Pilsbury Castle

Leaving the car in Hartington village, we first had a quick trip to the village shop to buy some food for a snack later and then left the village passing the duck pond and the Aylesbury ducks having a nap as we followed the road which leads towards the hamlet of Pilsbury.

There was a strong and cold wind but plenty of sunshine so a complete change to yesterday's weather. At Bank Top Farm we followed a farm track by the gate and cattle grid which led upwards and at a bend on the track, we went through a field gate which was marked with lots of blue paint and followed posts and stiles also daubed with blue paint as we made our way across fields and drystone walls with stiles until we arrived at the top of an old dry valley in the pastureland where the public rights of way formed a crossroads.

Following the path leading rightwards, we crossed a minor road and continued on the path on the other side which then dropped steeply down to the sharks tooth of limestone rock at Pilsbury Castle which mirrored the shape of the much larger Chrome Hill further in the distance.

We sat on the sheltered side of the limestone crag and ate our snacks watching a couple of kestrels hovering and swooping down higher up the pasture land opposite where we had stopped.

Next we followed a grassy track forming part of a bridleway and we could see several springs flowing well after all the recent wet weather. The track brought us to the same minor road we had been following earlier above the lovely farmhouse of Broadmeadow Hall.

As the ground was so wet and also Karen's back was twinging, rather than follow the farmland route back to Hartington, we followed the minor road.

We passed and interesting resurgence below the road issuing a lot of water into the nearby River Dove and also what looked like an old adit at road level on the other side of the road further along also spouting quite a bit of water.

Soon we were back where we had left the road earlier at Bank Top Farm and then retraced our route back to Hartington.

Derwent Edge

It was supposed to be a misty start and cold with the mist clearing later as we left Fairholmes car park in the Upper Derwent Valley and after passing the impressive Derwent Dam, we followed the track along the shore of the Upper Derwent Reservoir.

Leaving the reservoir track, we followed a path leading up the valley carrying the Abbey Brook until there was a junction of footpaths where one headed to the south-west towards the small summit known as Lost Lad.

We could see that higher up the features were all enveloped in mist. As we followed a section of path on boggy ground which was paved with large limestone flags until we arrived at the cairn and topograph on Lost Lad.

After a pause to examine the topograph which displays all the hills and surrounding features from that point, which of course were invisible due to the mist, we continued on the paved path until the nearby rocky tor of Back Tor loomed out of the mist.

There was a bit of a cold wind so we sat in the lee of the tor to have lunch and a few walkers passed by appearing out of the mist and again disappearing.

After lunch we continued onwards along the path which follows Derwent Edge passing other rock formations on the way, some of which we couldn't see because of the mist. Eventually we arrived at another large rocky tor called Wheel Stones where again we had a short break out of the cold wind.

A few hundred metres beyond Wheel Stones we met a crossroads of footpaths by a line of shooting butts and we followed the right-hand turning on a path which led down out of the mist to intersect a bridle way where we met a few mountain bikers laboriously making their way up towards the Edge,

The bridleway route took us down passing some stone-built barns and a nice old barn converted to a walkers shelter and then onto a minor road which services some house located along the reservoir.

We followed the minor road for about a mile back to the dam and then the car park.

Kinder Scout

As I couldn't decide where to go walking today (Karen wouldn't be back from the Isle of Man until this evening), I decide to return to Kinder and follow a different route.

It was a cold and frosty start with clear skies and sunshine as I left Winster and headed towards Edale.

Today I started at the main Edale car park and gained the plateau by following the path and rocky outcrop known as Ringing Roger.

Again I followed the path along the plateau edge but today the weather was lovely and clear with tremendous visibility and excellent views.

A less complicated walk than yesterday, navigation-wise, it didn't take as long to finish as I rounded the top of Grindsbrook Clough and then reversed yesterday's ascent by dropping down back to Grindsbrook Booth via Grindslow Knoll.

Kinder Scout

Another trip to Kinder Scout while Karen spent the week-end visiting our friends who live on the Isle of Man.

I left a little earlier in the morning than usual and arrived at the Upper Booth car park at around 9:45 to find the provided spaces already full except for a single space and the two spaces reserved for disabled drivers, which was surprising as the weather wasn't supposed to be brilliant.

It seemed to be a large walking group had planned on a walk in the area and pretty nearly filled up the car park.

Anyway, I got my boots on and set off towards Upper Booth Farm and then through the farm yard and across the fields to where the start of the Pennine Way leaves Grindsbrook Booth and is signposted for Grindslow Knoll.

It was chilly with a bit of a wind but with mist and clouds blowing across the Kinder plateau as I followed the path leading up to the top of Grindslow Knoll. There were one or two short breaks in the cloud allowing the sun to break through as I neared the top, but these were short-lived and it remained misty as I went across to the large worn area at the head of Grindsbrook Clough wear the heaviest traffic occurs as most approach the Kinder Plateau via this route.

From there I followed the path along the edge of the plateau heading towards Crowden Tower and as I reached the point where the Crowden Brook tumbles over the bouldery edge to make its way down Crowden Clough, I followed the branch of the riverbed which heads north and either walked along the sandy and rocky bed of the river or followed a narrow path on the peat above.

At any junctions where other water channels joined, I check I was still heading in the right direction by keeping an eye on my compass and when the Crowden Brook became too narrow to follow itself, I left it and started making my way across the featureless peat bog which makes up the area called Crowden Head.

There were a few deep groughs or channels worn in the peat made by water which meant a bit of a meandering route but again I kept a very careful watch on the compass as with the mist, it would be very easy to veer off in the wrong direction.

My goal was to join the River Kinder on the other side of the plateau and then follow that to the waterfall known as Kinder Downfall. As well as having to navigate carefully, I was mindful of the several recent Mountain Rescue call-outs as a result of walkers becoming stuck in sections of peat bog which was very wet due to the wet summer we have had,

I reached another sandy-bedded stream in a deep grough heading in the right direction with the water flowing north or north-west, which is what I wanted and I started to follow this stream.

Soon I saw the odd cairn which is good news and then at a large junction of a larger stream with the one I had been following, there was a very large cairn and I was pretty sure this larger section was the River Kinder and I had been following one of its tributaries.

Soon a welcome sight loomed out of the mist: the pair of large gritstone buttresses wither side of the river which are called Kinder Gates. I was now certain this was indeed the River Kinder and all I had to do was make my way easily along the sandy river bed or along a path which followed along side it.

I reached the large Kinder Downfall where the water crashes down towards the huge rocky amphitheatre below, unless the prevailing wind is so strong that it actually blows the water back up in the air before it has had a chance to land.

I sat on a boulder which seemed to be sheltered from the cold wind and had a hot drink and a snack,

While I was doing this, momentarily, it got a bit brighter and I thought maybe there might be a break in the mist but that never happened. Then it seemed to get a bit darker.

I finished my drink and set off again along the path following this edge of the plateau and when I reached a wider area with no obvious path I headed towards the rig point at Kinder Low which soon loomed out of the mist.

Meanwhile the very fine drizzle caused by the mist began to increase in size and was soon becoming a light rain shower.

I checked the map in the shelter of the large boulder on which the trig point column is mounted and found the bearing for my next location, Edale Rocks. This was to the south and I made my way following the compass across the boggy and heathery ground.

As expected, the large rocky tor if Edale Rocks soon appeared out of the mist and I sat on the leeward side making use of a large over-hanging section to provide an excellent shelter from the wind and rain and finished off my hot drink.

Afterwards, I followed the paved path leading down from the Rocks towards the junction with the old packhorse trail which rises from the far side of Kinder than makes its way down Jacobs Ladder back to the Edale Valley.

This was my route back to Upper Booth and as I dropped down the old bridleway, I also dropped out of the mist which remained covering the plateau.

I was soon back at my starting point after an excellent walk despite the not so good weather.

Swildons Hole

A return to Mendip after a year or two with Karen and I arriving at Upper Pitts, the Wessex Cave Club HQ last night. We found Clive Westlake was also staying and fellow Orpheus members Simon Wynne, Elaine Hillyard and her partner Mike had already arrived.

In the morning we were having breakfast and awaited the rest of our party from the Orpheus Caving Club and Boyd Potts, Alan Hatton and Keith soon turned up.

We decided on a quick trip into Swildons Hole and as there was a CHECC (Council of Higher Education Caving Clubs) gathering on in the area, there was no need to take a ladder and lifeline for the Twenty Foot Pitch as it had been rigged with a builders ladder!

So, we got into our caving gear in the hut changing room and then walked across the fields to the cave entrance. Meanwhile the morning mist which had been around earlier began to clear and it was a lovely sunny day as we disappeared down through the hole in the blockhouse over the cave entrance.

I was in the lead and we followed the Long Dry Way except for Keith who chose the Wet Way. We met some other cavers as we made our way towards the Water Chamber including apparently some girls on a Hen Weekend!

Soon we were all back together and continued on down the route to the foot of the old Forty Foot Pitch which had got washed away in the 1968 floods. There was plenty of water around in the cave but water levels weren't particularly high and no one fell in at the Double Pots.

The builders ladder at the Twenty Foot Pitch certainly speeded progress and after passing other landmarks such as the Inclined Rift below Barne's Loop, we soon arrived at the first sump.

Alan and Simon wanted to have a look at part of “Swildons II” beyond the sump and we went through the procedure of signalling by pulling on the rope through the sump.

I poked my legs through to see how much room there was as the amount of stones and gravel can vary with time and then turned around and ducked into the water and pulled on the rope. I got as far as poking my head above the water on the other side and then reversed back to rejoin the others.

Alan and Simon then popped through and we waited a few minutes then decided that Karen and I would start making our way out slowly to avoid getting chilled (none of us were wearing wetsuits) while Boyd and Keith waited for their return.

They caught us up as Karen was climbing up the water chute at the Lavatory Pan and we continued back to the surface by following the Wet Way.

We were back at the blockhouse at the entrance after a brilliant caving trip about two hours after we had entered the cave.

We returned to Upper Pitts and got changed out of caving gear and had a quick snack and mug of tea. Later Karen, Keith and I drove to Wells for a wander around and a coffee. In the evening we all had a meal at the New Inn in Priddy.

Offerton Moor from Leadmill

Karen has a cold and decided to stay at home as I set of with a chilly start with the temperature at 1 degree Centigrade, on my way towards Hathersage.

I parked in the layby outside The Plough pub at Leadmill just outside Hathersage and crossed the road then followed the minor road heading west until I reached a foopath sign with a path leading downwards towards Highlow Brook.

The path crossed the brook on a small hump-baked bridge and the followed a field uphill passing Hog Hall to reach a lane leading to the hall. Continuing uphill along this lane, I reached a junction with another minor road and a track leading past Tor Farm and soon reached an obviously ancient route across an open grassy area bordered by trees displaying very vivid autumnal colours with a path covered by Larch needles passing through a wooden gate into a section of Highlow Wood.

The oath was fairly muddy as it passed through the wood and soon reached a junction of paths at a ford where a small tributary joined Highlow Brook.

From here I followed a rough track which gradually rose to an open moor and then dropped back down to a small valley joining the Highlow Brook valley.

Another section of very muddy path which was quite wide as walkers tried to avoid the mud only succeeding in a large area of mud, led to Stoke Ford.

Crossing a small footbridge, I then followed the path through woods along Abney Clough to reach the hamlet of Abney and then turned right on the minor road heading eastwards from Abney to reach a footpath about a hundred metres later which rose up to reach Offerton Moor.

The path was obvious but often narrow as it made its way north-eastwards across the moor and as I reached the other side before it dropped down towards the main road below, I coulde see in the distance Win Hill, Ladybower Reservoir, Bamford and Bamford Moor, Hathersage and on the skyline the three and a half miles of Stanage Edge.

I dropped down the path leading to Offerton Hall and joined the lane leading past the Hall heading to the south-east for a 1 hundred and fifty metres or so the left the lane onto a footpath leading down to Callow Farm.

The path led through a gate on the other side of the farm house across a field to a gate into another section of path through woods then again across a field to join a rough vehicle track.

Turning right on this track I soon reached the farm house at Mountpleasant Farm and from there through another gate and across a field above the River Derwent to Leadmill bridge.

Crossing the road I followed the footpath passing the Plough and back to the layby.

Kinder Scout

Karen was visiting friends in Rugby and I had another visit to Kinder Scout.

It was cold as I set off from home, around 5 degrees Centigrade and I parked in the car park at Grindsbrook Booth (Edale).

I walked up to the village centre and then followed the start of the Pennine Way opposite the Old Nags Head Inn, following a footpath next to Coopers Farm as far as a junction of footpaths.

Leaving the route of the Pennine Way, I struck off to follow the path leading up to the summit of Grindsbrook Knoll. Since my last visit, a lot of work has been done on this path towards the top and a large section is know paved with rock including a stretch of steps where the path steepens.

It was supposed to be 2 degrees Centigrade at the level of the Kinder Plateau with a chance of showers and maybe even thunder so I wasn't surprised when it began to sleet as I neared the summit and then quite a heavy rain shower with a strong wind blowing towards me.

I sheltered behind a boulder and removed my Paramo Aspira Smock and put on a Rab PowerStrech top while I had the chance of some shelter in case the smock wasn't enough for the conditions – I normally only wear a thermal shirt beneath a Paramo jacket or smock.

From the Knoll, I made my way across to the path along the plateau edge and then followed this path past the top of Grindsbrook Clough and then on reaching the branch of Grinds Brook which heads north across the Kinder plateau, I followed this stream for a few hundred metres and when I reached the ruins of a small drystone-walled cabin, I had a sit down and some drink from my flask.

Continuing afterwards along the stream I got my GPS receiver out of my rucksack and after switching it on found a waypoint I had stored in it some years ago when I had found the remains of an aircraft wreck which I knew was not too far away.

I followed the route indicated by the GPS receiver for around 300 metres and soon found the remains of a Dragon Rapide.

The story of this wreck is “Both crew members Captain Dennis Holmes and Co-Pilot John McWhirter survived the crash, December 30th 1963. This was a civilian flight, a company called Solair Flying Services from Birmingham. The Rapide had been used for a photographic survey, and was returning to the midlands from Teeside.

With concerns for their fuel level, Captain Holmes decided to divert to Manchester, and headed straight across the Pennines. Flying close to the ground, the Rapide was hit by a downdraught and struck the moor. Fortunately there was no fire as both men were injured and could only wait for help to arrive.” See http://www.peakdistrictaircrashes.co.uk/pages/peakdistrict/peakdistrictG-ALBC.htm for more information.

In the meantime a mist had descended on the plateau an I could hear shouting in the distance to the west. I walked a short distance in the direction of the shouting but I could no longer hear it any more, especially with the noise of the wind.

I plotted a course from my map to take me back to the stream I had been following earlier and soon found it again near the ruined cabin.

After retracing my previous route back to the path along the plateau edge, I followed this path eastwards with the wind from behind and after a short break in the shelter of some boulders to have a flapjack for lunch, I made my way to Ringing Roger and then down the Nab, passing more path construction using pieces of rock with large bags of more rock bits awaiting laying on the path.

Soon I was making my way back to the village and then back to the car park.

In the evening we went to see a talk by Sir Chris Bonington at Buxton Opera House. It was a very entertaining talk about his life as climber and mountaineer illustrated with projected photos and clips of video. Now 78 and still climbing whenever he has the chance, Bonington was very modest and didn't often point out as he talked about various peaks and routes on mountains he had climber, that they were mostly first ascents of first British ascents.