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Walking aound the Edale Valley
- 5 Hours, without stops
From
a base in Hope Village, just east of Castleton,
we took the road towards Edale as far as the Cheshire Cheese Pub. It really was
too early to stop so we took the lane opposite and paths to Fullwood Stile Farm.
The lane past the farm continues into a track which flanks up the hillside to
join the ridge above the Ladybower Reservoir and
gives fantastic views of Loose Hill and the Edale Valley. The train between Sheffield
and Manchester rumbles below. This is an ancient route previously used by the
Romans but now the province of Walkers and Mountain Bikers.
When you reach the cross
roads the path continues north into the Snake Pass but our route turns east into
Jaggers Clough by a well made up track dropping down to a pretty stream
crossing and gate. We continued on after the gate to the first sharp bend and
then left the track to follow the stream uphill. This rarely walked route gives
plenty of opportunity to route find and experience the ever changing views around
each bend. Eventually we saw a nick in the skyline, up the path made by the water
going down, which gave us access to the southern edge of Kinder
Scout.
The going was now easier
as we followed the paths west. Our goal was to find Ringing
Roger but the mist closed in and we had to find
it by feel! In good visibility this prominent spur overlooks
Edale Village and is a good place to open the thermos.The wind was
buffeting us so we chose to pick our way down below the cloud layer to the Village
and a warm welcome in the pub. Good food, coal fire and dogs accepted!
After lunch we headed through
the village and just after the graveyard took the lane to the east which crosses
the river.  Here
we followed a footpath across the fields south to cross the road and ascend the
track and path to Hollins Cross with views
in every direction encompassing the Edale
and Castleton Valleys, Winnats Pass, MamTor
and, if we could see, up to Jacobs Ladder.
The ridge path to the
east took us to Back Tor where we chose the
lower path to avoid climbing Loose Hill. The
visibility was poor again and the tea stop in Hope was more inviting! This is
an interesting path which lead you through everyone's back garden to emerge by
the school.
We were now back in Hope
but you can't finish this walk without visiting the Woodbine
Cafewho serve fantastic treacle cakes and will let you have cream and
ice cream as well but only if you've earned it!
A short cycle in Derbyshire -
2 Hours, without stops
We
started, despite the distinctly damp conditions, in Ashford
in the Water on the A6 west of Bakewell. We knew that the trip was
in three parts and part 1 was the big effort uphill up the B6465 to
Monsal Head.
Every cyclist must go here at least once, not only for the fantastic views of
Monsal Dale, the viaduct, the cafe and the
pub, but also for the exhilarating descent into the dale. You can let yourself
go.
Having
got to the bottom it was flat alongside the river with steep slopes either side
and the disused railway line clinging to the other side. At the mill, which is
being converted to luxury apartments, the road to Litton was up through woods
with glimpses of limestone deep in the dale below. We couldn't find a cafe so
took the lane to the right at the west end of Litton, which climbs the hill and
drops dramatically down into Tideswell, 'Derbyshire's
best kept secret', which has a friendly cafe, bakewell tart with icing and coffee
with hot milk!!
Climbing
north to the A623 we turned east and raced to avoid the busy road quickly turning
south to Wardlow. The first lane east had deep puddles and took us over
White Rake and Waterstone
Rake to Longstone Edge. In good
weather this gives views down the river Wye past Bakewell and all is revealed
as you turn the corner. Despite two of our group having lost their brakes we enjoyed
the road down into Great Longstone without mishap. Avoid the signpost and
take the turning to the 'Harry Potter' look-alike Thornbridge Hall, with
it's fine old railway station and access on to the line for walkers and cyclists
returning to Bakewell.
We
continued on down hill and finished in Ashford
on the old bridge with it's sheep-dipping pens before retiring to the pub to dry
out and plan the next venture hopefully in the dry!
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