Monsal trail, Tideswell dale & Longstone moor

This walk was done on 30 May 2011
Distance: 13.4 miles
Time 4.21
Weather: Typical May weather, wet again.


View 2011-05-30 10:20 Monsel Trail in a larger map
If you click on the link you can see more details. I walked it in a clockwise direction.

On Today's walk I had the company of Tony and his dog Lucy.
It started at Monsal head. Parking was on the public car park just behind the Monsal Head Hotel. This cost £4 for the four hours, the most expensive one I have come across yet by 25%. What we also noted was on the last walk up to the pub from Little Longstone was a lot of cars parked on the road side there. So I will say try the road side first and save paying the rip off council. 

One of the things that attracted me to this walk was the viaduct.

Looking from Monsal head up to Tideswell dale

Which was at the start of the walk, Now I don't make to many navigation errors but I have to admit somehow I missed it. I know it's a big object and you can see it plainly from Monsal head, but once we had got down to the bottom of the dale this is all I saw

nice but boring

 So I thought bugger it and we carried on. I had not heard of the Monsal Trail before once we had gone a few minutes down it I became apparent it was popular with the walkers and cyclist and it reminded me of the Manifold Way which is another converted rail line and as a personal choice a better walk/ride. This type of walking is a bit to commercial for my taste but if it gets people out and about that's OK.We soon came across a couple of tunnels which there are a number on this walk

More on these later in my rant time.

 This track runs slight on the hill side you have a good view into the dale bottom which had some good views

 This is Cressbrook mill an old dark and satanic now converted into flats. Having looked into it a bit more this was a Richard Arkwright mill that was burnt down in 1785 and rebuilt by his son Richard Arkwright junior who was more enlightened and started to treat his workforce much better :

The original mill was built by Sir Richard Arkwright in 1779 but this burnt down in 1785 and was rebuilt by Richard Arkwright Jnr in 1787. A large extension (Wye Mill - Grade II* listed) was commissioned in 1814 and erected by William Newton on behalf on J L Philips and Brother, Cotton Spinners. Newton was a local character whom Anna Seward dubbed 'The Minstrel of the Peak'. Behind the mill are apprentices cottages, older than the current main mill building by several years. These were built to house orphans brought as child apprentices from London to work in the mill.

In 1820 the tiny cottages in Ravensdale (known locally as 'The Wick') were built followed in 1840 the model village of pretty cottages at the top of the hill. The Cressbrook mill owners were generally philanthropic and as well as fine housing they provided piped water pumped up the hill from a spring near the river and they funded the village band, which still survives.

Above the mill is Cressbrook Hall, the house of mill-owner Henry McConnel. The house stands on a bluff overlooking the river and is a fanciful piece of Gothic architecture. The position is superb, with magnificent views down Monsal Dale. Farther up the hill is the rest of the village, for the most part consisting of the cottages once occupied by the millworkers.

A few miles along the river we turned right to enter Tideswell Dale where we came across a very large rodent

I don't know why it was there but it was done really well and to give you a sense of scale it was over a metre high. Should had taken the photo with Lucy in front of it.
At the head of the dale it was right turn into the village of Litton with another right turn directly behind a farmhouse leading down to Tansley dale which joins Cressbrook dale. We headed North up to the head of this dale

  Just before it ends (or should that be Starts?) take a look aback and you will see this interesting rock out crop which is not noticeable as you walk up the dale.

 A short walk down the road into Wardlow with a right turn off the road near the church takes you back over some odd countryside.

My best guess this is where the original stones were dug out for the drystone walls. With added sheep as well. We then turned onto Longstone moor a small moor which rose over the hill. While coming down the other side we came across more evidence of old stone digging

The photo does not do the vertical sides justice.

As you drop off the moor the view opens up in typical dale style

A stumble down through the woods and out onto the road to Little Longstone and then back up to Monsal head and the car. 
This took us a little over three and a half hours so we still had time and legs to find the elusive viaduct
 Once we got to the top again I took a picture or two to make sure it was there and headed down to it

So we eventually got to the bottom and Yes I mean the bottom, I had missed it again. I was not laughing at this time, I am not that crap at navigating, however my mood was lifted by the views we got as an added extra.

Yaaa we did eventually make it on the third attempt. I was satisfied and on the direct walk back up I found where I had missed the path down twice, I made some half hearted excuses to Tony who had know me longer enough just to laugh at me so I gave up and we went to the stable bar for a beer.

Now (rant mode on) next to the viaduct is a tunnel

 Same as all the tunnels along this trail there is a nice yellow sign.

Lets look at the general view again

Do we really need warning there is a tunnel? Is the tunnel not the main focus of attention here? Can someone please explain why this sign is necessary.
Also I don't know what to make of the first sentence in the blue part.
It just seems to me that once again H&S council jobsworths have taken over from common sense.

(rant mode off)

Just to prove that I was there thanks to Tony there is a photo of me on a walk.

Looking cool & yes this is the sign post I managed to miss twice.

It was a good walk the trail was a little to commercial for me but once we broke from the trail and the populace was left behind(it was a bank holiday weekend) it improved alot.
Thanks to Tony and Lucy for the company on a wet old day.
Which brings me to my final Photo. Living on your own does have some advantages

Kit dumped to dry in front room

Lose Hill, Mam Tor & Cave Dale

This walk was done on 26 May 2011
Distance: 10.8 miles
Time 3.54
Weather: Typical May weather, wet.


View 26-05-2011 Mam Tor in a larger map
If you click on the link you can see more details. I walked it in a Anti-clockwise direction.

This walk started from Castleton, After paying the standard £3, it was the first pay and display machine where I had to put part of  my car reg into it, Heaven forbid anyone trying to give tickets away when they still had time on them.

From the Carpark I headed North along Hollowford road turning off next to the training confrence centre and headed across the fields  making my way to wards Lose Hill. I could see the final stretch was steep and once I got onto it I found out how steep, Down to tshirt got to the top of the hill, Had a breather and took a couple of photo's looking across to Mam Tor.

  As you can see the top ridge line is pathed. I set off along it and within minutes the weather came in again and it was mid layer on and with in minutes of that coat on. It did start to get very wet. 

Now I'm not one for a rant but I did get overly annoyed along the next stretch, I forgot to take pictures of said annoyance, Cains. The piles of rocks which use to be used to be used as way markers back in the good old days across moor tops where it was easy to get lost.
There were three of them within 150metres along this ridge line.

Why? It's a ridge line  you know where you are. If you suddenly drop down you have left the path.
It's a stone marked path you dont need to be member of the SAS to figure where to go.
The Farmer/Peak park/Whoever who owned the wall the stones have been taken from must be so happy for it to happen.

Why do I not like them? They mostly look ugly, as (dare I say it) Punter walkers have heard you are suppose to add to them they are ending up taking over the surrounding are which leads me to Damaging the natural environment. Walking (particually in popular spots) does a lot but lets not add to it by creating the great pyramids of geeza(diamond). Thank god it's just not me Damage to ancient landscapes caused by walkers building cairns

Rant over (for now)

Moving along the path from Holling cross to the top of Mam tor I saw a group of kids making there way up looking like the retreat from Mons, spread all up the path. The rain had got heavier and the wind had picked up so when I got to the top, after passing a few struggler's it was getting interesting.
I'm all for letting the kids experience  the great out doors and this was special moment for them as they huggled together for the group photo at the top with the wind blowing the rain through thier trackie bottoms and fashion mud soaked trainers.
They did have a couple of (I took to be) guides and two teachers with them.I heard one of them say was "Get together for a photo, you made the effort to get up here and the photo will be a reminder of your day" I thought the raking cough of Pneumonia would be enough of a reminder.
The weather put hold on enjoying the views and having a better look around. Mam Tor Has a lot of history and I would have liked a bit of a look around the but what with the weather and the kids( bless them) I moved off before I was helping to carry them off the hill.

I carried along the ridge line until it dropped into the col which took you to edale, I turned south and headed across the fields wanting to look at something that caught my eye on the Map.
Slitherstone Mine (disused)  Knowing how the area is riddled with mine working I thought I would take a gander, I was expecting a filled in dip in the ground. I was wrong. As I walked to the spot I notice some large concrete sleepers in the field. I headed for them and yes it was the mine. It was a hole in the ground about 3 meters across covered with the sleepers. There is spaces between them and I piered down and down and down and down. My god it was a deep hole, I could not see the bottom the miners must have been winched down and up along with everything else comming out of the mine.
This working would have taken a lot of effort. The though did occur to me as why here? It's on a bleak exposed moor top I good walk for anyone to get there to work down the hole. There must have been a reason it was there. My picture did not come out as the flash was not strong enough to penetrate the depth and I was not will to take any more if  I dropped anything down there It was gone for good. On the route map the location is marked.

As I walked back to the path to join the Limestone way I passed a dry stone waller, said the pleasantry's and got chatting. I looked along the wall he had completed, a good job done then looked along the mile or two he still had to go and said "you got plenty to go at here"
His reply was "yep it will see me out"
People can talk about a career path and future job prospects but here was a man who could physically see his working life stretching out infront of him.
I'm envious of the man who knows where he will be in 5 years time- about 2 miles down the track.

Next I followed the Limestone way a short way to the top of Cave Dale just before I dropped down the steep I noticed Peveril Castle sitting on it's ledge (which I had seen above Castleton and wanted a look at) so I walked across the tops to have a look at the back side of it. I was met by barbed and concertina wire. It was only as I moved to pass this and make for the gate in the castle wall that I noticed why it was there. My photos don't do the suddenness of the drop justice.

So I made my way back along to enter Cavedale which is a stunning steep drop and at the time very wet gorge. The views of the castle from below make you wonder how it was built around 1066. I wonder if they did a  health and safety risk assessment and had 5 years of planning permission hassle. I think not.

Note the Rain

Leaving cavedale is very suddern and you are suprise to be in the middle of Castleton. I did want up to the front of the castle and enquired as to how much to enter?
£4.30
Ok thanks, but no thanks.
A quick walk back to the car and that's another ticked off.
I did enjoy the latter half of the walk but I did find Castleton and the first half just to commercial but that's the nature of the area what with all the mines dotted around.

Kinder Scout via Crowden Clough

This walk was done on 16 May 2011
Distance: 10 miles
Time 3.52
Weather: Typical May weather, wet.

Thanks to modern technology I can now show a map of the route.


View 16-05-2011 Kinder Scout in a larger map

Yaaa it works, If you click on the link you can see more details. I walked it in a clockwise direction.

So down to the boring bit, Started at Edale £3 to park for 4 hours seems like the going rate. I headed out under the rail track onto the the Pennine way until I got to the road just past upper Booth  where I decided to leave the way and head up the Crowden Clough, This starts as a nice gentle stream valley which then turns into a steeper more energetic stream which begins to cut through the rock bed and eventually turns into a scramble and a very steep climb out of the clough adjacent to Crowden tower.

Thanks to modern technology I can now show photo's

It then gets real steep and I did not know if it was totally safe what with it been wet and on my own so I took the path on the left of the valley out. When I looked down off the top I think I made the right choice.

Once onto the Kinder tops the weather closed down, I headed over to Pym's Chair,Passing Crowden Toower
then I tried to find the high point but as the weather was bleak and the visabitily not to clever I used the GPS on my Phone. Once I thought I got there I checked on my map and the two did not relate.
I put my faith in OS before a smartphone. Once I got back I looked into this and there is an altitude error accidental built into GPS, I will cover this at a later date when I'm feeling more geeky. However I had wondered around enough and needed something to eat, as there was no one about I had to snap at myself. I headed back over to the top of the Fords crossing the peak bog.

 The Fords were well named with an interesting head rock formation.

Then carried on west a little until I found an outcrop to shealter behind to eat.
Been all refreshed I decdied to add Grindlow Knoll in and headed up the very boggy path. The weather had closed in again so no pictures, however out of the gloom ran a very fit(in both senses of the word) girl felling running.
It was very quite day and I only saw her and a group of three a bit later on. Once on the knoll I turned North and headed for the top of Grindsbrook cluogh to head back down off the moorThis was a very steep scramble down near to the fox holes, once I got down the top half it started to warm up again and turned into a pleasent walk back into Edale.
This route brings you back into the village passing the  Old Nags Head Inn which would have been rude to pass without going in for a pint. 


It was a good fun walk, hard work in places and covered the highest point in the Peak district.
I would like to come back here soon but include Jacob's Ladder and Kinder Downfall while it's still wet, looking out of the window today I am not rushed.

Eyam Moor, Abney and Stoke Ford

This walk was done on 12 May 2011
Distance: 8 miles
Weather: Overcast with sunny spells and showers (typical may weather)

I picked this as a start of the summer campaign because I had not been to Eyam (the plague village) for years.The walk was taken from here www.grabyourboots.com So far it's the only one I've taken off the net that I followed.

I arrange to do this walk with Jo who kept a little suprise from me until the morning of the walk. We were taking a dog with us, it was a Yorkshire terrier of no size called Tia (hopefully Jo will provide a photo). Now I don't mind dogs but as it's legs were about as long as my hand I excepted to be carrying it after a couple of miles, I had visions of it been like one of those posh handbag dogs with it's head poking out of my day sack slobbering down the back of my neck. How wrong could I be.

So we set off not to long into the walk along a track we came across a couple of older gents who, once the general greetings were swapped asked where we were. Now I always carry a Ordnance survey map. In the past I've had to use photocopy's and they make the job of knowing where you are far to difficult so I will not go out with out a OS map.
These two gents pulled a PC printout map out of their pocket and pointed to where they thought they were. They were not there. I then showed them were they were about 3 km north.
Thinking that they made the mistake due to not using a proper map. The next few sentences made that thought fallacious. As they explained where they had started and the route they had taken in the time they stated made me realise that they were been guided by Lady Luck, who was having her work cut out for her. I pointed them in the right direction and left them in her hands.

The walk then took us down towards Abeny crossing some beautiful streams. Just before the village we crossed a field containing some horses. I do not get on with horses and horses know this. They were nice horses with foals which I thought might be an issuse with said dog( who was still going like the duracell bunny wired to the mains) the horses and foals went for a run and little Tia followed suit, once the retractable lead had ran out she did her best to drag me along with her. I dont know what was running though her head but the smallest foal had a body mass of at least 200 times hers I don't know if she really was hunting them. In my mind just another example of dog's intelligence.

We then climbed out of the valley and across Eyam moor back to the car, down into the village to have a beer. At first we could not find a pub that side of the village, it was dryer than a Sunday in wales we decided to go else where when we spotted the miners arms and a beer was had.
Now back to little miss short legs who must have covered twice the distance on the walk as the both of us. While at the pub we were sitting outside, the sun deciding to stop out for a bit. She just did not stop running around tying herself around the benches and been a total magnet to all dog lovers there. Got back into the car where she promply crashed out for the journey back.

So as a first walk this was a good start, did not get lost, did not end up in mud up to our shoulders and not to taxing. You maybe glad or not that I took no pic's on this walk, Jo has a few I may try to get off her to add to this later.

Time to catch up and start afresh (is that a word?...Oh according to google it is)

I did my ski season, had a great time and wanted to carry on with the theme over the summer. However the real world (spits) took a bite out of me so I had to look to getting a boring job to tide me over.

So that I could carry on with the feeling of not been in the rat race I decided to have at least one walk a week on a hill or mountain. Just to let you know the difference is anything over 600 metres.
I'm a few weeks in and have only just thought of  putting my rambling rants down on the net for all to see. I enjoyed doing the ski rants and I hope these go down as well (with slightly less punter jokes).

I've not been working full time up to now just the odd days, However I'm due to start a (can I say it?) a regular job (oh how that sticks in my throat) on Monday so my walking will now be at weekends which I have tried to avoid because of the tourist/punter walkers (hurra I got a reference to them in).
 
Due to the flaky job market I've set a cost limit of £15/day which turns out to be a good limit. It usually breaks down as around £10 fuel and £3/£5 car parking. I have not included food in this as I would be eating anyways, I take sandwiches and coffee. I do allow an added extra of a pint if I deserve it, funny enough I do most of the time.
This means that I'm doing the Peak District which is such a big bonus been so close. A hour's drive and I'm covering most of it. Once I'm more settled in regular work I will be taking weekends away to cover Wales and the Lakes. I think I will need to.

I do have alot of expereince of walking the mountains/hills/moors. A lot of that time with 80lb of kit on my back and been on the look out for people wanting to punch me in the head. Nowadays it's a much lighter load, still got to keep a look out for the aforementioned people (me abrasive?)
I also did do a few last summer but did not record them, thanks to my few walking partners.

I enjoy solo walking a lot, It lets me go at my own pace, the solitude and to deviate off the route to look at interesting thing or to adjust the route as I see fit.
However there is a lot to say about doing it with company as well, general chat and another perspective on how steep/rainy it really is. So there will be a few special guest appearing over the season.     

The next two posts are catch up as they were done before I started to log'em. I'm also one walk down as I did not do one last week. Yes I'm subject to procrastination which I will cover at a later date. I'm hoping to do my catch up walk on Sunday.