Peak District Monday 7th June 2010

Monday 7th June - Baslow/Curbar Edges
(Pathfinder White Peak Walk #21 (7.25 Miles) 4hrs 45mins

We stayed at the Samuel Fox Country Inn in Bradwell on Sunday night. The Inn isn't 'cheap' at £115 per room, but it was worth the cost. The inn only has five rooms and only one of these has a bath so you need to request it upon booking (we like a good soak after a long walk).
Also contacting the Inn direct rather than going through Late Rooms or similar will possibly get a better rate, we noticed some offers on their website so worth a look there.

The reception was very welcoming. We were shown around our room - complimentary Thorntons chocolates, tea/coffee, even some port and a bowl of fresh fruit.
There was a large flat-screen TV and the room decor and fitments were very tasteful and stylish. A very comfortable place to be. The one negative that might be a concern to some was that the inn is situated on a main road. Because of the warmth of the evening we left the windows open all night and obviously this meant we had a bit of traffic noise, other than that 10/ 10.

The evening meal in the restaurant was set at a high standard, but prices were not overly expensive for the quality of the food (approx £56 for our meals, three courses each, not including drinks from the bar). The menu was simple (not exhaustive descriptions), but the food was nicely presented and well cooked. Very friendly staff - though one girl did appear to do almost everything - but very efficiently and polite at the same time. No pretentious airs or graces here, good food presented well with no over the top waffle (good beer too!!).

Having had a most comfortable night at the Samuel Fox Inn, we had a very substantial breakfast (juice/toast/full cooked english and fresh croissants and jam/tea/coffee) we decided to set off on another walk as the weather looked reasonable.

http://www.samuelfox.co.uk/

We checked out and headed off in the car to the start of the walk in the pay and display in Baslow (£4.70 all day)






The walk took us on a fairly long and steep-ish ascent from the centre of Baslow, past houses then out onto a rough track, and eventually rising to the approach to Baslow Edge. We rested here on a bench and took in the view, with Wellington Monument nearby and Chatsworth House Estate in the distance. From there we took a left up onto the edge itself, passing a large stone (Eagle Stone) on the right of the path. We took a detour from the main path as suggested by the guide book to walk nearer to the edge itself among very large rocks as can be seen above.

Further along can be seen the larger Curbar Edge, which we continued onto later.



The viewing point above allowed you to pick out certain landmarks seen from Baslow Edge.
Having enjoyed the view, we continued on, dropping down then up onto Curbar Edge.

Curbar Edge was larger and even more impressive particularly walking among the large rocky outcrops right on the edge itself. The views across the Derwent Valley were stunning.

Having spent quite a bit of time here admiring the views, we moved on, stopping regularly to admire the viewpoints.

The route from here dropped very steeply via a rocky narrow track through woodland. I would not recommend this on a wet day as it could be slippery.

Once past this slow section things improved as we came out at Froggatt Bridge (which we could see in the distance earlier from Curbar Edge). Once over the bridge, the walk took a riverside path (watch out for those cows again!) for a mile or so.

We crossed the river in Curbar village, then a bit of a steep uphill slog and it started to rain (not too heavily though). We pressed on for a while and it evened out and the rain slowed, allowing us to enjoy the mile or so back to the start point at Baslow.

We left Baslow and headed off to our new B&B near Matlock - Holmefield Guest House for two nights.

http://www.holmefieldguesthouse.co.uk/

We had a Victorian style room with a slipper bath in the bedroom itself as well as a large en-suite.

The only thing we found was the room decor was a bit dark, making the whole room look very dim (Victorian style I guess - does what it says on the tin!!)

Nice view though over countryside/hills, and if the weather had been better there was a large terrace with table to sit out overlooking the views. The rain prevented this though!!

Tuesday was a total wash-out - no walks, so after a reasonable breakfast (not a patch on Samuel Fox Inn though) bit of shopping at Masson Mills near Matlock Bath, Aquarium visit, and then drive to Buxton and a walk around the shops.

We took a meal at Holmefield on Tuesday evening, which was okay, again not as good as the night previously at Samuel Fox, and it was a similar price, but lesser quality.

I think the weather took the shine off Holmefield, as I am sure it would have been much more pleasant if we could have relaxed outside enjoying the views with drinks etc.....

Wednesday we left after breakfast, returning home and reflecting on the three excellent walks we had and decent weather for the most part.

Will definitely return to the Samuel Fox Country Inn.

Our Walk Score: 7.5/10

Peak District Sunday June 6th 2010

Sunday June 6th - Monkey Forest

Okay, today we decided to take a bit of a break from walking.
As well as that it was our 12th wedding anniversary, so we decided to take a trip to Stoke-On-Trent and the Emma Bridgewater Pottery. Sue already has some mugs from there and so hoped to pick some bargains up at the factory shop.

http://www.emmabridgewater.co.uk/

We had also seen on a leaflet the Monkey Forest at Trentham Gardens nearby to Stoke, so it looked like a good day, the pottery in morning and then monkeys in the afternoon.

http://www.trentham-monkey-forest.com/information.php?id_cat=1

http://www.trentham.co.uk/

We eventually found the pottery after the satnav postcode took us nearby, but not quite near enough. We expected a more industrial estate area, but it was just off a main road in a small cul-de-sac/parking area. Still, Sue found a few reductions in the factory shop and a few full priced mugs to buy. With that done, we left for the monkeys......

Again, we had a similar problem with the satnav postcode taking us nearby (Trentham Estate golf course) - who's the monkeys?

Went back to the main road, found some signs which took us there. We heard other people complaining too that their satnavs had sent them the wrong way - tip, follow the road signs!

Price was reasonable at £6.50 each (though double this if you wish to visit the gardens - we did not that day as not enough time).

There is a cafe serving food/drinks, a small cinema showing a fim about the monkeys, and then the forest walk itself. The monkeys are all allowed to wander freely, the forest area has a fence all the way around, and entry is via strict staff manned main gateway. A few rules re not taking food into the main enclosure and children are told not to run/ make too much noise.

Once in, you are free to wander around the pathways in a very picturesque setting, the monkeys ( and there are plenty of them!!) are very close to the walkways and wander across the paths in front of you from time to time. The monkeys are all Barbary Macaques (about 140 of them).


There were several staff around so you can ask questions, though they all seemed quite keen to tell you about certain aspects and general information anyway.
The beaming fellow below looks almost cartoon like, and there are plenty of antics to observe, as well as a few young, and it was interesting to see how the parents looked after the babies.

We spent about two hours or so there, though I guess you could spend a little longer, but it's more of a short day out, unless you visit the gardens which I am guessing could make a full day.

We left impressed, and onward to a new B&B, The Samuel Fox Inn at Bradwell.

Peak District Saturday June 5th 2010

June 5th
The Roaches & Luds Church
Pathfinder White Peak Guidebook Walk #25 (8.25 Miles)

Start 10:00, Finish 16:15 (6hrs 15 mins) 10.3 Miles actual

Height Gain 1,420 Feet (433m)

On a hot and sunny Saturday morning we set off by car from Longnor and after about 7 miles arrived at "The Roaches" and near to our start point of Roaches Gate.
Parking here is "Roadside", and at 09:45 was quite busy with us having to park about half a mile from the actual start point in the guide book.

The Satmap was charged and ready today, so here are the route maps and the log completed at the end of the walk.





The picture above was taken near to where we parked, the start point being further along the road after it curves to the left. The Roaches can be seen in the background, and the ridge top we would be walking along.

It was noted at this point that an Ice Cream van was parked up by the roadside, though there was no driver. This we throught could be a good incentive to reach the end of the walk hoping the van would be open for business later on, after a hard days slog in the hot sun.

The first mile of the walk is mainly uphill via tracks, and then through woodland, and more open tracks again to gain access to the top of the roaches ridge.

The path up onto the ridge can be seen above. The walk then undulates across the ridge for several miles with excellent views and the interesting rock formations of the ridge line itself.

Considering the number of vehicles at the bottom, the paths were not too crowded and groups of walkers were spread in a reasonable manner, the only large group encountered at the summit cairn.

The Roaches can certainly be reccomended for the views and not too much effort in gaining ascent.

The track then descends slowly to a lane at Roach End, crossing to continue through a gap stile. This then bears right uphill and into the woodland part of the walk leading to "Luds Church".

We ate lunch near some large rock formations and then continued on taking the far right path of three at this point and continued through the woodland.

Beware, as the turn right in the woodland through a gap and into Luds Church is easily missed.

This may have been due to a couple of other walkers sat nearby distracting our attention with the usual greetings, and we continued on up the path unaware we had passed the turn point through a "rock entrance".

We ended up going a backwards route through Luds Church, and then once out (and through the turn point we missed) back along the trail again before rejoinnig and continuing on. This we think added about a mile onto the route. (But it was worth it as Luds Church was impressive, going through the moss encrusted chasm!!)

As can be seen it was quite steep and slippy, care had to be taken. Would be easy to slip and hurt an ankle in the process. We were careful and made it through with no problems.

Once through Luds Church we continued on through the woodland before ascending again and back to Roach End and the cross point of paths and stiles we encountered earlier.

It was at this point that water was starting to look a little low, but it was here that we saw in the distance an Ice Cream Van (or more to the point THE ice cream van seen earlier at the bottom start point), with a queue of hot and thirsty walkers already present.

Needless to say we joined the short queue (had money with me today!!). So, two 99 cornets and bottles of water later we went on our way.

Here we turned along a lane runnig parallel with the track we had just walked along (we did check twice if this was the way we were suppsoed to go!!) .... It was!!

The route back form here was mainly a valley type walk across a mix of rough paths, grass, gorse and lanes. The views were stunning even though we were not walking along the Roaches ridge, but we had good views of the ridge and surroundings form a lower and different perspective. A good route, rather than simply heading back along the ridge again.

We reached the start point at around 16:15, and although fairly tired from the effort and the hot sun, we both agreed it had been a good walk, if not a little tiring given the hot weather.

We resrted with the car aircon on full, and headed back to out B&B, Spring cottage in Longnor.

Our Walk Score: 8/10

Peak District Friday June 2010

Friday 4th June - Dovedale
Pathfinder White Peak Guidebook - Walk 24
8 Miles - Ilam & Dovedale

We drove straight to Dovedale in the South Peak District on a Hot and Sunny Friday morning, arriving at a busy crowded car park mid-day.

Parking was cheap at £2 all day, and we were directed to the overflow car park on a grass verge.

Switched the Satmap on to begin the walk, and set off away from the crowded car park back towards Ilam village.

Within minutes of setting off, the Satmap showed a very low battery. Realised I had forgotten to put it on charge the night before - a few minutes after this the screen went blank, and that was that, no route logging for this walk then. The route is shown above, taken after the walk and after a recharge.

The first part of the walk took us across open fields back towards the village of Ilam.
The view back from where we started (and apparently where most were heading) was Thorpe Cloud, the flat topped looking hill shown below. Perhaps a hill to tackle on another occassion.


Ilam village was the creation of one man (Wealthy industralist Jesse Watts Russell), who remodelled his own estate and resiting the village. Ilam hall was built in the 1820`s in a Gothic style, and 30 years later Russell relocared the village, building in a Alpine style that is unique to the peak. The style can be seen below.

We continued through thje village turning right and followed the signs leading to Ilam park estate and headed for the church, and then the terraced garden.

Having brought a packed lunch with us we ate that in the shade in the arches below the garden seen above, and then saw a sign for the cafe and Ice Cream!

Then came the 2nd error of the day (The 1st being the Satmap battery charging tragedy!)

NO MONEY!! - Wallet,mistakenly, and very foolishly left in the car (or at least where I hoped it perhaps was left), therefore no ice cream. So we pressed on through the terraced garden to a gate in the corner and down to a track which followed the river Manifold for a short while.

We followed this track for a mile or so, after which it opened out into view across the valley.

The day was hot and sunny, and it began to feel a little exposed as we began to climb uphill through open countryside.

Once the going evened out some, we crossed several stiles and the way ahead was via more open fields. The first of which saw a field full of cows, all closely grazing near to the access path through the field. Based upon past experiences where cows are concerned (Nearer Home in Lincolnshire they appear to be more "savage") it was decided I would "test the water" and cross the field first alone to check the reaction of our bovine friends to a red rucksacked hiker invading their space. Our concerns were unfounded, and having indicated little reaction to my presence, I gestured to Sue to cross after me, and we both made it across without incident.

We headed across further fields and stiles, feeling a little bit cooler after the uphill trudge in the hot sun. Was still a rather hot day though, and regular water stops were made.

We came out onto a lane into the village of Stanshope, then followed a track right through to Milldale. Here, it got a little busier again, and after crossing a stone bridge (Viators Bridge) and a National Trust Information barn, we arrived at the banks of the Rive Dove.

The walk then followed the river bank back to Dovedale along busier and more define tourist pathways, and in some sections boardwalks.

Despite the crowds, the walk was very pleasant at this stage passing through steep sided gorges either side of the river, with plenty of crags and caves along the way to hold our interest.

This pleasant easy going section went on for around 3 miles, before arriving at Dovedale itself and the famous stepping stones across the River Dove.
Unfortunatley no picture, as the crowds here would do it no justice at all, with people picnicking, playing ball games and even setting up BBQ`s. There was a queue to cross via the stepping stones so we did not bother and cross at the bridge further down the bank.

Much quieter section of the river Dove shown above.

Despite the crowds at the start and particularly the last mile at the end, this was an enjoyable walk on a hot and sunny day (perhaps a little too hot for an 8 mile walk, still should not grumble!).

The Ice creams available from the stand at the Dovedale car park are particularly recommended, and were welcome in the hot sun.

The walk completed, we reflected whilst we enjoyed the Ice Cream, and then drove off to our accomodation at Spring Cottage B&B in Longnor.

Our Walk Score: 7/10