this trek, from the start