Chrome Hill

A very warm and sunny day for a change with temperatures up to 25 degrees Celsius. Karen decided to potter about in the garden after a lay-in so I drove to the small village of Early Sterndale with its interesting pub “The Quiet Woman Inn”.
Leaving the car in a shady spot outside the village church opposite the pub, I set off on a path from the pub itself which went through a very short walled track, across a drive and onwards into fields.
The route across the path passed to one side of Hitter Hill then dropped down a slope to the minor road leading to Glutton Bridge, opposite the striking Parkhouse Hill.
I followed this minor road North for 200 or 300 metres as far the farm of Glutton range then through the farm gates and a track soon bringing me to Glutton Dale pointed to be a Public Footpath sign.
I followed this small grassy dale to a stile which brought me to a farm track where I turned right and followed the track as far as a very bent metal farm gate which was difficult to open where I then followed a route marked across a large field until it dropped down to a gate leading onto the minor road in Dowel Dale.
Soon I was walking along the crest of Chrome Hill and at the highest point sat for a while looking at the views and munching a flapjack.
I dropped down the opposite side of Chrome Hill and at the road leading to Dowel Dale, followed a Public Footpath which skirts around the side of Parkhouse Hill then across some field to arrive back opposite the stile I had been to earlier on the Glutton Bridge road. I crossed over and went through the stile but instead of following the path I had been on earlier, as this area was Open Access land, I opted to walk up the very steep slope leading to the top of Hitter Hill.
Descending the short slope on the other side of Hitter Hill, I crossed a wall by using a stile into a field behind “The Quiet Woman” then after passing the pub and leaving my rucksack and boots in the car, as it was such a warm day, I had a pint of shandy in the pub.

"The Quiet Woman" Pub, Earl Sterndale

The Pub Sign

Two-Headed Cow!

Dowal Dale

Looking across to Chrome Hill

A Walk in Abney Clough

After breakfast at the Outside café at Calver Crossroads, Karen and I drove up Sir William Hill in Grindleford and parked at the rough track which continues to the West.
We walked a back towards the road and then crossed the wall via a stile onto part of Eyam Moor and followed the path which followed along a wall in the light rain and drizzle.
Crossing Bretton Brook at Stoke Ford, we then walked up the wooded valley of Abney Clough passing many wood ant nests. We soon reached the hamlet of Abney and after following the minor road leading out the other side, we passed through a gate leading into another wooded area and followed the muddy path down to a second footbridge crossing a small stream leading to several fields passing Cockey Farm,
As we reached the top of Bretton Clough we sat on a wooden bench during a short pause in the light rain and had a coffee. Next, we dropped down to yet another footbridge again crossing Bretton Brook and then climbed the short but steep path as we passed a young group weighed down with heavy-looking rucksacks – a Duke of Edinburgh Award group – and reached the pasture on the other side.
Crossing the fields brought us to a stile over a wall and then past a house onto part of their front drive and onto a minor road for a short distance before leaving the road to follow a rough track.

Looking over Bretton Clough with Rain Drops

The rough track brought us to a bend on another minor road and the rough track leading back to where we had started.

A Walk from Castleton

I set off for Castleton and parked on the Square near the Youth Hostel and then after getting my boots on set off up Cave Dale.
Part way up it began to drizzle again and gradually increased.
Once I reached the top of the Dale, the rain was heavy enough to make it worthwhile stopping to get my over-trousers on.
I was soon on my way again with quite heavy rain and also wind as I passed a group of youths loaded heavily with large rucksacks, obviously a Duke of Edinburgh Scheme group.
I followed the track back Rowter Farm onto the main road then followed down Winnats Pass on the grassy verge. When I reached Suicide Cave, I took advantage of the well-sheltered entrance to sit and have the sandwiches I had made early this morning.
Gradually the rain stopped and as I headed off again, there were a few short outbreaks of light rain so I put on my Paramo waterproof cap instead of using the hood on my Paramo smock.
I was soon back in Castleton and then after getting my boots off, had a quick look at the outdoor gear shop and headed for home stopping of at Bakewell for a short while.

DCRO Call-out Stoney Middleton

Last night the phone rang at 01:25. There was a missing person in the Stoney Middleton area and both Mountain and Cave Rescue Teams were being asked to do a search. We were to meet at Horseshoe Quarry at 05:30. I said I would go but Karen couldn't because of staff shortages where she works; she was working 5 day weeks instead of the usual 3.
I put my caving lamp on charge and couldn't get back to sleep for ages with my brain going over what I needed to get ready in the morning.
I was up at 04:10 and started porridge for breakfast, got a flask of coffee ready and some sandwiches. I left for Stoney Middleton at 05:00.
I arrived at 05:25 and found the DCRO vehicle parked on the lane leading to Horseshoe Quarry along with a number of both Edale and Buxton MRT vehicles and other Team Members' cars also parked in the nearby layby. Of course it had also started to rain.
Myself as Leader plus Wayne Sheldon and Roy Rogers were asked to check out Streaks Pot top entrance so we grabbed some ropes, a crash bag, a half rigging bag and a radio and Wayne, who hadn't any caving gear, showed us the way to the cave entrance.
I went in feet-first to the top of the pitch a short way in and tied a rope onto the bolt anchor at the top of the pitch.
I was able to lean over the pitch and see the bottom clearly and could see no sign of anyone. After radioing in with this information I suggested we also check on Monday Mine and Sunday Mine which were in the same area and was told to do this. We then had a quick look at the lower entrance of Streaks Pot but the corrugated iron sheet covering the entrance was in place with a stone on top so it was obvious no one had entered this route. We moved the rock and sheet out of the way and could see nothing of interest.
We walked up the road for a short distance to look for Sunday Mine when I heard John Mottram's voice asking for our call-sign “Caver 1”. I responded and was told that the missing person had been found and we were to return to base. It was approximately 07:00.
Returning to base we discovered that the missing man had been fairly quickly found by a SARDA dog and was close to where he had left his car.
An ambulance arrived and the man was taken in the ambulance vehicle for some time.
Eventually, the ambulance and police left then everyone else. I was one of the last to leave as my car had been blocked in.
I was home again at around 08:45 and I finished off my flask of coffee (I had started drinking it as we were waiting for the incident to wind up). I was tired but felt I couldn't yet sleep so as the weather was fine now, I decide to go for a walk in Castleton.

Jugholes

After a long lay-in to nearly 10:00, Karen, Keith and myself drove to Monyash for breakfast at the café then drove to the Orpheus CC Cottage. Tony Seddon and his “Starless River” caving gear sales van was there and we chatted with him while we waited for Elaine Hillyard to get her gear together for a trip down Jugholes.
We went in via the Adit Entrance and made our way through the various chambers having a good poke around on our way then exited via the climb up to the Main Entrance making use of the handline I had rigged on our way past earlier.

Kinder Downfall

Karen was accompanying Pete Mellors and others in Water Icicle Close Cavern while Keith did some solo digging as Pete Collins is still having to work on Saturdays.
I set off at around 09:00 to Upper Booth and parked there then made my way along the minor road which leads Lee House towards Jacobs Ladder and the part of the Pennine Way but turned off just over the bridge past Upper Booth Farm to follow Crowden Clough up to the plateau of Kinder Scout.
After reaching the plateau I followed the main part of Crowden Brook as it wended its way along a deep grough (a channel worn in the peat) in a general direction of NNW until the grough became shallower.
I then made my way along the narrow sandy bottom until it was easier to climb back out again near a line of small cairns and sticks marking the parish boundary. From here it was easy to see the right hand side of the light-coloured gritstone feature known as Kinder Gates several hundred metres away again to the NW.
This is a useful landmark when heading across the Kinder plateau as Kinder Gates are on either side of the Kinder River which heads towards the plateau's Western edge before tumbling over the side at Kinder downfall.
I headed towards Kinder Gates descending and climbing back out of a several groughs which crossed my route and joined the Kinder River at a tributary.
It was a simple job to follow the wide and sandy river bed which had quite a shallow river flowing and I was soon passing between Kinder Gates where another walker was stood up eating a snack with a sheep in close attendance hoping for a portion of the snack as well.
Up to this point I had been quite comfortable in just a thermal short-sleeved shirt despite coolish temperatures. There were large ominous black clouds gathering and some drops began to fall so I stopped for a minute to don my Paramo Light Velez Adventure smock.
Soon I arrived at the Downfall where there was a very small Kinder River cascading over the waterfall's edge before being blown back up by the wind which is more than often the case.
I sat on a convenient flat boulder to have my lunch an was soon being pestered by a cheeky ewe with an attendant lamb, the ewe was obviously eyeing up my lunch like the one I had seen earlier at Kinder Gates.
While I finished my lunch and the ewe trotted off when it realised it was getting nothing from me, I noticed many more ominous black clouds gathering in the distance to the West and deading my way. It was obvious there was going to be some heavy rain soon so I got my waterproof overtrousers on before continuing on my way.
As soon as I set off again, heavy rain began and I passed several others stopped to put on waterproof clothing.
The heavy rain poured down and I paused for some minutes in the shelter of some boulders before realising the rain would not be stopping very soon and continued on my way along the path on the Western edge.
Gradually the rain lightened and then stopped as I approached the Trig. Point at Kinder Low,
I continued following the path, soon arriving at the large gritstone feature of Edale Rocks. It was quite dry below on of the steeply-overhanging roofs formed by the Rocks and I sat on a boulder and finished of my flask of coffee.
Afterwards, I dropped down the path leading to Jacob's Ladder at the top of which I passed to remove my smock as it was quite warm now that the sun was making an appearance and there was no more rain threatening.
Soon I was crossing the small Packhorse Bridge at the foot of the steps formed by the path and then followed the track back to reach the point I had left the minor road earlier at Barber Booth Farm.
Soon I was back where I had left the car at around 14:00 and headed for home.
Karen and Keith were back at our place just before 18:00 and not long afterwards we had a meal at the Miners Standard the joined the others sheltering from showers and the wind at the Orpheus CC Barbecue!

Top of Kinder Downfall

"Ewe Must Be Joking" the sandwich thief!

Fern Dale

The weather forecast was for some rain today, and it wasn't wrong! First, Karen and I stopped off at the Orpheus CC cottage to wash and put away the ropes and ladders we had used on last week's caving trip to County Clare.
Then, we drove to nearby Monyash and leaving the car by the village green, we walked down the Bakewell Road to the start of Lathkill Dale and after a short distance along the beginning of Lathkill Dale, we turned to the South-West where the smaller Fern Dale headed off and followed that dale as it gradually rose until we reached a walled lane leading back to the village centre.
After following the lane for 400 or 500 metres, we crossed a wall stile into the adjoining fields and then followed the path leading across the fields to soon arrive at Monyash church, with the path continuing through one side of the churchyard via a wall stile and then again through a squeeze stile back onto the Bakewell Road.
Still the rain was falling, and we had a brief stop at the Old Smithy café for lunch.

Hartington and Biggin

After parking in the centre of the village, Karen and I walked up the hill and entered the lane opposite the impressive Youth Hostel of Hartington Hall.
After a short distance, this walled lane led into a couple of fields and then onto the narrow metalled road of Reynards Lane.
Where Reynards Lane went around a bend, two more unsurfaced lanes led off and we took the one heading straight-ahead which brought us to near the top end of Biggin Dale. Here the Dale also had a junction with the longer section heading South towards Wolfescote Dale, but we followed the shorter section heading Eastwards to join the minor road of Liffs Road.
We turned left along this road fr a 100 metres or so and then left the road onto a footpath across some fields and then onto another minor road leading into the centre of Biggin.
At a “T” junction we turned left and noticed a number of headstones in the churchyard had small Warning notices attached, presumably because they might topple over.
Continuing along the road passing the “Waterloo Inn” pub, we also passed the other beginning of Biggin Dale and then turned onto the nearby rough track called “Highfield Lane” which we then followed leading back just uphill of Hartington Hall.
We stopped at the Hall, which has a café/restaurant, to have some tea and a slice of cake, sitting in the garden as it had remained dry luckily despite some dark clouds not too far in the distance.

Hartington Hall Youth Hostel

Doolin

Last night myself , Karen and Keith had planned on a caving trip probably to Kilcorney Cave/Cave of the Wild Horses where none of us had been before but we had been told by Nikki Adlam-Styles that you get quite dirty with moon milk in this cave so we decided maybe on Faunarooska instead.
In the morning it was apparent that today was going to be the best day for weather we'd had with a cloudless blue sky and very warm temperature.
So, we decided to make the best of the last day in County Clare and remain above ground.
We walked down to Magnetic Music sometime after breakfast and had the regulation coffee and slice of chocolate cake then afterwards at around midday continued on towards the sea at Doolin Pier.
Karen and Keith had a walk along the seashore as far as the cliffs bordering the Cliffs of Moher while I remained near the pier.
When they returned, we all walked a bit in the opposite direction from the pier stopping at a small rocky bay where the waves were providing a display by crashing over the rocks. Despite the lovely weather and not very much wind, there were quite large waves crashing onto the beach bringing out a number of surfers.
Afterwards we re-visited Magnetic Music after having an ice cream bought in the new grocery shop nearby and then returned to Doolin Cottages and started sorting our caving gear etc. in readiness for tomorrow's return to home. Boo!

Shaggy Sheep Shop!

Magnetic Music

Magnetic Music

Inside Magnetic Music

Doolin River Cave

Phil Walker was dropped off by his wife at 10:00 and he joined myself , Keith and Karen on a trip down the road to rig the Fisherstreet Pot with ladders , lifeline and SRT rope so that we could have a through trip in the Doolin River Cave entering via St Catherine's cave and exiting via Fisherstreet Pot.
The day was much warmer than of late – we were comfortable wearing T shirts, although Keith had to wear caving gear as he rigged the SRT rope and cached all our SRT kit at the bottom of the pot for later.
Once that job had been carried out, Jenny drove myself, Karen, Keith, Boyd, Phil, Simon and Sharri up to the entrance to St Catherine's farm while Mike drove Elaine up. Simon had driven Robert and his lads Hywel and Rhodri up earlier.
Of course we had all changed into furry suits and brought the rest of our gear to get changed at the entrance to the farm.
We actually got an answer to our knock on the door to ask permission to get to the cave unlike most previous visits.
Soon we were at the entrance to St Catherine's and I began the entrance crawl a few minutes after midday and onwards past the squeeze into larger passage.
We all trooped through the large walking passages, had one or two places where we had to re-track and try another route where slabs broken down from the ceiling blocked the route.
Soon we were at the well-decorated Grotto and had a short break before carrying on.
The water levels were fairly low with the inlets “Pisser” and Aille River not as vigorous as on previous trips.
After quite a lot of large canyon passage, looking for good examples of Doolin Cobbles and having a look at the odd leech, we began to lower sections of the cave.
These passed soon enough with another section of easy walking passage before we reached the low and wet hands and knees section leading to the bottom of Fisherstreet Pot at 14:45.
After Keith and I had prusiked up the previously-rigged rope, Simon climbed up the ladder followed by Boyd again prusiking.
Myself and Boyd then lifelined Rhodri, Htwel and Robert up while the remainder prusiked up as well.
We walked back along the road to Doolin Cottages and got changed after leaving our gear out in the warm sunshine to dry and after showers, etc. Karen, Keith and I had a quick trip to Magnetic Music for a coffee and chocolate cake.

Poll Gonzo

This is a newly-discovered pot on the Burren adding to the other few mostly vertical caves already known. Simon had been talking to one of the diggers, Robin Sheen, an British caver from Nottingham who has lived in the area for over thirty years and knows Simon and he had invited us to see the new cave.
So, after breakfast, we had an earlier then usual start on the worst day for weather so far with almost constant drizzle and mist, and left Doolin at 10:25 to meet Robin as arranged at 11:00 at Cassidy's pub at Carron. Karen, Keith and myself travelled as usual in my car, with Simon and Shari making a detour to pick up a drill bit from UBSS's Dr. Boycott the way and also Boyd who wasn't going caving but came along to see the entrance to the cave.
Once Robin had arrived with a young Irish caver from Dublin named Rowena, we continued down the road for a mile or so and parked at a pull-off by a farm gate where there was room for four cars.
After getting changed, we walked across the fields for maybe 3/4 of a mile to find the cave entrance among bushes and scrubland. Robin mentioned that there were two Bronze Age Wedge Tombs nearby and he often looks for caves near such Bronze age features.
The diggers had made a short stairway with five or so steps using wood and rubble from the dig leading into the small depression which Robin believes is the bottom half of a chamber which had the top half removed during the Ice Age.
On the right-hand side was a short drop beneath a conglomeration of small rocks, boulders and rubble with scaffolding leading to two more short drops and then a final linger drop to where they have been digging recently. It was just after Noon as Keith was asked to nip down and collect a crowbar which Robin wanted so that he could try and remove a boulder in the main part of the cave and Simon and myself poked our heads in to have a look followed by Karen.
On the opposite side of the depression, again down a short drop to a flat floor, again beneath a mixture of mud, rocks and boulders, leading to the top of a climb-down after 4 metres or so. We started into this section of the cave saying “good-bye” to Boyd. The climb-down was equipped with an electron ladder although Robin said it was free-climable. The others climbed down the narrowish rift to a wider section some 8 metres below. I started to climb down but was concerned that I might have problems coming up again as I had felt sharp pains in my shoulder muscles as we walked over to the entrance.
I decided to not risk it and shouted down to Karen that I would return to the car. Rats.
I got changed and snoozed in the car and then at 15:30 heard voices as the others returned saying they had enjoyed the cave but had gotten very wet in the lower parts due to a waterfall on the lower pitch.
After they had got changed, we headed back to Cassidy's pub to have a Guinness and then back to Lisdoonvarna to shop for brad rolls and then Doolin with the drizzle still falling.
In the evening for a change, Karen Keith and I ate in Maganns' and Phil Walker found us there. Before the music started we wandered down the orad to the newer pub in Doolin, Fitzpatricks, where we knew part of “Foolin' in Doolin” were playing – 'Blackie' O'Donnel, Carol Lynch and also a guitarist.
Although the music was excellent, because the bar is basically a hotel bar, it had no atmosphere and was nowhere near as enjoyable as McDermott's.