We were supposed to travel up to the Lake District yesterday for a
week's holiday but Karen had caught a bad cold from her work mates on
Friday and had spent most of the weekend in bed. Luckily she had
recovered sufficiently for us to set off today.
We drove to Borrowdale to stay at the farm campsite we had stayed
at on previous trips: Chapel House Farm Camp Site at Stonethwaite
where they charge £6 a night each for a good, quiet and well-sited
camp site.
We set up the tent (the Vango Equinox 350) and then paid a quick
visit to Keswick before returning in the evening to cook a meal
before night set in.
Monday 30 September 2013
Sunday 22 September 2013
Longshaw Estate
With Karen's parents. We parked at the Wooden Pole car park and
walked as far as the Lodge to have a snack at the café.
Saturday 21 September 2013
Dovedale from Mill Dale
Karen's parents were visiting for the weekend and we had a walk
along part of Dovedale starting from the hamlet of Mill Dale. Karen
rescued some fish fry from a pool which had been left high and wet
(as opposed to high and dry) after a flood.
We also saw a kestrel which was standing on a grassy path coming down towards the riverside path, It must not have been very well as it didn't seem bothered by various people approaching very close to it and it just stood there.
We also saw a kestrel which was standing on a grassy path coming down towards the riverside path, It must not have been very well as it didn't seem bothered by various people approaching very close to it and it just stood there.
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| Karen beside the River Dove |
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| The kestrel |
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| The two large cave entrances part way along the dale |
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| Karen rescuing fish fry |
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| The fish |
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| Butterflies and lobelia |
Saturday 14 September 2013
Moel Siabod
We had planned on a weekend away and decided on North Wales. The
weather looked good for Saturday, but, dire for Sunday. It doesn't
take that long to drive to Snowdonia so we decided to go for Saturday
anyway and drive there on Friday night.
We camped at the usual camp site at Dolgam, Capel Curig, which charges the very reasonable £5 per person per night.
We arrived after 21:00 and by the time the tent was up and sorted, it was 22:00 so we got into our sleeping bags.
In the morning it was a bit overcast, but there was enough of a gap in the clouds to allow the sun to light up Moel Siabod and to even light up a bit of a rainbow as there was a bit of moisture in the air.
We had some cereal and a brew of tea, then packed up everything into the car to head for the Pinnacles café up the road. We found some parking space in the car park behind Joe Brown's shop and then found the café was full. As it was around 09:30, the usual morning breakfast rush was in full swing. So we spent half an hour wandering around Joe Brown's and then after returning to the café we found there was plenty of room. By the time we had eaten breakfast, there was only one table take as we were leaving!
So, the objective today was Moel Siabod via the Daear Ddu ridge which leads up from Llyn Foel to near the summit.
We parked in the large layby near the Pont Cyfyng bridge and after getting our boots on, we set off down the road towards the bridge. Just as we got there a vary large group of walkers (about 30 or so) were also heading for the bridge and then up the minor road beyond so we let them pass and took off slowly so that we had some distance from the group.
At the first stile where the footpath leaves the minor road, we caught them up as they all crossed the small ladder stile. I walked up the hill beyond passing the group but Karen wasn't happy with the faster pace so I waited at the next stile until most of the group had gone by again and Karen caught up.
We continued onwards and soon arrived at the old quarry ruins where we had turned around due to the bad weather on our last trip. We decided to have a stop here and make a hot drink to allow the large group to get on ahead as we didn't fancy making our way along the ridge with such alarge group around.
Of course, they also decided to have a stop nearby. Rats. At least they set off again before we did.
We approached Llyn y Foel and the impressive Daead Ddu ridge cam into view ahead. We also spotted the large group had stopped by the lake for lunch so we pressed on over the small section of boggy ground and then followed a narrow footpath.
The is seemed to swing past the foot of the ridge and started to rise on the other side. We seemed to be missing out on the ridge altogether but we were enjoying the amazing views, especially when the whole of the Snowdon Horseshoe appeared ahead along with the Glyders, with the top section of Tryfan easy to make out.
A pair of men walkers were following us up the path and were also enjoying the views.
After passing an area of rocky ground we suddenly arrived at the summit with its trig point made of cemented together rock and a large circular wind-break made of piled up rocks nearby.
It was a bit cold in the wind and we found a sheltered hollow among the boulders and rocks near the trig point where we sat and began to have lunch.
So far the weather had been dry except for the odd drop of rain but we could see some ominous dark clouds approaching rapidly from the direction of the Glyders. Soon we were in the rain shower so we pulled my two person bothy bag over ourselves and continued with lunch. In the meantime individuals from some of the large group we had seen earlier were arriving from the direction of the ridge and congregating around the trip point.
The shower soon died out leaving a patch of mist for a while as we were in the cloud but that soon passed and the sun started reappearing.
We headed off towards the north-west to join a large obvious path which dropped towards Plas y Brenin far below.
We reached a track passing through some woods and we followed the track to the right and then another path through the woods which brought us to a footbridge across the river opposite Cobdens Hotel.
We only had to follow the footpath along the road heading towards Betws-y-coed for a short distance to reach our starting point.
We got our boots off and stopped off in Betws-y-coed for a meal in the chip shop before driving home.
We camped at the usual camp site at Dolgam, Capel Curig, which charges the very reasonable £5 per person per night.
We arrived after 21:00 and by the time the tent was up and sorted, it was 22:00 so we got into our sleeping bags.
In the morning it was a bit overcast, but there was enough of a gap in the clouds to allow the sun to light up Moel Siabod and to even light up a bit of a rainbow as there was a bit of moisture in the air.
We had some cereal and a brew of tea, then packed up everything into the car to head for the Pinnacles café up the road. We found some parking space in the car park behind Joe Brown's shop and then found the café was full. As it was around 09:30, the usual morning breakfast rush was in full swing. So we spent half an hour wandering around Joe Brown's and then after returning to the café we found there was plenty of room. By the time we had eaten breakfast, there was only one table take as we were leaving!
So, the objective today was Moel Siabod via the Daear Ddu ridge which leads up from Llyn Foel to near the summit.
We parked in the large layby near the Pont Cyfyng bridge and after getting our boots on, we set off down the road towards the bridge. Just as we got there a vary large group of walkers (about 30 or so) were also heading for the bridge and then up the minor road beyond so we let them pass and took off slowly so that we had some distance from the group.
At the first stile where the footpath leaves the minor road, we caught them up as they all crossed the small ladder stile. I walked up the hill beyond passing the group but Karen wasn't happy with the faster pace so I waited at the next stile until most of the group had gone by again and Karen caught up.
We continued onwards and soon arrived at the old quarry ruins where we had turned around due to the bad weather on our last trip. We decided to have a stop here and make a hot drink to allow the large group to get on ahead as we didn't fancy making our way along the ridge with such alarge group around.
Of course, they also decided to have a stop nearby. Rats. At least they set off again before we did.
We approached Llyn y Foel and the impressive Daead Ddu ridge cam into view ahead. We also spotted the large group had stopped by the lake for lunch so we pressed on over the small section of boggy ground and then followed a narrow footpath.
The is seemed to swing past the foot of the ridge and started to rise on the other side. We seemed to be missing out on the ridge altogether but we were enjoying the amazing views, especially when the whole of the Snowdon Horseshoe appeared ahead along with the Glyders, with the top section of Tryfan easy to make out.
A pair of men walkers were following us up the path and were also enjoying the views.
After passing an area of rocky ground we suddenly arrived at the summit with its trig point made of cemented together rock and a large circular wind-break made of piled up rocks nearby.
It was a bit cold in the wind and we found a sheltered hollow among the boulders and rocks near the trig point where we sat and began to have lunch.
So far the weather had been dry except for the odd drop of rain but we could see some ominous dark clouds approaching rapidly from the direction of the Glyders. Soon we were in the rain shower so we pulled my two person bothy bag over ourselves and continued with lunch. In the meantime individuals from some of the large group we had seen earlier were arriving from the direction of the ridge and congregating around the trip point.
The shower soon died out leaving a patch of mist for a while as we were in the cloud but that soon passed and the sun started reappearing.
We headed off towards the north-west to join a large obvious path which dropped towards Plas y Brenin far below.
We reached a track passing through some woods and we followed the track to the right and then another path through the woods which brought us to a footbridge across the river opposite Cobdens Hotel.
We only had to follow the footpath along the road heading towards Betws-y-coed for a short distance to reach our starting point.
We got our boots off and stopped off in Betws-y-coed for a meal in the chip shop before driving home.
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| Rainbow over Moel Siabod |
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| Pont Cyfyng |
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| Part of old slate quarry |
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| The Daear Ddu Ridge ahead |
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| The top of Tryfan in the distance |
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| The Snowdon Horseshoe |
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| View from the summit of Moel Siabod |
Sunday 8 September 2013
A Walk around Higgar Tor and Carl Wark
A bit of a shorter walk today. We parked at the Surprise View car
park near Hathersage where interestingly the “pay and display”
ticket machine only accepts debit or credit cards – no cash! I
presume due to thefts from the machine in the past.
Anyway. We walked on a narrow path worn through the deep bracken paralleling the road heading towards the Fox House pub. Then we spotted a bit of a path on the opposite side of the road where it would be much easier to walk without the damp ling grass and chest-high bracken so we crossed over and followed the path on the road verge as far as Burbage Bridge.
Here we crossed over to the opposite side again and went through a small gate and crossed the Burbage Brook using boulders in the stream bed and again were back in the chest-high bracken!
This was only for a short distance as we soon reached the wide track which runs along the bottom of Burbage Rocks. After following the track for another short distance, we started to make our way to the top of the edge of Burbage Moor via a small sheep track which passed a circular unfinished gritstone trough abandoned on the ground. Not very far away there was another abandoned gritstone trough, this time a large rectangular one.
We made our way along the path following the edge of Burbage Moor as far as Upper Burbage Bridge where there is another small car park as well as an ice cream van! Of course Karen and I had to have an ice cream!
From the bridge, we crossed to the other side of the brook and then made our way along the opposite side of the valley heading for the top of Higgar Tor. After having a good look at the surrounding views, especially over towards the Hope Valley and beyond to Kinder and Bleaklow, we mad our way to the opposite side of the tor and then down a narrow path to the moor below and then headed towards a large sheep fold which we passed to soon reach Over Owler Tor and then along a well-worn path passing the obvious gritstone tor called Mother Cap to then drop back down to the car park.
Anyway. We walked on a narrow path worn through the deep bracken paralleling the road heading towards the Fox House pub. Then we spotted a bit of a path on the opposite side of the road where it would be much easier to walk without the damp ling grass and chest-high bracken so we crossed over and followed the path on the road verge as far as Burbage Bridge.
Here we crossed over to the opposite side again and went through a small gate and crossed the Burbage Brook using boulders in the stream bed and again were back in the chest-high bracken!
This was only for a short distance as we soon reached the wide track which runs along the bottom of Burbage Rocks. After following the track for another short distance, we started to make our way to the top of the edge of Burbage Moor via a small sheep track which passed a circular unfinished gritstone trough abandoned on the ground. Not very far away there was another abandoned gritstone trough, this time a large rectangular one.
We made our way along the path following the edge of Burbage Moor as far as Upper Burbage Bridge where there is another small car park as well as an ice cream van! Of course Karen and I had to have an ice cream!
From the bridge, we crossed to the other side of the brook and then made our way along the opposite side of the valley heading for the top of Higgar Tor. After having a good look at the surrounding views, especially over towards the Hope Valley and beyond to Kinder and Bleaklow, we mad our way to the opposite side of the tor and then down a narrow path to the moor below and then headed towards a large sheep fold which we passed to soon reach Over Owler Tor and then along a well-worn path passing the obvious gritstone tor called Mother Cap to then drop back down to the car park.
Saturday 7 September 2013
Kinder Scout
Karen was accompanying some cavers in the gates extensions in
Water Icicle Close Cavern and I was planning on a walk.
I had decided on Kinder Scout again, not due to a lack of imagination but because I enjoy walking on Kinder so much.
It was a cooler day than of late and there was the threat of heavy showers but luckily it remained dry while I was on the walk and dark clouds only appeared as I was finishing.
I reversed most of the route we took last time when walking on Kinder by starting at the layby in Upper Booth and walking up via Jacob's Ladder. When I reached the paved section which approached Edale Rocks I veered off on the path which follows a ruined drystone wall heading towards the rock formations called Noe Stool and further along, The Pagoda.
Near the top of the Pagoda I found a spot mostly sheltered from the cold wind and sat on a boulder to have a snack and hot drink from my flask (the first time I've had a hot drink while walking for months).
Then, continuing onwards, I left the busy path which skirts the edge of the plateau for a while and just walked across heather and peat bog. I noticed there is a lot of fresh grass sprouting on the peat as a result of re-seeding and also due to the fence which has been built around most of Kinder Scout to try and keep the sheep off to allow the vegetation to grow.
As I was walking “off the beaten track”, I walked past a mountain hare which had been keeping still nearby, causing it to bolt off at speed.
At the top of Grindsbrook Clough, which was as busy with walkers approaching the plateau from Edale as it usually is, I sat just below the edge among some boulders to eat my sandwiches as I watched people coming along the valley path below and a few walk across to the top of nearby Grindslow Knoll. Afterwards, when I reached the northern branch of Grindsbrook Clough, where we had scrambled up last time, I continued around the top of the ravine and then followed the edge path as far as the rocky ridge of Ringing Roger where I followed the path dropping down towards the Nab and eventually to the village of Grindsbrook Booth.
I walked down the road form the village as far as the train station and then followed a meander route of a footpath signposted for Barber Booth which began through the station car park and then a gravelled track before following a meandering route through fields until I reached Barber Booth.
From there I followed the narrow, winding road back to the layby I started at.
I had decided on Kinder Scout again, not due to a lack of imagination but because I enjoy walking on Kinder so much.
It was a cooler day than of late and there was the threat of heavy showers but luckily it remained dry while I was on the walk and dark clouds only appeared as I was finishing.
I reversed most of the route we took last time when walking on Kinder by starting at the layby in Upper Booth and walking up via Jacob's Ladder. When I reached the paved section which approached Edale Rocks I veered off on the path which follows a ruined drystone wall heading towards the rock formations called Noe Stool and further along, The Pagoda.
Near the top of the Pagoda I found a spot mostly sheltered from the cold wind and sat on a boulder to have a snack and hot drink from my flask (the first time I've had a hot drink while walking for months).
Then, continuing onwards, I left the busy path which skirts the edge of the plateau for a while and just walked across heather and peat bog. I noticed there is a lot of fresh grass sprouting on the peat as a result of re-seeding and also due to the fence which has been built around most of Kinder Scout to try and keep the sheep off to allow the vegetation to grow.
As I was walking “off the beaten track”, I walked past a mountain hare which had been keeping still nearby, causing it to bolt off at speed.
At the top of Grindsbrook Clough, which was as busy with walkers approaching the plateau from Edale as it usually is, I sat just below the edge among some boulders to eat my sandwiches as I watched people coming along the valley path below and a few walk across to the top of nearby Grindslow Knoll. Afterwards, when I reached the northern branch of Grindsbrook Clough, where we had scrambled up last time, I continued around the top of the ravine and then followed the edge path as far as the rocky ridge of Ringing Roger where I followed the path dropping down towards the Nab and eventually to the village of Grindsbrook Booth.
I walked down the road form the village as far as the train station and then followed a meander route of a footpath signposted for Barber Booth which began through the station car park and then a gravelled track before following a meandering route through fields until I reached Barber Booth.
From there I followed the narrow, winding road back to the layby I started at.
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