Showing posts with label back tor. Show all posts
Showing posts with label back tor. 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!
Saturday, 21 April 2012
Catch-up #2
Edale circular - 14/04/2012
Drove to Edale (yet again!) with my good friend Paul and met up with my sister, Tamara, her husband Robert and the uber-well-behaved dog Dexter. We did 10 miles by heading to Back Tor, Mam Tor, Rushup Edge, Lord's Seat and then over the moors to the ventilation shaft above Cowburn Tunnel. It was very bleak and even started to snow. We then headed NE across more moors until we got to the head of a stream I can't find a name for on any map. Tam and Robert backtracked at this point whilst Paul and I scrambled all the way down the long gulley to a cache at the bottom. We then all met up and walked back to Edale. Total route 10.2 miles. 3 caches.
Dale Dyke - 21/04/2012
Drove to Lower Bradfield and met up with Tam and her supposed gang of Three Peakers - more news on next post. In the end it was only us two and Bill who Tam works with. We walked 9.1 miles around Dale Dyke reservoir and up and over Ughill Moors. No caches but a lovely walk.
PS. Forgot to add - I did this walk with 11 books in my rucksack to build strength!
Drove to Edale (yet again!) with my good friend Paul and met up with my sister, Tamara, her husband Robert and the uber-well-behaved dog Dexter. We did 10 miles by heading to Back Tor, Mam Tor, Rushup Edge, Lord's Seat and then over the moors to the ventilation shaft above Cowburn Tunnel. It was very bleak and even started to snow. We then headed NE across more moors until we got to the head of a stream I can't find a name for on any map. Tam and Robert backtracked at this point whilst Paul and I scrambled all the way down the long gulley to a cache at the bottom. We then all met up and walked back to Edale. Total route 10.2 miles. 3 caches.
Dale Dyke - 21/04/2012
Drove to Lower Bradfield and met up with Tam and her supposed gang of Three Peakers - more news on next post. In the end it was only us two and Bill who Tam works with. We walked 9.1 miles around Dale Dyke reservoir and up and over Ughill Moors. No caches but a lovely walk.
PS. Forgot to add - I did this walk with 11 books in my rucksack to build strength!
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!
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