2017 UK holiday only a few days away

After popular request I will be trying to return to blogging while away in The Lakes and Peaks in the next few weeks. I've also been told to consider vlogging and even asking followers for places to visit and then writing about them afterwards... we'll see about that...

For now I'm just checking that this thing still works after being abandoned for the last nearly 4 years...

Dove Dale, Mayfield, Ashbourne, Thorpe, Ilam

Thursday 17 October was our last full day in the Peak District on this Holiday. It was also looking like the weather could give us a rather nice day; with no rain predicted throughout at all.

Up early I planned to visit Dove Dale and wall a sizeable stretch along the river bank. I was also looking forward to visiting Ilam, which is reported to have rather unusual architecture for the area.

Dovedale car park was less than a quarter hour from Rivendale Caravan Park. This turned out to be a private car park with an attendant and cost £2.50 for the day [prices accurate at the time of going to press :P). Parking up it seemed to be quite a popular place with already a good number of car releasing people clearly of the walking and hiking persuasion.

Adorning my day pack and allowing Tikka to hop out of the car there was a distinct sound of a tractor and kids voices. The tractor materialised towing a little house, which they proceeded to deposit on a chevroned area and opened up one side to reveal a cafe - how cool... The kids voices came from a horde of them arriving from I don't know where and beginning to colloid around the amenity block. Hoping first that they were going elsewhere, but at the very least I could get far enough ahead of them to hear the birds in preference to their squeaks, Tikka and I were off and following the stream.

I really must come back and walk these grassy peaks... subject to permitted pathways of course...

Except today it wasn't a stream; it seemed to be running at quite a bore, likely the result of the recent rains and runoff into the valley.

Coldwall Bridge

At cold wall bridge Tikka naturally hopped up onto this old Oak tree stump. She seemed quite happy to settle there for a few moments and so I took the opportunity of taking a few pictures.

Right by the side of the tree stump were these wonderful fungi; all growing happily in their terraced little world. Beautiful. 

 This walk seemed to be fairly poorly maintained... along the route we saw broken gates and missing fences making the gates / still quite redundant. 

However, some parts have recently been maintained, like the addition of this lovely wire fence, which was keeping the bovine herd at bay... and in this instance at a very comfortable distance...

Every the picky git though... if only they'd put in the fence to follow the available walking path, rather than tight to this slippy edge, which several walkers who I passed on the way had warned me about... pity. 

Although Tikka can be quite spooked by stuff... like the large black bollard on the entrance to the caravan park on the first night, but she didn't take any notice of on future passings, since she found an embankment as a pup she's since been freaked by small bridge crossings. In the first few days she was quite nervous of them as we encountered them our walks, but then overcame this and would regularly get to and cross them before I had. I guess it was right to assume that she'd cured herself of that... but how wrong I was.

Tikka had a complete flip out at this bridge... no idea why, other than that it only had a handrail / guard on one side... but she's happily walked across other simple plank/beam bridges during our walks before. 

While I am now humbled to think of myself living in the countryside, I'm reminded that there are still so many more places which are even more remote and idyllic; like this circa 1970's bungalow delightfully lost and mostly concealed within the edge of the woodland on the south facing slope. Bliss. 

Tikka and I walked through the wonderful valley and dales, often with empty fields, but sometimes with flocks of sheep. They noticed us both on our arrived and mostly swished off to one side, although it was comical when one sheep decided to stand his ground and even made a few steps forwards as we approached, stamping their feet as they went... Tikka just kept walking on and the nerve of the sheep eventually buckled and they lept out of the way.

Some of the stiles on this walk were the sprung gated type, but more so they were the traditional wooded two steps up and over. Surprisingly some of these even had dog gates, the poles to pull up to let the dog through. While Tikka managed the dog gates easily, some of the wooded two step provided a little difficult, so she adopted the process of hopping up to the first/second tread and then looked to me to lift her over.

However one stile at the entrance to Okeover Park proved too much for my nerve. Dog, day pack, camera, me... fortunately I didn't have to test my skills at organising the order of transfer and found that the main road gate was open, so we just walk around the fence.

The farm houses along this stretch were wonderful; set back off this lovely quiet minor road with cattle grids either end.

It was just after this house that the guided path sort of vanished. The guide book and the GPS seemed quite adamant that the path was through this field of really tall sweetcorn. Looking for a way around I couldn't see one that didn't take us into a field of cows. The options were the minor road without pavements, or through here... and thought it would be fun through here.

View along the route we'd just hacked our way through

Although initially rather concerned by the enclosed space and the swishing of my day back on adjacent runs of sweetcorn stalk, Tikka was just at the right height to avoid any of their fronts and just kept walking, albeit with some continual calm encouragement from me.

At the end of cornfield I'd rather hoped to have been at the road, however we seemed to have been stopped short, by at least 100ft, by a double barbed wire fence... now what to do... 

Fortunately the first wire was really rather high and Tikka could easily walk below it, and the second one I could easily lift her over. But that still meant me, day pack and camera had to traverse it.

With a reasonable amount of effort I managed to get us both through/over this obstruction with only my nerves slightly shredded.

View of the fence after we'd struggled across

Trudging across the next field we had to scramble through another barbed wire fence; this time it was too tall for me to step over, so this time I had to squeeze between the strands... eeek... 

View back over the route we'd walked - the house just above middle centre is the nice farmhouse

We were now in the beautiful hamlet of Mayfield; it was clearly that the residents were proud of their homes and the history of the area and there were a number of sign boards with lovely graphics for us visitors to read.

Out of Mayfield I was looking forward to some lovely walks in the fields along Bentley Brook. But this wasn't to be... they were heaving [slight exaggeration] with bloomin cows.

Hungry, thirsty, and just a little miffed we stopping in the cemetery at the junction of Watery Lane and Mayfield Road for a bite to eat. Once again I was faced with turning back or finding an alternate route. And alternate routes are really quite hard to find on the edges of towns. To this end I found myself glumly treading the footpath along the A52 towards Ashbourne, having spotted a way to return to the path just before Mappleton.

Skirting the edge of Ashbourne I soon had us back on the right track, albeit with a not insignificant detour, but at least we were back in the countryside again.

With the hills surrounding the car in sight on the horizon I was looking forward to getting back and sitting down with a drink of something cold and refreshing.

However it appeared that someone had other ideas... you guessed it... cows... AGAIN! The route across the fields to Thorpe was blocked with at least one field of the blighters. The only route to go was around Thorpe along the route, the other marked public footpaths in the area didn't lead to bridges to cross the River Dove... a taxi was a seriously considered option at this point... I'd walked nearly 10 miles by now and I was quite tired... Just to add to my enjoyment the sky was becoming darker and I could see rain ahead.

This soon reached us and I was as wet as if I'd jumped in the river and waded across... well nearly as wet.

Driven on by sight of the clump of trees where I knew the car park was hidden we trudged back along the road towards Ilam; I needn't have gone on the road at this point but I had visions of slipping in the mud that would by now be muddier that this mornings mud, which was muddy enough.

Reaching the car park I could see that the pop up shop was still open and I bought two bottles of water, two bottles of dandelion and burdock and a large double icecream, the latter of which Tikka and I enjoyed together sat in the boot of the Honda; she'd turned her nose right up at the fresh water I'd offered her.

My planned route was going to be via Blore and through Ilam, but we were both too wet and at least I was too tired. Instead I drove the few moments into Ilam, and was pleased I had; it was beautiful. Virtually all of them chocolate/biscuit box type cottages.

And all nestled just in front of some lovely hill walks... on the list for next time definitely :D

The delightful bridge on the Ilam to Blore road.

This brings to a close my Peak District walking trip and blog. Thank you to those who've expressed enjoyment in my ramblings. To those that haven't bothered to read / like / comment... you've missed out on my fun time... your loss :D

Tissington Trail, Alsop en le Dale, Geocaching

Today it was raining. Raining so hard like you'd believe that it was actually hailstones. Tikka and I sat in the caravan, me typing up yesterdays trips and looking through photos, and her fast asleep at my feet, head across one of my shoes.

Then at just before 4pm it stopped raining... yay! Not wishing to travel too far with the risk of it starting again, I thought I'd have a go at this Geocaching malarky... while at home in Harlaxton there are none [yes, I did look] there seemed to be loads local to here, along the Tissington Trail. By all accounts it would seem that we've walked passed dozens of them in the last two weeks, and never even noticed them... but then I guess that's the point.

After I'd downloaded the local ones to the gps we were up and out and headed towards the Tissington Trail that passes by across the road from the campsite. Now while I'm not a great fan of prescribed / prepared routes, after the torrential rain of the last day or so it was a welcome relief not to add to my boot weight with every step.

It is a shame I'm going home on Friday, I can see that when Autumn finally arrives here, the scenery is going to take on a different level of amazing...

A little way along and around a few bends and we were allegedly close to our very first cache... when we were supposed to be right on top of it and had searched for several minutes I clicked the 'hint' button... with a little more info we searched again. Of course Tikka was having a whale of a time... a human snuffling around in the grass; I could almost see it in her bright attentive eyes and smile, "You see how much fun this is - finally this friendbeast has come of age and is learning to be a dog... waggy waggy". Errr no... 

Noticing a few unlikely places rocks I had a poke with my walking pole and noticed a container within. Rather more excited than I am now embarrassed to admit [oh, I just have], I lifted the rocks to one side and extracted the plastic tub. Clearly this would once have been a nice tub, the sort of tub that a good kitchen may have with rubber seals and foldy down bits to keep stuff fresh. This tub was a little sorry for itself... one of the foldy down bits was missing, and the contents were no long dry. A very damp notepad which had last been found in March 2013, and previously in January. I picked up the pen and started writing "Andrew and Tikka [dog] 16/10/2013", or at least I would have if the pen had worked. It didn't. Sorely disappointed I continued etch/writing anyway... I was still leaving my mark, so to speak. There were other items in the cache; if memory serves correctly one was a medal, a star wars figure, and a small fluffy chick of the cake decoration kind. Not bringing anything with me to add, I took nothing... I understand that half the fun of this Geocaching thing is to leave an item, but take away another... Call me a bore or an old fuddy duddy [or Victor as some of my closest friends do], but I'll still to the slightly more adult version and just fill in the notebook... or not as was clearly the case here.

Ah ha, I thought... but when the pen is not so mighty... I still had this overly expensive piece of gadgetry in my hand... fumbling through the GPS menu I found an option to select cache as found... so I did... and it proudly announced that my find would be added to the Geocaching website the next time I logged on... oh jolly.

The next Geocache was just up around the corner... with a little less enthusiasm we travelled a bit further up the path, and again with the hint, found the plastic tub. Clearly in much better condition than the first one, but the contents no less dry. I etched my name again, put the tub back and decided that I wouldn't be searchign for any more Geocaches today... nor likely beyond... perhaps it would be more fun with interesting clues and a group of friends.. 

Game over I reverted to the walker within me and now had to decide... shall I push on and work my way back around the fields, or shall I just turn heel and walk back to the caravan site... Looking at the map I noticed that I wasn't that far from the Alsop en le Dale route that I did a few mornings back... except this time we'd be travelling in the opposite direction. Yes... that sounds far better that wearing out my boot plastic on hard ground.

Catching up the route we were soon underway with lovely soft and squishy grass underfoot. Much better.

I still can't get over just how green everything still looks around here... I'm sure our fields are this lush...

I decided to mirror and use this one for my facebook banner 

The walk back across the fields and towards Alsop en le Dale was wonderful, the sky even looked like it was clearing at time - I could see Blue Sky!!

Shortly the sun was beginning to set and I took a few pictures hand held without filters [filters and tripod in the caravan where they've stayed all trip]

The sky in this next one is fantastic... I'd add at this point that I haven't edited these photo at all... straight from the camera - as shot!

Back in civilisation again and along the road we saw these young cows in the field. They saw us and approached us at an alarming speed.. Thank goodness there was a gate and stone wall wall between us... in retrospect I should have turned the camera to video mode so that you could see how focused they were on reaching us... a little too keen for my liking... and Tikka's too... she saw them through the open bar metal gate and kept looking from me to them and back again, licking her lips all the while...

Now for the non doggy people out there, this action isn't "yummy, food. Feed me", it's more like "Oh my god I don't like this, this is scarey, help. HELP", or something similar. Understandably we moved on swiftly.

Mother Cap, Surprise Ridge, Millstone Edge

This posting is a work in progress; I'll finish it when I'm back and while it's torrential outside later :D

From the National Trust cafe Steve had pointed out the tors in the distance and advised that a nice easy walk for the remainder of the afternoon could be from the car park close by. Although refreshed after the Latte and date slice [thank you Steve] I was aware that I was quite tired. But it was still only early afternoon. Hopping into the car I reasoned that if I started, I could still turn walk back part way if I was too fatigued, although I secretly hoped that I would have the stamina to take it a little slower and keep going.

Parking in the pay and display and popping through the gated stile and we were presented with another lovely Birch forest with grass floor.

As the Birch forest thins out the floor is first taken over by ferns

Pushing on up through this lovely space and popping out above the tree canopy the views were stunning, despite the misty weather in the distance.

I was even gifted with watching some Rooks fly from their nest in the rocky cliff face on the east facing elevation.

View towards the The River Derwent Valley and Grindleford.

View along the valley floor towards Hathersage just above a craggy outcrop where the Rooks are nesting

Beyond the trees the tor was clearly visible not too far off up the slope across the heather, which it would appear I'm a few weeks early to see in full bloom.

A view of Mother Cap and the Dales beyond


Tikka seems to be deriving as much enjoyment out of this scenery as I am and would hop up nimbly onto the rocks and just stand and look; all bright eyed and high tailed, before scampering off in search of the next view. Keeping Tikka on the lead the whole time, photos with leads never make good pictures, that and as soon as I'd try and get into position she'd lollop towards me.

This was a surprisingly easy walk and one that I'm pleased I persevered with; it would have been so easy to briefly snooze in the car after the morning walk.

It was now around half past three, so still quite early; I've started walks later than this. But I knew I had a chore to deal with when back at the caravan; a smelly dog. Although the odour had slightly diminished the orange strip was still visible, and decidedly unappealing. Tikka, clearly utterly unaware of this malaise was a little perplexed that I kept my distance as she hopped back in the car; either that or was disappointed yet again that a walk had ended... I reckon she'd walk all day if I had the energy.

Back at the caravan I left her in the car while I prepared her afternoon event - I was unsure how she was going to respond to this. The caravan prepared for a wet mut, I brought here in an popped her in the shower and slid the cubicle door across - so far so good, she didn't mind this and just looked around for the morsels of food that I'd sprinkled.

Next I stripped off and hopped in the shower too; indeed Tikka clearly wasn't the only smelly one! Warm water running I soaped and showered myself; Tikka meanwhile just sitting at my feet, seemingly unconcerned by warm water tumbling on here in a confined space - I suppose it was more pleasurable than the cold rain we've enjoyed over recent day.

Feeling fresh myself, Tikka was next. It never ceases to amaze me just how much mud comes out of a dog coat. Bless her she just stood there and enjoyed the warm massage, no complaints at all. But I knew I still had the drying to contend with... dissuading a dog from shaking is like trying to hold back a sunrise!

Hopping out of the shower and drying and dressing myself Tikka just sat in the cubicle patiently. Opening the shower door I deftly covered her in the biggest doggy towel I could find, and just in time too - she didn't disappoint and shook and shook and shook. Right, that out of her system I set to drying her off. Patiently she stood there and shortly we had a lovely fluffy and pleasant smelling Tikka. With a waggy tail and licky tongue she seemed quite happy with the recent attention and shortly settled down to attend to her bone.

I settled down to write up my day; it was at this time that I Accuweather advised me that tomorrow, Wednesday 16 October 2013, was going to be steadily and solidly wet and raining from dawn to dusk... how miserable... How to entertain a bloke with itchy walking feet and a young border collie in a 10ft x 6ft aluminium can for the day...

Longshaw Estate, Padley Wood and Grindleford

We met up with Steve Elliott, my guide for the day from Peak Walking Adventures, at the Fox & Hound public house. I was told that today was going to be a different sort of walk from the peak walking that we'd done last week.

Setting off across the road into the Longshore Country Park forest we soon met the Burbage Brook; a delightful rocky stream with plenty of mini water falls.

Tikka posing for a photo

The beautiful Burbage Brook

The brook and its little waterfalls were clearly an attraction to others too; as we walked along we noticed a number of photographers studiously setting up their cameras and tripods at various waterfalls, which reminded me of a photographic experience day at Ingleton waterfalls a few years back.

Tikka was having a wonderful time, skipping ahead until something caught her nose, when she'd stop and search it out, before hurtling past us again.

Leaving the path by the stream we headed up to an area that Steve explained was previously used as a quarry. Now the rocks were beautifully covered in moss and surrounded by short comfy looking grass; indeed this area was not visited that often.

Suddenly I noticed Tikka with here legs in the air clearly having a wonderful time in her current finding. Calling her name she hopped back upright with a what I can only describe as the biggest smile on her face. Whatever she'd found, she was mighty happy. It was then that I noticed a bright yellow orange streak down both her sides. Pleasant. She bounded towards us, but the smell reached us first. This clearly wasn't the usual livestock offering; not unless this species used Andrex.

Not wishing to engage in Tikka's obvious delight and come into contact with her, I herded her back to the stream and plonked her in it. Having stripped my jackets off and ensured that zips were done up so that nothing would disappear into the stream, and with the ever useful doggy poo bags I proceeded to wash the mucky pup. It was well stuck... to her coat rather than the proverbial blanket.

Looking mighty better, and smelling slightly less pongy I resided to accept that this was likely the best we'd achieve for now and we pushed on up the craggy quarry to Lawrence Field and deliberately walked through the ferns in the hopes that this would abrade a little more from her coat. We were definitely on a footpath, but it wasn't on any maps just yet.

Walking along the side of Bole Hill we reached another quarry which was now wonderfully covered in Birch Trees set within a wonderful grass forest floor; if I could ever find it again I can see that this would look stunning at sunset, perhaps with some mist too. Wonderful. Steve explained that this quarry was set up by the Victorians when they built the Derwent and Ladybower Reservoirs, where are several miles away.

They transported the large rocks from this elevated position down the steep face of Upper Padley Forest onto the local railway line that runs past in the valley below. We walked down this steep slope, now well grassed over, and passed one of the large stone bases which is assumed to have been to support steam engines to winch up the empty carts and down the full ones laden in stones.

It was on our way here that I noticed a mushroom that previously I'd only ever seen in books.

We were both of the mind that while beautiful, this was one mushroom that we'd not be meddling with; red and white spots shouted dangerous/deadly. A Google search back in the caravan later revealed "Amanita muscaria, commonly known as the fly agaric or fly amanita, is a poisonous and psychoactive basidiomycete fungus, one of many in the genus Amanita."

Passing the Totley Tunnel, which at 6230yds [approx 3.5 miles] and reportedly one of the longest railway tunnels and dating back to 1893 we had the option of a refreshment at the Grindleford Station Cafe, but turned it down in preference for the National Trust Cafe towards the end of the route.

Crossing the road we then had a nice steep climb up Nether Padley forest back into the Longshaw estate and along a stone wall towards Longshow Lodge.

This complete my set of three guided walks by Steve Elliott; were it not for his experience of the area and passion for the outdoors and walking I'd not have found the the great walks that we've enjoyed.

Steve Elliot - Guide From Peak Walking Adventures