50th Anniversary Walk Spring 2022 Matlock and Castleton,
9/6/2022 - 13/6/2022
Thursday 9th June.
Travel day
We all met at the Greyhound Inn in Cromford, most by car but Phil and Pete came by train. After a frothy pint, something to eat (good but costly) it was off for the warm up walk. The walk was to Cromford Mill along the canal until the High Peak Junction. Here there were open workshops left as a living museum which you could look around. After a look around it was up to Black Rock via the High Peak Trail then back down to Cromford. Dick, Ian and Pete Thomson returned along the canal to Cromford where they were going for a cafe to wait for the others but they were all closed so it was the Boat Inn instead. All met up again then it was on to Matlock and the Premier Inn for the night's accommodation.
After checking in and refreshing ourselves it was into Matlock for dinner. We found a Titanic house called Bod, with an Italian restaurant opposite, sorted. We ate on two tables the one with more people on it had a problem with the bill but we all managed to get out the door. Another drink at Bod's then back to the roost.
The weather had been mild with a little drizzle in the afternoon getting sunny as we went into town for dinner. Those on the walk were Dick, Paul, Ralph, Noel, Ian, Graham, Andy, Pat, John, Mick, Pete and Phil.
Friday 10th June.
We woke up to a fine sunny morning, though it did cloud up as the day progressed. There was some drizzle but brightened up later all in all good walking weather. Ben joined us first thing. After breakfast in the Travelodge we moved the cars, to avoid paying parking charges. All started the walk apart from Ian and Pete who went to the Tissington Trail. Ian went for a walk and arranged to meet Pete at a bridge later as Pete was not feeling very well. The trouble with bridges is they all look the same, both getting to a bridge but not the same one!! Once reunited, they went to Kettlewell Hall. Then on to Castleton, meeting up with the others, at the Hostel.
All the others set off on the walk apart from Ralph who stopped to talk to some bikers. When he realized all the others were well gone he ran after them, going the wrong way he backtracked catching up with the others down the road. A little while later he realized he had lost his over shirt (as luck would have it we found it when we got back).
The walk was on The Limestone Way straight up a hill very steep, around Mason Lees Farm Dick stopped and said he was going back as he could not keep up, the rest carried on. After a while Dick had recovered and carried on catching the others up near town head (they must have had a long stop). Then it was down into Bonsall. At Bonsall we met a lady, Emma, who was just going on a walk to Bonsall then across to Cromford. Those who were finding the going tough, Dick, Pat, Noel and Andy thought this was a good idea and joined her though Pat did find it hard descending into Cromford. The rest carried on The Limestone Way to Winster stopping at The Miners Standard for lunch. After lunch they walked to Clough Wood, Darley Bridge and back into Matlock to meet the others before going on to Castleton.
Dick's group ate at the Boat Inn before getting a bus back to Matlock where as they had plenty of time had a tea break at The Mad Hatters cafe before going back to the cars.
Once we had all checked in at the Hostel, washed and changed, we walked into Castleton to The Old Cheshire Cheese for dinner and rehydration. The food was good though some of the beers did run out during the night!! Andy also booked a table in the restaurant for the next night so that those who wanted to could eat and watch England play Football.
Saturday 11th June.
After a hostel breakfast Andy had arranged a zoom call to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the P.W.T.C. Dennis Green and Dick McKay joined us from New Zealand, Steve Bousted, John Stopani, Dave Debnam and Roland Carr also joined us. During the call we discussed various topics reminiscing on old times, raising a glass to absent walkers and friends there was also two presentations of Tankards. One for Paul Keech for doing all the organizing and booking of the walks since 1986 and the other to Dick Grundy for doing the notes since 1993.
After the meeting we split into different groups. Dick, Pat and Ian went on a circular walk to Hope from the back of the hostel over to the Edale Road up to the Cheshire Cheese for lunch, back into Hope crossing the main road to walk back along the valley to Castleton and return to the hostel. Whilst in the Cheshire Cheese there were some low beams but it was signed Duck or Grouse Pat however kept forgetting to duck so he got very Grousey!!
Noel and Pete stayed in Castleton Noel taking a trip to the caverns.
The rest drove to Edale walked on the start of the Pennine Way up Jacobs Ladder and on to Kinder Downfall then back across Kinder Scout back down to the Nags Head before returning to the hostel. Whilst crossing the bogs of Kinder Scout Ben and Phil thought they had found better paths but alas they should have stayed with the rest as they proved they were not bog trotters.
The weather stayed mostly fine a little bit of drizzle but very windy.
It was back to The Old Cheshire Cheese after cleaning ourselves up for dinner, meeting Steve and Tessa who had driven up during the day and arranged to meet them the next day.
After dinner (no trouble with the bill but hard work for Andy to get his deposit back so we could all pay the right money) we went to the Swiss Tap to watch the second half of England football, we shouldn't have bothered. Then back to the Hostel.
Sunday 12th June.
After breakfast we all made our way to the visitor centre on Ladybower Reservoir apart from Pete who stayed around Castleton. Ian, Dick, Pat and Noel walked up to Derwent Reservoir dam (where they filmed the Dambuster Film) then round to Jubilee Cottages where Ian left the others to take a slow amble along Derwent water and the visitor centre. Dick, Pat and Noel carried on down the west side of Ladybower noting flora and fauna until they reached the Yorkshire Bridge Inn, the prescribed meeting place for lunch.
The others walked down the east side of Ladybower to the war memorial from the visitor centre then up to Open Hagg, Pasture Tor, Little Moor and on to Alport Castle (it was very windy on the tops) before going back to their cars at the visitor centre to join the others at The Yorkshire Bridge Inn. Pete got a bus there to meet everyone also. Food and ales were good and value for money. We then returned to the hostel to change for dinner. At the hostel we had a surprise as John Stopani had managed to make it up to come to the 50th celebration dinner.
Dinner was taken at The Castle Inn. Steve and Tessa joined us also. After we had eaten some went back to the hostel others called in at The Old Cheshire Cheese for a nightcap. They had had a quiz earlier but were playing games with a compere (play your cards right etc) which turned out to be quite amusing.
Monday 13th June.
After breakfast John Stopani left early as he had to get home. The others went for a wander around Castleton before heading home themselves. All agreed it had been a great weekend with good company and ideal walking weather. Roll on the next one.
