Start of a two day trek along te Limestone Way. Castleto to Bonsall.
This was my first attempt at backpacking a route, so I set off with a 28lbs pack on my back.
Anne gave me a lift to Castleton at the start of the walk. The start of Cave Dale was a short walk from the car park where Anne dropped me off.
This was my first time with a heavy sack(28 lbs) on a long walk. The climb up Cave Dale was a great start to the walk - brilliant scenery and a good climb to the top of the dale. I was using the Derbyshire Dales route leaflet which is an excellent summary of the route (obviously the OS map and GPS support were in my sack if needed). First section was Castleton to Mount Pleasant Farm. After Cave Dale the route was a pleasant grassy track with lovely views. After the farm I crossed the busy A623 and headed on a minor road for a short way before heading right on a rough , stony path down to the start of Hay Dale.
Hay Dale then led to Peters Dale , and the a bit of road walking (uphill) to a footpath along the edge of Monksdale before dropping down to Millers Dale. Apart from the road walking I loved this part of the walk...beautiful and peacful through the dales.
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| Viaducts below Millers Dale |
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| Millers Dale |
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| Flagg Church |
After climbing up from Millers Dale to Flagg there was a straightforward route to Monyash. The Lathkill Dale Campsite at Monyash is brilliant. Great pitches with a picnic bench on each pitch. Pleased to set the Lanshan tent up OK with no drama. After a cup of tea (Maple Fire jetboil type cooker was perfect) I headed to the pub for a pint and meal.
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| Baby rabbit about 20 ft from my tent with not a care in the world! |
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| Home for the night |
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| Ready to go for day 2 |
I had a crap night ... couldn't sleep ... too cold, and then at daybreak pissing rain for about 3 hours. when I finally started packing ip my ankles had locked up and I was limping / stumbling about as I packed up. Really dissapointed that everything else was OK - no shoulder ache, no blisters, energy levels great, but my ankles seized up ! First few miles were painful but I soon got into it.
Next Section May 4th- Monyash - Youlgreave - Winster.
As mentioned, the first few miles were painful, but I soon got into it. The climb down and up Cale Dale was steep - one really steep tricky bit going down and then the up was a muscle burning stairway to heaven!.
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| On the way out of Monyash |
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| Old Pig Stiles at One Ash Grange Farm |
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| Cale Dale Way Down |
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| Cale Dale |
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| Stairway to Heaven |
The tracks across fields from the top of Cale Dale to the edge of Bradford Dale was straightforward.
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| Top of Bradford Dale |
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| Lovely stone bridge over the River Bradford |
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| Bradford Dale |
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| Looking down the hill to Youlgreave |
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| Looking down to the lake near Youlgreave |
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| Looking back from the to[ of the hill looking back to Youlgreave |
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| Robin Hoods Stride |
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Lead Ore House on the outskirts of Winster
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After the climb up Duddon Lane it was a straightforward walk across Bonsall Moor to Bonsall Upper Town, where Anne kindly picked me up. Ankles shot....need to research how to strengthen them.
Great adventure. 26 miles through the heart of Derbyshire. OS OL24 and the Derbyshire Dales Limestone leaflet.
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