Showing posts with label Hope. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Hope. Show all posts
Monday, 3 September 2012
Summer Catch-up
With a major change of lifestyle occurring over the last couple of months - a new girlfriend (Jane), one-and-a-half extra children, new pets and new responsibilities - I've unfortunately had little chance to do any serious walking despite my new 'better half' loving it.
Here's a catch-up on what I, or we've been up to:
Tenerife
I had two weeks at the end of July in Tenerife where I basically sunbathed and ate continuously. Aside from four very early morning jogs I did very little else - even at 5am I'd have sweat running into my eyes it was so warm. However whilst there I picked up one solitary Geocache just to get one in that country; I actually walked by quite a few others but with the kids, the heat and the muggles I simply didn't have the interest to try harder.
Hope - 13/08/2012
Jane had a few days off so I also took the Monday and drove to Hope where I showed her the "Plummer Circular" - the walk I did back on 12/04/2012 with Chris from work. This is a ten mile walk up Win Hill, across to Hope Cross, down and up to Back Tor and Lose Hill. Jane even talked me into finding the cache on Back Tor that had been bugging me for ages because it was a fair way off the track - and this from someone who has absolutely zero interest in caching!
Messing about along the top from Win Hill to Hope Cross I was jokingly skipping with happiness (who says you have to grow up?) and I twisted my ankle (OK, my body's aged even if my brain hasn't) which spoiled the second half of the walk a bit, but aside from that we had a fabulous day out; perfect weather and perfect company.
Coxley Valley - 18/08/2012
Off to Overton for MikeG's Yorkshire International Geocaching event. It was good to meet everyone I'd not seen for ages and while we were there we did half of his new series; we bailed out after only doing a total of 3 miles as we had to get back in time for our allocated food time-slot.
A lovely afternoon, great food, fabulous weather and bountiful good company.
Wharncliffe Crags - 27/08/2012
Bank Holiday so we left all the kids we had at home to fuel their technology addictions and just took the dog on a long walk around both parts of Wharncliffe Woods & Crags. A great 9.3 mile walk with lots of chat and time to enjoy the views. Life doesn't get much better.
Froggatt Edge - 02/09/2012
Taking Jane to another place she's never visited we parked on the A625 and walked 6.1 miles anti-clockwise around Froggatt Edge. I knew I'd been here before but I didn't remember a second of it - likely because my last visit here was the first outing with Patrick and Donna and we probably talked the whole way round. We're doing ever so well with the weather lately and that, coupled with the great views and fresh air, make for yet another truly amazing day out with the most perfect companion I could hope for.
Tuesday, 22 May 2012
Stocksbridge to Castleton
Being something of a 'smalltown boy', having been brought up on a farm near Stocksbridge, South Yorkshire, even a place like Sheffield seemed to be a continent away despite the fact it was only about 15 miles. Along similar lines a place such as Castleton was seen as a holiday location even though it was only 20 miles away over all the B-roads or maybe 1 hour 30 minutes driving with my Dad's super-steady pace.
So whilst poring over some digital maps of Kinder Scout recently, in preparation for the National Three Peaks attempt I have in June, it struck me that walking from Stocksbridge to Castleton was something that not only wasn't impossible (as I'd certainly have thought if you'd asked me beforehand) but was actually quite achievable.
So I presented this 'mad plan' to my sister, who is organising the Three Peaks event, and she thought it a good idea. The wheels set in motion - routes planned, dates arranged, people invited and return drivers nominated so that eventually we had 10 walkers and four dogs meeting near Underbank Reservoir (outside our Dad's house) on Saturday 19/05/12 at 9am. Almost all to plan; one car was 20 minutes late.
The weather was miserable with on and off light drizzle all day but it certainly didn't dampen my spirits; I'd have continued with the walk even if it had been heavy rain.
We set off up Clay Pits Lane and then across a couple of fields to the top of Long Lane before walking alongside the woods. Merrily chatting away to people I'd not met before I completely missed our turn-off so we added an unplanned extra loop on before getting back on track at Mortimer Road. Here was another problem - the path I'd planned on using was marked "Private Road" and coupled with the Public Footpath sign missing at the other side of the road I was reluctant to walk down the track past the house and farm even though I know it to be Peak District National Park and that it leads to a published footpath.
Paper maps out (thanks Tam), as it's easier to get the 'big picture', I decided to follow the road down over Ewden Beck and up the other side before turning right onto the moors - 180 degrees the opposite direction to that which I had planned but in actual fact almost exactly the same distance.
Turning right off Mortimer Road, just after the entrance to Broomhead Hall, we followed a well defined track over the moors for a long distance, possibly 2 miles, passing a cache I frustratingly had to leave. Even stopping for 2 minutes means people are a long way in front so I decided at this point to scrap the Geocaching idea for the day, maybe even forever. (I had prepared a list of a possible 11 to do.)
Heading over Broomhead Moor the track ends abruptly, as I knew, and we hoofed it over the heather for about 100m onto the next trail and started heading West and South-West. Arriving at a mini-peak (Round Hill I think) my GPS indicated we should go due South along an obvious path but someone pointed out there was another, unmapped, path heading off about 90 degrees right. Deciding this second path was too far in the wrong direction, and after all the obvious path was going in the right direction, I took the South path but then within two minutes regretted the decision; this, now unmapped path, bore off East - it appears the Ordnance Survey are out of date here.
Not wishing to backtrack I led everyone directly across the heather and boggy moorland for a good half mile before we turned right 90 degrees and joined back onto the planned path near Low Tor. I knew I wasn't lost - after all my GPS knows exactly where we want to be and I can just "follow the arrow" - but I do admit it was a round about route forced upon us through perhaps a little naivety on my part. It's all fun. Well it was to me, I'm not sure many others would have agreed.
Once back on track it was about 3/4 of a mile to Back Tor where we decided to shelter out of the wind and drizzle and have a bite to eat. A fortunate location as it meant I could actually sneak in a quick cache which is hidden there - and a good find it was too; an ammo can packed full of goodies.
We only stopped for 20 minutes because it was cold and I really wanted to push on before anyone started to seize up - even though we'd only done 9 miles so far and indeed everyone was younger than me, almost, there were quite a few non-walkers in the group who I thought might struggle later.
We continued South to the Cakes of Bread (a rock formation), Dovestone Tor along a very wet peat trail, including a few slips and sinkings (yes I went in up to my left knee) before the path became properly paved - something of a luxury for a mile or two.
We passed the Salt Cellar (rocks again), White Tor, along the edge of the Derwent Moors, the Wheel Stones (more rocks), the Hurtling Stones (yep) and on to Whinstone Lee Tor where we took a steep descent towards the top section of Ladybower through Ashopten Woods and to the A57. A walk now East to cross Ladybower on the A6013 and then South to the dam wall heading towards Win Hill near the Yorkshire Bridge public house.
Here there are a couple options and I thought the better option was to take the gently sloping path up Win Hill where it would then lead onto Hope. I was mistaken and this path only leads UP Win Hill so we ended up going up the terribly steep section - it's all good practice we thought.
Half way up Win Hill two of the dogs went missing. One turned up relatively quickly but unfortunately we had to spend 30 minutes wandering around the woods shouting out before ultimately we heard from Bill, who'd waited at all the rucksacks, that the second dog had brought himself back to the start. Bloody mutt!
Cutting across Win Hill at this point we followed what was a much better path than the planned one would have been as the weather had cleared up and we could actually see over the valley towards Bamford.
The end almost in sight we cut across half a dozen fields and farms, directly into Hope, before dropping behind the church and following a well maintained path alongside Peakshole Water for a mile and a half and landing ourselves in the middle of Castleton.
Hurrah! A pint (OK it was two) of Guinness to celebrate our 20.2 mile walk and to congratulate all the group.
A great days walking and my sister and I even considered walking back - part jokingly but then we actually seriously thought about it for another day when we've more provisions and extra pairs of dry socks!
I've never felt fitter and remarkably my muscles were hardly tired; my only niggle is my right ankle (tendons I'm told) which is still nagging me as has been over-documented in several blogs recently. Yes I know there were no real hills but it was still something of an endurance, with the distance, the heather and the mud, and I have to say that I'm chuffed with myself.
Roll on the Three National Peaks!
So whilst poring over some digital maps of Kinder Scout recently, in preparation for the National Three Peaks attempt I have in June, it struck me that walking from Stocksbridge to Castleton was something that not only wasn't impossible (as I'd certainly have thought if you'd asked me beforehand) but was actually quite achievable.
So I presented this 'mad plan' to my sister, who is organising the Three Peaks event, and she thought it a good idea. The wheels set in motion - routes planned, dates arranged, people invited and return drivers nominated so that eventually we had 10 walkers and four dogs meeting near Underbank Reservoir (outside our Dad's house) on Saturday 19/05/12 at 9am. Almost all to plan; one car was 20 minutes late.
The weather was miserable with on and off light drizzle all day but it certainly didn't dampen my spirits; I'd have continued with the walk even if it had been heavy rain.
We set off up Clay Pits Lane and then across a couple of fields to the top of Long Lane before walking alongside the woods. Merrily chatting away to people I'd not met before I completely missed our turn-off so we added an unplanned extra loop on before getting back on track at Mortimer Road. Here was another problem - the path I'd planned on using was marked "Private Road" and coupled with the Public Footpath sign missing at the other side of the road I was reluctant to walk down the track past the house and farm even though I know it to be Peak District National Park and that it leads to a published footpath.
Paper maps out (thanks Tam), as it's easier to get the 'big picture', I decided to follow the road down over Ewden Beck and up the other side before turning right onto the moors - 180 degrees the opposite direction to that which I had planned but in actual fact almost exactly the same distance.
Turning right off Mortimer Road, just after the entrance to Broomhead Hall, we followed a well defined track over the moors for a long distance, possibly 2 miles, passing a cache I frustratingly had to leave. Even stopping for 2 minutes means people are a long way in front so I decided at this point to scrap the Geocaching idea for the day, maybe even forever. (I had prepared a list of a possible 11 to do.)
Heading over Broomhead Moor the track ends abruptly, as I knew, and we hoofed it over the heather for about 100m onto the next trail and started heading West and South-West. Arriving at a mini-peak (Round Hill I think) my GPS indicated we should go due South along an obvious path but someone pointed out there was another, unmapped, path heading off about 90 degrees right. Deciding this second path was too far in the wrong direction, and after all the obvious path was going in the right direction, I took the South path but then within two minutes regretted the decision; this, now unmapped path, bore off East - it appears the Ordnance Survey are out of date here.
Not wishing to backtrack I led everyone directly across the heather and boggy moorland for a good half mile before we turned right 90 degrees and joined back onto the planned path near Low Tor. I knew I wasn't lost - after all my GPS knows exactly where we want to be and I can just "follow the arrow" - but I do admit it was a round about route forced upon us through perhaps a little naivety on my part. It's all fun. Well it was to me, I'm not sure many others would have agreed.
Once back on track it was about 3/4 of a mile to Back Tor where we decided to shelter out of the wind and drizzle and have a bite to eat. A fortunate location as it meant I could actually sneak in a quick cache which is hidden there - and a good find it was too; an ammo can packed full of goodies.
We only stopped for 20 minutes because it was cold and I really wanted to push on before anyone started to seize up - even though we'd only done 9 miles so far and indeed everyone was younger than me, almost, there were quite a few non-walkers in the group who I thought might struggle later.
We continued South to the Cakes of Bread (a rock formation), Dovestone Tor along a very wet peat trail, including a few slips and sinkings (yes I went in up to my left knee) before the path became properly paved - something of a luxury for a mile or two.
We passed the Salt Cellar (rocks again), White Tor, along the edge of the Derwent Moors, the Wheel Stones (more rocks), the Hurtling Stones (yep) and on to Whinstone Lee Tor where we took a steep descent towards the top section of Ladybower through Ashopten Woods and to the A57. A walk now East to cross Ladybower on the A6013 and then South to the dam wall heading towards Win Hill near the Yorkshire Bridge public house.
Here there are a couple options and I thought the better option was to take the gently sloping path up Win Hill where it would then lead onto Hope. I was mistaken and this path only leads UP Win Hill so we ended up going up the terribly steep section - it's all good practice we thought.
Half way up Win Hill two of the dogs went missing. One turned up relatively quickly but unfortunately we had to spend 30 minutes wandering around the woods shouting out before ultimately we heard from Bill, who'd waited at all the rucksacks, that the second dog had brought himself back to the start. Bloody mutt!
Cutting across Win Hill at this point we followed what was a much better path than the planned one would have been as the weather had cleared up and we could actually see over the valley towards Bamford.
The end almost in sight we cut across half a dozen fields and farms, directly into Hope, before dropping behind the church and following a well maintained path alongside Peakshole Water for a mile and a half and landing ourselves in the middle of Castleton.
Hurrah! A pint (OK it was two) of Guinness to celebrate our 20.2 mile walk and to congratulate all the group.
A great days walking and my sister and I even considered walking back - part jokingly but then we actually seriously thought about it for another day when we've more provisions and extra pairs of dry socks!
I've never felt fitter and remarkably my muscles were hardly tired; my only niggle is my right ankle (tendons I'm told) which is still nagging me as has been over-documented in several blogs recently. Yes I know there were no real hills but it was still something of an endurance, with the distance, the heather and the mud, and I have to say that I'm chuffed with myself.
Roll on the Three National Peaks!
Wednesday, 11 April 2012
Blog catch-up
I've been negligent lately so here's a brief summary.
02/04/2012 - Did the Cawthorne Christmas Coroborree series with the kids, my mum, my sister, my brother-in-law and their dog. The weather was excellent and we all enjoyed a lovely 6 mile walk through the countryside before ending up at a pub for some quality food.
09/04/2012 - Good Friday. Drove to a car park near Derwent Reservoir and did a long circular route around the bottom east/west leg of the dam. Shocked upon arrival by the remaining snow which had fallen a couple of days earlier and we'd forgotten all about, we crossed the dam wall and headed directly up Win Hill which was seriously tough going and had my good friend Paul putting me to shame. Once at the top we headed NW along to the Hope Cross, then North down the hill, over the A57 and back up past Hagg Farm before turning SE towards Crook Hill. The path doesn't go to the actual summits but we detoured off to visit all three before descending back down to the A57 and a final disappointing mile along the roads back to the car. 10.2 miles total and a fab day out.
12/04/2012 - Easter Monday. Paul and I were picked up by Chris from work at a shocking 7am for a drive to Hope. Here we did Chris' favourite walking route which involved ascending Win Hill (again - but a different route), then the same route over to Hope Cross before turning South-West towards the bottom of Jagger's Clough and down to Nether Booth. We followed the road for about half a mile before turning up the steep climb to Back Tor and then the steady ascent up to Lose Hill. (Win Hill/Lose Hill - it's all historical you know!) From here a long and steady descent back to Hope. Drizzle most of the walk but very refreshing and great company. Another 10.1 miles walked and back home for mid-day!
02/04/2012 - Did the Cawthorne Christmas Coroborree series with the kids, my mum, my sister, my brother-in-law and their dog. The weather was excellent and we all enjoyed a lovely 6 mile walk through the countryside before ending up at a pub for some quality food.
09/04/2012 - Good Friday. Drove to a car park near Derwent Reservoir and did a long circular route around the bottom east/west leg of the dam. Shocked upon arrival by the remaining snow which had fallen a couple of days earlier and we'd forgotten all about, we crossed the dam wall and headed directly up Win Hill which was seriously tough going and had my good friend Paul putting me to shame. Once at the top we headed NW along to the Hope Cross, then North down the hill, over the A57 and back up past Hagg Farm before turning SE towards Crook Hill. The path doesn't go to the actual summits but we detoured off to visit all three before descending back down to the A57 and a final disappointing mile along the roads back to the car. 10.2 miles total and a fab day out.
12/04/2012 - Easter Monday. Paul and I were picked up by Chris from work at a shocking 7am for a drive to Hope. Here we did Chris' favourite walking route which involved ascending Win Hill (again - but a different route), then the same route over to Hope Cross before turning South-West towards the bottom of Jagger's Clough and down to Nether Booth. We followed the road for about half a mile before turning up the steep climb to Back Tor and then the steady ascent up to Lose Hill. (Win Hill/Lose Hill - it's all historical you know!) From here a long and steady descent back to Hope. Drizzle most of the walk but very refreshing and great company. Another 10.1 miles walked and back home for mid-day!
Thursday, 14 April 2011
Winning with The Hills
Sunday 10/04/2011
It seems like ages since I've had a good walk and also a good Team PADS outing but thankfully this was rectified last weekend.
Patrick Hill fancied a wander up Win Hill near Ladybower Reservoir. He's done all the caches before but it's a great walk and with the weather looking so promising we packed up a picnic and took both families out for a good stretch.
Almost the whole gang (Patrick, Donna, Bethany, Jordan - Christianna was on an outing to Belgium) met up with us (me, Adam, Jade and Hannah) at 10:30 in Hope. Glorious sunshine met us there too and we all set off towards Win Hill.
Patrick had suggested that we add the coordinates for two archived caches into our GPSr because he suspected they would still physically be there. This, for me, was the only downer of the day. Not only did we find both of those caches still in place, but also another two archived caches which I had found previously and knew where they had been. I do wish cache owners would remove their geo-junk when they archive a cache. Failing that, after all there may be good reason they can't get to it, at least keep it active but change the description asking the next finder to remove it and then archive it.
Aside from that bugbear, the walk was really good fun through both beautiful open countryside and also managed woodland, and towards the end Win Hill afforded us some seriously spectacular views over Hope and Ladybower Reservoir - good job I'd taken my binoculars.
The western arm of Ladybower reservoir, taken from lower down Win Hill facing north.
The same view but taken from the top.
Turning a little right, a view to the A57 Snake Pass bridge which straddles the south part of the northern leg of Ladybower.
Turning right again, a view to the road to Bamford and the southern section of Ladybower. (Image comes with free random strangers picniccing.)
Speaking of binoculars (they're quite heavy,) something struck me about the day too; I'd packed sixteen sandwiches for the four of us, three litres of water, crisps, chocolate, first aid kit and binoculars - the rucksack was as heavy as any I've carried yet I hardly noticed it. We did 8 miles up a decent hill in hot weather but I felt completely fine after - I may not be losing any weight but I'm certainly MUCH fitter than this time last year.
It seems like ages since I've had a good walk and also a good Team PADS outing but thankfully this was rectified last weekend.
Patrick Hill fancied a wander up Win Hill near Ladybower Reservoir. He's done all the caches before but it's a great walk and with the weather looking so promising we packed up a picnic and took both families out for a good stretch.
Almost the whole gang (Patrick, Donna, Bethany, Jordan - Christianna was on an outing to Belgium) met up with us (me, Adam, Jade and Hannah) at 10:30 in Hope. Glorious sunshine met us there too and we all set off towards Win Hill.
Patrick had suggested that we add the coordinates for two archived caches into our GPSr because he suspected they would still physically be there. This, for me, was the only downer of the day. Not only did we find both of those caches still in place, but also another two archived caches which I had found previously and knew where they had been. I do wish cache owners would remove their geo-junk when they archive a cache. Failing that, after all there may be good reason they can't get to it, at least keep it active but change the description asking the next finder to remove it and then archive it.
Aside from that bugbear, the walk was really good fun through both beautiful open countryside and also managed woodland, and towards the end Win Hill afforded us some seriously spectacular views over Hope and Ladybower Reservoir - good job I'd taken my binoculars.
The western arm of Ladybower reservoir, taken from lower down Win Hill facing north.
The same view but taken from the top.
Turning a little right, a view to the A57 Snake Pass bridge which straddles the south part of the northern leg of Ladybower.
Turning right again, a view to the road to Bamford and the southern section of Ladybower. (Image comes with free random strangers picniccing.)
Speaking of binoculars (they're quite heavy,) something struck me about the day too; I'd packed sixteen sandwiches for the four of us, three litres of water, crisps, chocolate, first aid kit and binoculars - the rucksack was as heavy as any I've carried yet I hardly noticed it. We did 8 miles up a decent hill in hot weather but I felt completely fine after - I may not be losing any weight but I'm certainly MUCH fitter than this time last year.
Monday, 13 September 2010
We Hope to go back
I took the kids to Hope in Derbyshire on Sunday to do one of the series there: Silver Train. This is a simple series of 10 (I think) caches which each have clues in them (alongside a sister series called Treasure Fleet) all leading to one final cache.
I'd not realised this when we set off, having prepared the caches at short notice, so of course I never got all the available clues to the final. Having said that, with the state of most of the logs, and the cracked laminate around some of the clues (making them wet and blurry), I doubt I'd have bothered anyway.
The walk led us east out of Hope towards the railway station and then north up (and up) a hill onto the tops. Unfortunately the walk wasn't circular at this point so once we'd got the uppermost cache we simply turned around and walked back down to a certain point where we diverted from our original path and re-entered Hope from a different direction.
It was a lovely walk of 5 miles and certainly got the thighs aching because of the steep hill. (Lowest elevation was approximately 535 feet, highest was about 1250 feet.)
Rain threatened several times which looked very ominous given that both kids had not brought their coats/macs as usual. When will they ever learn? Fortunately there was only slight drizzle for a few minutes about three times. No harm done.
The kids had been bribed at 50p per find again and it worked, they hardly even complained when I realised I'd walked a tenth of a mile past a cache, while chatting and telling jokes, and we had to go back!
Finally I must apologise for the dreadful blog title, but I really do hope to go back again and do the sister series.
I'd not realised this when we set off, having prepared the caches at short notice, so of course I never got all the available clues to the final. Having said that, with the state of most of the logs, and the cracked laminate around some of the clues (making them wet and blurry), I doubt I'd have bothered anyway.
The walk led us east out of Hope towards the railway station and then north up (and up) a hill onto the tops. Unfortunately the walk wasn't circular at this point so once we'd got the uppermost cache we simply turned around and walked back down to a certain point where we diverted from our original path and re-entered Hope from a different direction.
It was a lovely walk of 5 miles and certainly got the thighs aching because of the steep hill. (Lowest elevation was approximately 535 feet, highest was about 1250 feet.)
Rain threatened several times which looked very ominous given that both kids had not brought their coats/macs as usual. When will they ever learn? Fortunately there was only slight drizzle for a few minutes about three times. No harm done.
The kids had been bribed at 50p per find again and it worked, they hardly even complained when I realised I'd walked a tenth of a mile past a cache, while chatting and telling jokes, and we had to go back!
Finally I must apologise for the dreadful blog title, but I really do hope to go back again and do the sister series.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)