Robin Hood's Stride

Last night there was more snow: about 4 inches or so. We decided to walk from home and avoid driving.
Leaving home, we past through Winster Churchyard and through the land behind Oddo House.

 

Cratcliff Tor

 
 

Robin Hood's Stride

After crossing the road, we followed a path through a field onto a track which is part of the Limestone Way long distance footpath. We followed this past the road into Elton and down to the gateway leading to Robin Hood's Stride and Cratcliff Tor.
We followed the track up towards the large gritstone rocks of Robin Hood's Stride and wandered around the rocks from where there were views across to the village of Elton and in the opposite direction the stone circle known as “Nine Stones” even though only four are still standing.

 "Nine Stones" Stone Circle from Robin Hood's Stride

 Elton from Robin Hood's Stride

We dropped back down the track to the road and after walking along the road for a short distance, passed a stile and then walked uphill on the rough pasture to another stile with a junction of paths. We followed a path which led past a ruined building with old dates inscribed on one wall which is made of a large slab of natural stone.

 Dates carved in a rock

 

Robin Hood's Stride in the Distance

Continuing onwards along the side of a hillside with views across to Winster, we again passed over a stile into a small field with a barn in the next field where some emus and sheep were eating hay.

 Emus

Next we followed a route signposted back to Winster and along pasture with an old gritstone path laid across boggy land by lead miners in the past to assist there walks to and from work.

 Looking across to Winster

After passing kids out sledging in the snow down the sloping field, we followed the path and then side road leading past the village shop back into Winter Main Street and home.
I wore my Icepeak X-Treme trousers, Rab Vapour Rise jacket and Contour Navigator boots.

Eyam Edge and Foolow

The weather forecast was for a dry, sunny day and we had breakfast at Outside ay Calver Crossroads. Then driving a short distance up the road to Stoney Middleton, we parked in the large lay-by where we usually park when caving in the area.

Lovers Leap, Stoney Middleton

We walked back down the main road then turned off to walk past St Martin's Church and a small building over what are known as “Roman Baths” but there is no evidence of any Roman influence. An attempt was made in the past to create a small Spa as the water is a constant 63° F. Next to the building was a small stream which flowed through a hole in the roadside wall into a small trough and feeling the water, it was cool but nowhere near as cold as you would expect on a day like today which was fairly cold.
Following a rough track which left the road, we climbed through woodland to arrive at a bend in another road. We crossed this and then followed a path leading eventually to Top Riley Lane. After a short distance we passed through a squeeze stile onto the neighbouring field where a tiny enclosure contained a number of graves and gravestones known as the Riley Graves (“Riley” being the area which is a corruption of “Rois Lees” which was French for “King's . These belonged to the Hancocke family who died in the nearby village of Eyam (pronounced “eem”) during the Plague in 1666. The villagers under the direction of the vicar quarantined themselves from surrounding villages and farms to prevent the spread of the Plague and many of them succumbed and died. There is a boundary stone between Eyam and Stoney Middleton where outsiders left food and the inhabitants of Eyam left coins in holes in the top of the stone with vinegar to prevent passing on the Plague to others.

 

Eyam in the distance

 

The Riley Graves

 

One of the Grave Stones

Continuing on down Top Riley Lane we passed the Miners Arms pub and arrived in Eyam itself. Past the pub we followed a track which past Water Lane Troughs and onto a footpath above a fields with llamas.

 Llamas

We followed the path upwards with views out across Eyam opening up until we arrived on another road. A short distance along this road we passed through a style into a field which led past the chimney of the old Ladywash Lead Mine and we arrived at the rough track of the Sir William Hill drove track.

 Ladywash Lead Mine

Sir William Hill Drove Track

We turned left along this track and arrived at a road which we followed past the Barrel, a pub in the hamlet of Bretton, and then downhill towards the village of Foolow. There was another small enclosure at the roadside housing a well where we sat on the wall and had our lunch.

 Karen at the roadside Well

Once lunch was finished, we continued onwards into Foolow. Passing the Bills Head Inn we had only gone a short distance up the road heading for a stile into a field when we heard the sound of many horses clip-clopping along the road. We paused at the stile and saw a local Hunt out for the day and they passed by on their way further up the road.

 

The Hunt

We crossed through the stile into a field and then crossed the very small Linen Dale. On the other side we saw the horses and riders of the hunt in a field crossing in front and jumping over a drystone wall into another field. One horse stumbled on unseated its rider, but they were soon up again and seem uninjured. We heard their hounds yapping and crying and seemed to head in all sorts of random directions with the horse riders trying to follow!

 Trying to keep up with the Hounds!

Other horses looking on

Soon we were back in the village of Eyam near the Hall and we followed down the street and entered the churchyard.

 Karen by the Village Stocks in Eyam

One of the Cottages belonging to Plague victims

There was curious sundial above the door to the church and nearby in the churchyard an 8th Century Celtic Cross amongst the gravestones.

 

The sundial over the church door (dated 1775)

 

8th Century Celtic Cross

Exiting the churchyard, we were soon in a Square in the centre of the village with a tea shop which had a list of a great variety of cakes and other goodies so we went in and had a tea and some sausage rolls.

 The excellent Teas Shop in Eyam

Leaving the excellent tea shop, we crossed over the road and followed a side road into a large field and passed the Boundary Stone mentioned above. Dropping down the pasture, we soon arrived back where we started in Stoney Middleton.

 The Boundary Stone

Dropping down into Stoney Middleton

I wore my Icepeak X-Treme trousers, Paramo Summit Hoodie and Paramo Fuera Ascent jacket. Also Contour Navigator boots and Osprey Kestrel 38 rucksack.

Walk from Longnor to Pilsbury Castle

A nice sunny, if cold, start to the day and we drove to the village of Longnor in the neighbouring county of Staffordshire. We parked in the market square and I noticed that standing there you could see four pubs altogether – quite a few for a small village.

Cheshire Cheese Inn

The Grapes Hotel

The Crewe and Harpur Arms

The Horseshoe Inn

We walked a short distance back along the road we had driven along and then turned off along a minor road then onto a concreted lane. We were passed by a number of competitors riding mountain bikes on what seemed to be a sort of Orienteering on bike event as they were following a map and we saw some clipping in at a check point next to a small bridge.

 High Wheeldon

This led us across some fields and then back onto another minor road next to a farmhouse. We followed the minor road gradually uphill for a short distance skirting around the foot of a large hill called High Wheeldon. We soon reached a limestone crag named Alderly Cliff which is a crag often used by climbers and also the site of a recent Orpheus Caving Club dig called Alderley Cliff Cave.

 Alderley Cliff

Alderley Cliff Cave

At a Public Footpath sign we left the road via a stile and followed a small, dry valley which wended its way around the opposite side of the hill, then by walking up a short steep section, we arrived at the trig point on the summit. Here there were views in all directions of the surrounding hills including Chrome Hills and Parkhouse Hill. Down below we could also see part of Alderley Cliff.

 Summit of High Wheeldon

We wandered down the Southern edge of High Wheeldon for a short distance and found the small Fox Hole Cave which has archaeological significance and hence has a gate to protect the cave. We sat in the hollow by the entrance which offered shelter from the cold breeze and had a bit of a hot drink from our flasks.
Afterwards, we walked towards the opposite end of the hill and dropped down through fields and stiles eventually arriving at road leading into the hamlet of Crowdecote. This is the location of a pub called “The Pack Horse Inn”, next to which the Orpheus C.C. Used to have a hut many years ago.
We passed the pub and followed a track back onto pasture land and eventually reached the limestone tor known as Pilsbury Castle, a former Norman Motte and Bailey Castle. We sat in the lee of the tor and had our lunch watching a ewe and her two lambs in the nearby field. These were the first lambs I've seen this year.

 Pilsbury Castle

Ewe and her Lambs

We could hear the noise of off-road motorbikes in the distance and as we finished our lunch and headed off for the track leading uphill, we waited until several of these motorbikes passed by. Of course, they shouldn't be riding on a footpath in the first place (it is illegal, but they don't seem to be worried about signs informing them that motor vehicles are not allowed) and they certainly don't do the ground any good leaving deep, muddy ruts in the soft ground which is only surfaced with grass.

 Snowdrops

After climbing the muddy and rutted path, we were back on a minor road and we followed this for ¾ mile then turned off onto a lane. This lane led to a farm and more fields eventually leading via footpath signs back to Longnor, where we had started from.
I wore my Icepeak X-Treme trousers, Paramo Summit Hoodie and Paramo Fuera Ascent jacket. Also Contour boots and Osprey Kestrel 38 rucksack.

Derbyshire Caving Association (DCA) A.G.M., Monyash

After breakfast at the “Old Smith Cafe” in Monyash, Karen and I went to the Village Hall a short distance along the road towards Lathkill Dale where we attended the DCA AGM.
We had intended to go for a shirt walk afterwards, but by the time the meeting was over and we had returned to the cafe for a snack, it wasn't long before we would start to lose the daylight so we went home instead.

Betws y Coed, North Wales

Due to my trip on the pavement yesterday I had a sore knee so decided not to go walking again today. I was another clear and sunny morning but this time there was a hard frost overnight and frost covered everything outside.
After packing everything I looked for my car keys but couldn't find them. I normally keep them in my jacket pocket and I was wearing it last night when I fell over, so I thought maybe I had dropped them when I tripped. I quickly put on my jacket and hurried back towards the phone box and very luckily found my keys on the concrete below the railing next to the path! What a relief!
Returning to the hut, I had breakfast, settled with Boyd for the hut fees and packed the car. I drove to Capel Curig, stopping in the large lay-by near the Pen y Gwryd junction and took some photos of the view through Cwm Dyli to the Snowdon Massif.
I had a snack at the Pinnacles Cafe in Capel Curig and a quick look around the Joe Brown shop. Afterwards I drove to Betws y Coed and had a wander around then drove home.

Snowdon (Yr Wyddfa) via South Ridge and Rhyd Ddu Path

Karen decide to have a restful weekend and stay at home so I travelled alone last night to the Oread Mountaineering Club's hut “Tan y Wyddfa” in Rhyd Ddu near Beddgelert, which the Orpheus Caving Club book for a weekend each February.
Already there were Boyd and Jenny, Frank and Trish, Rod Clayton, Steve White, Derek Freeman, Ashley Richards, Coke, Chris Barrat, John Pratt, Helen, Kev Drakely and his girlfriend and Ned.

Tan y Wyddfa

We walked down the road to the pub – the Cwellyn Arms – where although good, the beer is not cheap at around £3.30 a pint (locally a pint is well under £3.00).
The weather forecast was excellent for the whole weekend and, luckily, it turned out to be correct. There were cloudy patches and short periods of mist but both days were mostly cold, dry and largely sunny with little wind.
After getting up at 08.30 and having breakfast and making up a flask of hot chocolate, I set off straight from the hut at 09.15 crossing the restored Welsh Highland Railway and followed the track leading through old slate quarries and soon reached the Bwlch-Cwm Llan between Snowdon and Yr Aran with views down to the Watkin Path below.
After crossing the wall, a short section of steep loose ground led to stone steps starting up Snowdon's South Ridge. After the steps, the ridge was broader with increasing views all around, short sections of easy scrambling until I reached a sloping, grassy area. The worn path was covered with snow and it was easier to follow the grassy sections next to the path. Soon I reached the beginning of the snow remaining on the higher ground so I stopped and put on my crampons and got the ice axe out.

 Snowdon's South Ridge

In a short distance I passed the route down, the Rhyd Ddu Path, reached a level but narrow section of path with good views of the summit and down to Glaslyn and Llyn Llydaw. I passed Bwlch Main and after a short steeper section of hard-packed snow, I reached the summit station.
The summit station has been rebuilt in the past year or two and is an improvement on the old rectangular concrete building which it replaced. It was around 11.00 and there were a number of other walkers milling about (the Snowdon Railway doesn't run in winter so there were no tourists taking the train up and of course the station and cafe were locked up for the winter) especially on the very large cairn at the actual summit.

 Looking down at Snowdon's Summit Station

I had a look around the summit looking across to Crib Goch on one side and Y Lliwedd on the other side making up the Snowdon Horseshoe. Luckily it was mostly clear with sun and wispy, fluffy clouds moving up the valley with Capel Curig in the distance covered in low cloud.

 Part of Crib Goch

I returned down a short way back the way I came and sat on some rocks to have my lunch, being intently watched by a couple of seagulls! As I was eating my lunch, Boyd and Ashley appeared and after a quick chat, they headed for the summit cairn.

 Seagulls waiting for my lunch!

After lunch was finished, I set off back the way I came and met Steve and Derek coming along the narrow bit and I returned back to the summit with them as it wasn't that far away. We sat on a wall leading from the station and had a snack and hot drink then spotted Kev with his girlfriend.
I said bye to the other two as they were planning to descend via the Snowdon Ranger Path and I again headed back down towards Bwlch Main when I met Trish, Rod and Ned coming up. After another quick chat, they headed for the summit and I continued on down part of the South Ridge, then left it to follow the Rhyd Ddu Path. Soon I was following the lower reaches of the Rhyd Ddu Path and found that there were loads of cairns marking the way. Why there were so many, I have no idea – there were at least twenty in the space of 50 metres or so!

 Cairns on Rhyd Ddu Path

Following the lower paved section and passing through three gates, I soon reached a junction with the track I had followed on the way up earlier in the day. I retraced my earlier route and arrived back at “Tan y Wyddfa” at around 15.10 to find no one around.

 View of Cwm Dyli and Snowdon Horseshoe

I sorted out my gear and had a shower and then thought I might drive to Beddgelert to get some food for tomorrow's lunch but changed my mind due to the time of year and the time of day – there probably were no shops open.
So I returned to the hut and after making a cup of tea and making a sandwich, Boyd and Ashley arrived back from their walk closely followed by Steve and Derek.
Gradually the others also arrived and after sitting in the living room with a fire going, they all set off for Beddgelert at 18.15 for a meal leaving myself and Ashley. I planned on just cooking some pasta for a meal and thought Beddgelert would be busy as it certainly was as I drove through last night.
Ashley left to make a phone call from the telephone box down the road as there was no mobile phone reception in the area. I followed a short while later to give Karen a call and afterwards tripped on a small step in the pavement and fell over grazing my knee and thumb! D'oh!
Anyway, I returned back to the hut and read a bit then the others arrived back from their meals and after sitting around until about 22.00, I headed for bed followed by some of the others.
I wore my Paramo Cascada trousers, Paramo Summit Hoodie and Paramo Fuera Ascent jacket. Also Asolo Powermatic 200 GTX boots and Osprey Kestrel 38 rucksack.