David and Jacinta's Walks- 2023

Castleton's Hollow Country (The description is from the Bradwell's guidebook walk title!)  We fancied doing a walk from Castleton so we chose this one from Bradwell's "Longer Walks in the Peak District". It certainly proved to be longer, as in the book it is scheduled to be 8¾ miles and we ended up doing 11½ and descending into Castleton in the semi-darkness! The walk started with a pleasant walk up Caveday, below Peveril Castle. Cavedale and Peveril Castle At the top, we passed the grassed-over diggins at Oxlow Rake- old lead mines- making our way down to the tiny hamlet of Old Dam. From there, the walk went up Eldon Lane past Sweetknoll Farm with two adorable donkeys. Jacinta communes with adorable donkey We decided to go to have a look at Eldon Hole- classed as "one of the seven wonders of the peak" in the 1600s. Eldon Hole- it goes down a long way- honest! There was a lovely lunch spot just below the fencing around Eldon Hole where we ate and admired...

 Edale, Mam Tor and Brown Knoll A dry day in Edale, according to David's little weather station, so we got out early and arrived in Edale soon after 9. After a customary visit to the Penny Pot (now shutting during the week for winter) we began the ascent of Mam Tor via Hollins Cross. The top of Kinder was in the mist for most of the day but, fortunately, we had good views most of the time. Kinder with its head in the clouds On the way up to Hollins Cross- Rushup Edge in the clouds Looking back along The Great Ridge with the Eastern Edges on the Horizon When we arrived at the top of Mam Tor there were scores of people coming up from the Mam Tor car park and it was a bit of a relief to escape the crowds on the other side of the M.T. road. As usual, the walk along Rushup Edge was fairly deserted. More solitary- on the way up to Rushup Edge We decided to go on to Brown Knoll as the day was clear and mild. David at the Brown Knoll trig point After lunch (just after Brown Knoll) we came...

 Hayfield, Sett Valley Trail and Peep-O-Day There was time for a short walk today as Jacinta had an evening commitment. We went to Hayfield, starting with our usual coffee at the Sett Valley Café. Their menu is quite varied and adventurous for such a small place. We walked up towards Chinley Churn- unlike our walk in February, the day was not clear. Climbing done- about to descend to Higher Hills Cottage We occasionally glimpsed Kinder through the mist but at least it was dry and still. We descended to Higher Hills Cottage, where they have accumulated (or acquired) huge numbers of horseshoes. Lots and lots of luck! From there, it was down past Whiterakes to Peep-O-Day. Whiterakes with Chinley Churn behind From Peep-O-Day we walked back to Hayfield, passing the Phosides, the bottom of Foxholes Clough and the ruined mill behind Phoside Farm. The ruined mill at Phoside Farm Despite the rather muddy and saturated paths across the last few fields, it was a very pleasant excursion in a f...

 Patterdale and Boredale Hause Today's walk was another modest affair, starting from Patterdale and winding up towards Angletarn Pikes, which Jacinta and David had visited in one of their very early trips to The Lakes. The weather was better than the day before, and there were actually a few nice views. Julian and David passed Mill Moss Barn , where David and Jacinta had hosted Julian and Jonny back in (very) early 2020. Julian observed that there was an EV charging point in the parking spot! Mill Moss Barn- a lovely Airbnb Although the walk was short, and David didn't visit any summits, the views were some of the best of the Lake District. Hart Crag, and the Fairfield and Helvellyn ranges On the way back to the car, David was able to admire more Herdies and to spot the way to next January's Airbnb. Herdie fellas Next January's Airbnb Hoards of Herdies and river running high Just under three miles, 250m ascent.

 Loughrig Terrace A day of most unpleasant rain, wind and near-flooded roads. Julian and I agreed to attempt Loughrigg Fell but circumstances suggested that the summit wouldn't be a place to go after all. The "A" Team made it to the top but were rewarded with the necessity of wading through badly flooded paths. No photos were taken! 2.2 miles, 175m ascent.

 Easedale Tarn with Julian David was on a Lake District trip with The Curmudgeons and Julian very kindly suggested a later start and a lower level walk, which suited David very well. We parked up in Grasmere and followed the road and then the path up to Easedale Tarn. It was a fairly typical Lake District day- a bit of mist and a bit of drizzle from time to time. After lunching by the Sourmilk Gill waterfalls, we topped out at the tarn. Julian surveys the tarn Because of time and weather constraints, the walk up to Blea Rigg and the ridge walk back down to Grasmere didn't really make sense. However, the walk around the head of the tarn looked like a pleasant extension of the walk. We studied the map and saw that there were (intermittent) paths around the north side of the tarn which would save us from having simply to retrace our steps. We agreed on how much we like Herwicks ("Herdies") as a breed of sheep. Herdie- mistress of all that she surveys Despite the limited visi...

 Shining Tor After a morning spent baking sourdough and baguettes- plus a carrot curry for supper- we decided to take advantage of the sunny afternoon to nip up Shining Tor. It's only a one-and-a-half hour walk round trip, bu the views today were clear and impressive and it's worth the effort. Foxlow Edge and Wild Moor from Pym Chair Shining Tor and Shutlingsloe The weather looked wet again after Saturday or, at this time of year, it's best to snatch the opportunity provided by good weather when one can! 4.3 miles, 175m ascent.

Hathersage and Stanage Edge  So to Hathersage on a very wet Wednesday morning- but Jacinta put her faith in the weather forecast that said that it would clear up later in the morning. It did (more or less) and we were able to enjoy a nice autumnal walk. The first section felt a little circuitus, but we joined the familiar path to Brookfield Manor after passing through the Hathersage allotments. Leisurely sheep on the way to Brookfield Manor David and sheep Across the fields and through some excellent gates led us to woodlands. Gate Gallery Beyond the woodlands, we followed the sign to Dennis Knoll. Arrows in almost all directions! From Dennis Knoll we decided to deviate from the guidebook root slightly, and do up to High Kneb which always provides stunning views across the moorlands and to the hills beyond. Stanage and, in the far distance, Higgar Tor Win Hill and Kinder- beyond Bamford Moor It was an easy walk along the top of Stanage Edge, where it was not as windy as the forecas...