Codnor Castle 20th December 2022

 A return to this peasant local walk needing only a short car journey to the start. Also, this is a nice distance to include Meg.

A gentle and enjoyable 4 miles.

Derby - Little eaton - Smalley 11th December 2022

 This is a variation on the walk I did with Ben early in the year. I caught the bus fom Smalley and met Ben in Derby.

Instead of heading out from Derby along the Northern Greenway we followed the Derwent Valley Hertage Way from Derby - Darley Abbey - passing under the a38 to the centre of Little Eaton.

It was bitterley cold and murky , so not many pictures taken. We stopped at Starbucks near the A38 to warm up with a hot drink. From the centre of Little Eaton there was a bit of road walking before entering the woods which lead to Brackley Gate (after passing under the A38 again). From there it is the same route back to Smalley asthe Horsley Castle route. 

Heading down Cloves Hill

Farm on Smalley Mill Road

This would be a good walk to do in Summer , adding a loop around Little Eatonto avoid some of the road walking and also picking up lunch in Little Eaton instead of carryig food.

Even with the cold , murky weather a nice walk involving no car use. Approx 8 miles.

Mam Tor 28 October 2022

 What a lovely walk - Taking my three of my Grandkids up a 'Mountain' - OK its a big hill , but it looks like a mountain !

I parked at the NT car park at the foot of Mam Tor and met Anne , Erica and the three kids there.

We took the track straight up the hill where we had glorious views and a very strong wind, so we didn't stay very long at the top.

After we droped back down to the car park we sat at a picnic bench and had a bite to eat and then we had a wander over towards the Blue John Mine and the 'Broken Road'.

A massive 2 miles. Brilliant Day

Shipley Park Round 7th November 2022

 I haven't done any 'set piece hikes' for some time so it was nice to make this local walk longer than I have been doing recently. I set off from Smalley with Meg and headed off across the fields to to junction with Bell Lane just above Manchester Wood.

At Mapperley Reevoir car park I met Anne who picked up Meg. Increasingly she has struggled with walking too far (she did seem to be full of beans when Anne picked her up but we went ahead as planned).Frm there it was along a footpath I haven't used before looping past the nature reserve towards the nutbrook trail cafe.

Stream near the Nature reserve

Magnificent beast near the Nutbrook trail

The footpath towards Shipley Hill was blocked so I had to traverse around Shipley Lake to the old car park for the American Adventure. Back then to Osbornes Pond. I stopped for a lovely cup of coffee and energy bar overlooking the pond. From there the Visitor Centre and then back across Woodland Trust tracks back to Smalley.

Building Site around the old American Adventure

Shipley Lake

Osbornes Pond

Cold , crisp clear weather. About 8 miles.

Carsington Resevoir 9th October

 Circuit of Carsington while Anne attended the Honey Show.

Anne dropped me off at Millfields car park before driving to the main visitor centre car park. I walked anticlockwise from there finishing at the Visitor Centre missing out the section along the dam wall between the two car parks for a full circuit.

Resevoir really low. Based on the info in the visitors centre it was at 45% capacity.

Anne did well in the honey show 😊.

About 8 miles.

Lake District 23 - 30 September 2022

 A weeks holiday in the glorious Newlands valley staying for the third time at the Mouse House, Rowling End Farm.

Cat Bells - view from front of Mose House

Mouse House

Saturday 24th September

We did two local walks from the Mouse House to Littletown. The first one was down the bank and over Newlands Beck to Skelgill Farm and then along the base of Catbells to Littletown and the back along the lower road , and then over Newlands Beck back to MH.

The second one was along the top road to Littletown visiting Newlands Church (near Chapel Bridge) andd then back via Skelgill Farm.

Newlands Church

Causey Pike

 Sunday 25th September

We walked down to Hawes End landing stage and then along the Lake Edge to Old Brandlehow landing stage where we caught the Keswick Launch. We bought day tickets which allowed us to have a great day getting off in Keswick and Lodore Falls before returning to Hawes End.

A great day out with no use of the car.

Monday 26th September

 We drove through Keswick and then down the Borrowdale road and then down the minor single track road to Watendlath. From there we :-

• Climbed the steep path and then turned right towards Blea tarn (straight on would have led to High Tove). We did't get to Blea Tarn but enjoyed the breathtaking views from the high ground.
• Home made cake , tea and coffee in Watendlath
• Heading back towards the Borrowdale Road to Surprise viewpoint over Derwent Water.
• Stopped at Ashness Bridge.
• Back along Borrowdale Road to visit the Bowder Stone.

View from High ground with Great Gable in the distance

Watendlath

Bowder Stone

Tuesday 27th September

Pre breakfast I did a solo there and back walk to the top of Rowling end. I didn't take Meg as she has been getting tired with long walks or too much exercise. It was great to do this as on previous trips I had been focused on Wainwrights. I went via Sleet Hause, and then along the ridge line with Causey Pike behind me. I really enjoyed this and returned for a nice breakfast.

After Breakfast we drove to Whinnlater forest and did a waymarked walk from the visitors centre, and then drove over to Dodd Wood visitor centre and did a waymarked walk from there.

Wednesday 28th September

We had a spectacular drive over the Newlands Pass to Buttermere where we planned to walk around the lake. When Anne saw the signs to Scale Force (highest waterfall in the Lake District) we changed plans. 

Although the finger post in Buttermere said it was 1 3/4 miles it was more like 2 1/2 miles. There were some very boggy , soggy sections and as I had put on walking shoes ratehr than boots I soon had wet feet. I was a lovely walk though and well woth it, rounded off by lunch at a pub in the village.

Crummock Water

Hercules Transport Plane flying low over Crummock Water

Scale Force

Thursday 29th September

Last day before drivng back on Friday. We started off with a trip to MireHouse which is opposite the Dodd Wood car park. There is an entrance fee which is well worth it for the waymarked walk though the gardens and then out along a section of the Bassenthwaite shore line.

Mirehouse with Ullock Pike towering behind

Anne was pretty tired by the time we had a spot of lunch at the car park tea room, so we finished the day with a trip to Castlerigg Stone Circle (no pics) and then a drive over to Grasmere for a potter around the village.

A nice end to a lovely week.