Walking With Williams

Well, it had to happen someday. A visit to the Peak District without the aim of climbing a hill. We had planned all week to visit the Peaks with Nick from work. Also, having done a fair amount of ascent recently, Cheryl also suggested a longer but flattish walk. So a quick visit to Walking Britain and a walk from Monyash to Lathkill Dale was chosen.

Nick picked us up about 10ish, so we walked out of Monyash about 11. The first couple of miles were incident free, other than some piss taking out of my shorts – their 2nd outing this year! I must admit I was a little chilly…

Things went slightly amis however, when we descended into Caves Dale. We should have climbed straight out of it again to head over to Youlgreave, but alas, I wasn’t concentrating on the map, and thus beared left into Lathkill Dale. This valley should have been the return leg, but instead we choose to walk down it.

Its a great valley, smaller and less dramatic than Dove Dale, but it did feel more remote, and dare I say, more pretty. There was green moss growing on just about every wall and tree. There were beautiful waterfalls (some man made) so I bored my companions a little by rattling off about 300 photos. Oops!

Waterfalls on the River Lathkill

Then, we continued further downstream to a point where the valley opened up. We sat, eat lunch and watched ducks fight and dive in the river. A little further down the stream on Conksbury Bridge, I saw my first live trout – there were loads of them.

Trout in the River Lathkill

After some consideration at the bridge, we decided to take the shorter option back to Monyash by simple retracing our steps through Lathkill Dale right to the end. So we did, and a very pleasent walk back it was. It’s amazing how different the views are looking through a valley one direction and the other. Then, once we entered the section above Caves Dale, the terrain got a little tougher, and it became more obvious were were in limestone country. Lots of caves, and limestone crags providing quite dramatic views. This upper section takes you to within a mile of Monyash, so after some simple trekking over a couple of farmer’s fields, we arrived in Monyash about 17:00. We found a cafe on the way back to the car and polished off toffee and chocolate ripple ice creams – the first outdoors ice creams of the year.

Limestone features in the top of Lathkill Dale

All in all, a great walk and the weather was ok. Unfortunately, as blogged yesterday, snow is forecast for my lakeland expedition but at least my YHA bookings are now confirmed at Windermere, Buttermere and Keswick. Just got to plan the route between them!!

Had a great day in Edale with Cheryl and the pre sister / brother-in-laws (coach trip quote if anyone is sad enough to watch it -no? just me..) . We tried to do a 10 miler  a couple of weeks ago, but the foot of snow put paid to that – tough walking and a possible scary descent of jacob’s ladder proved too much. So today, we set the matter straight with an attack on 1/2 of the Edale Skyline. The plan: Edale > Hollins Cross > Lose Hill > Hope Cross > Crookstone Knoll > Ringing Roger > Edale.

Now, I got a little ribbing today about my optimistic choice of shorts and a short sleeve shirt; it might be too cold and ‘what are those pieces of string hanging out of my shorts’ (i.e. my legs…). I had my doubts about the choice early morning, mist and only 4 degrees in the car, and this remaining 1/2 way up the M1. Luckily, approaching Chesterfield, BBC weathers predictions came true, and the car’s thermometer rose to 10 degrees.

Arriving in Edale at about 10:30, we luckily managed to find a prime lay-by parking space only 100 metres out of the village car park. A quick change of clothes and we ascending Hollin’s Cross, and then Lose Hill. All fairly pleasent, and we enjoyed watching the nutters fell runners competing in some kind of race. We particularly enjoyed one guy appearing to totally cut a corner, not sure whether this was allowed though he did it right in front of a marshall…The descent of Lose Hill was quick and pain free with the mandatory M&S sarnies half way down. Cheers for the pork pies Steve!!!

Edge of Kinder Scout from Crookstone Knoll

We then started our second hill of the day skirting Win Hill, ascending the roman road to Hope Cross we got our muscles warmed up again for the hard pull up Crookstone Knoll. A few people on rock photos and Percy Pigs refueled us for the ‘flat’ walk along the edge to Ringing Roger. Now, by this time, I was happy to see some cloud come in. Firstly, this cooled things down (see, the shorts were a good idea..) and secondly, they reduced the glare from a powerful sun and brought interest to some moody moorland photos. Played for the first time with my stronger grad filter. Maybe OTT for strength but I enjoyed a couple of photos.

Strange light over the vale of Edale from Ringing Roger

Finally, we descended Ringing Roger, avoided any pubs in Edale and returned to the car by about 17:00. A tough day – tougher than the nominal 10.3 miles (10.2 if it wasn’t for a ‘navigational occurrence’ by me) with > 600 metres; not bad for the peak district.

Steve was obviously getting excited about the prospect of beer in Edale

Even managed a Toby Carvery for dinner, turkey, yorkies and a pint of Bulmers. Nice.

Well, after a few months constrained really to local walks, the last couple of weeks have been great. Two weeks ago, we managed a walk over Church Stretton, and last Saturday we did Rushup Edge, Brown Knowl (easiest crossing I have ever had due to the icy peat) and descended Jacob’s Ladder.

This Wednesday, I decided to take the day off from work and try something a little more serious. My original idea was to try my crampons for the first time by ascending one of the snowdonia peaks, but MWIS suggested something else by virtue of heavy snow, hail and thunder. I therefore looked to other mountainous regions and decided upon attempting Whernside and Ingleborough.

Snowy Whernside

I left the house about 6am, and got upto Ingleton about 9:15 to buy the requisite OS map, having planned the route online. Finally arrived at Ribblehead about 9:45 and whilst packing my rucksack, I got chatting to a friendly local in the car park. As we discussed routes, we started walking together up the east flank of Whernside.

The conversation was interesting, local knowledge adds so much to these walks, I learnt about the effort on redirecting the river down Dentdale, about the shake holes, and the limestone pavements on the foot of Ingleborough. Now, I had orignally intended to finish the chat half walk up the hill, and resume normal solitary walking with my camera. However, time flew as our conversation covered the armed services, politics, and the virtues of vegetarianism (I have given up meat for lent…). Next thing I know, we are crossing an icy tarn before topping out on the summit. I was surprised to see the 6 foot or so of snow built up against the wall, and the cornice build up.

Once at the summit, I enjoyed an M & S ploughmans sandwich and three bean / cheese wrap before resuming the walk down a decidely rocky artifical stair case. I was a little worried with the ice covered steps, and hoped the gradient wouldn’t be too much for me knee. But no, I was fine, and felt quite fresh by the time I reached the road.

Old farmhouse near Whernside summit

However, time was not on my side for an ascent of the planned Ingleborough. It was about 14:30 and my walking colleage said it would take a good 3 hours to complete the second hill. This time constraint, combined with the no doubt icy north face descent  led me to the descision to walk over the limestone pavements at the foot of Ingleborought which led to a faint path over fields back to Ribbledale.

Moody limestone pavement

All in all, about 12 miles of walking over 6 hours, followed by an awful 3.5 hour drive down the M6. Still, a fantastic winter walking day, as the photos hopefully show…