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Autumn 2006 - Peak District 06/10/06-08/10/06
Fri 6th
We travelled to Hathersage meeting in the Scotsman’s Pack for lunch, an uneventful journey but passed through heavy rain at times.
Dick, Paul, Richard, Steve, Pat, Jack, Phil, Martin and Ian went for a gentle walk after lunch. The route was out via Camp Green, Cowclose, North Lees, then up onto Stanage Edge, along Long Causeway to Stanedge Pole, Friar’s Ridge then back into Hathersage via Upper Burbage Bridge, Fiddlers Elbow and Dale Bottom to the cars.
The walk started fine in broken sunshine but as we reached the top of Stanage Edge it clouded over and started to rain. Paul said it would be alright as it was only a shower! It stopped raining about an hour later as we came back into Hathersage along Dale Bottom. We all got a good soaking. Pat’s being the worst, as he did not have a waterproof on.
Leaving Hathersage we drove on to the Hostel at Castleton where Roland was waiting for us, having come up on the train. After a shower we went for a meal at The George, Graham met us there then on to the Bullshead before retiring for the evening.
Sat 7th
The Hostel was trialing a new style continental breakfast. All thought ok but after Roland had tried everything he still wanted to know when his Full English was coming.
The weather was fine but overcast, windy remaining dry throughout the day.
We drove and parked the cars just below Mam Tor to do a circular walk. The route was along Rushup Edge, Colborne, Brown Knoll, Edale Cross, Jacob’s Ladder, down the Pennine Way to Edale and the Nags Head for lunch. Then through Edale, up the back of Mam Tor, returning to the cars to go back to the hostel.
All did this apart from Pete who was suffering with a cold, after dropping off many in his Bongo (mpv); he did his own thing, meeting us for lunch. Jack and Roland went up Mam Tor, along the ridge taking in Hollings Cross, Back Tor, Lose Hill then down into Edale meeting at the Nags Head, returning via Hollins cross and the old road to the hostel.
The day started badly for Ian who had put his boots in Pete’s Bongo but got a lift with Dick, as there was some confusion between Dick and Pete about parking. It ended up with Pete driving off with Ian’s boots so Ian had to walk in his trainers. The walk was good but very wet and boggy between Rushup Edge and Edale Cross. We met lots of mountain bikers who were in a race as we got to Edale Cross and went down the Pennine Way, to Edale.
After a shower we watched England in the Bulls Head and again ate in the George before moving on to the Peak Inn for a quick one before retiring for the night.
Sun 8th
The weather was fine and dry light wind chilly for the early starters.
Some did the Hope Challenge. The Hope Challenge was an 8 mile walk, 20 mile walk or 20 mile run. The 20 mile Walk started at 08:00, the run at 09:30.
Dick, Richard and Steve walked the 20 miles Paul, Ian, Graham and Martin ran it. The route is as follows starting at Hope College along the valley to Castleton up Cave Dale, across to Mam Tor, down to Hollins Cross, on to Edale, up Grindsbrook Clough, Hartshorn, Madwomans Stones, Grouse Butts, Blackley Clough, Crookstone Barn, Jaggers Clough, Clough Farm, Edale Hostel, down the road to Blacktor Bridge, Hollins Cross, Back Tor, Lose Hill then back down to the college at Hope.
The walk went well until Mam Tor for Dick who felt tired already but was persuaded to carry on by Richard and Steve. As the walk went on all was going ok until the end of Grindsbrook where the path seemed to stop and the vertical climb up the stream bed started. Once the top was reached the going got easier but again Dick suffered, with cramp this time, first one leg then the other later but he managed to carry on but slowed the others up a bit. Some Grouse were seen but they were neither famous nor sociable and did not hang around or offer any samples. Despite feeling tired the walkers completed the course in the allotted time. The runners also completed the course ok well within time but Ian got off to a bad start as he was not ready for the start at 09:30 despite being up at the crack of dawn.
The rest had a more relaxing day as follows. Pat, Phil, Jack & Roland went for a full English breakfast at the Three Roofs café; Pete had a hostel breakfast but was going to meet up at the café later. They went in at 09:45 when it opened and the waitress came to take the order. Unfortunately the request for four breakfasts was received with dismay; she explained that breakfast was only available at 10:00. Tea all round was ordered to fill in the remaining twelve minutes. After breakfast Pete had not turned up (he had apparently looked in but failed to spot the lads in the corner) so they retrieved their gear from the hostel & put it in Steves’ car. Roland wrote Pete a note re. the Lunchtime Pub and went to stick it under the wiper of the Bongo parked opposite the Hostel. Unfortunately it wasn’t Pete’s Bongo! They then walked to Hope via a low level path along the base of Lose Hill, encountering some of the first runners coming back down to Hope College. After they had a few beers at the Cheshire Cheese, Pete passed by in his Bongo from Edale and spotted the walkers sitting outside. The runners also arrived at the Pub about the same time. Later on, Pete ran the four walkers back to Hope village centre where they split up, walking back to Castleton except Pete who headed for home and Roland who had a train to catch.
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