The Peak District 2022

Days 2&3

It is easier to write about days 2 & 3 together as they both involve walking and resting. 

After a great first night’s sleep and after one of Mel’s excellent fry ups, we realise that the lady (and her noisy dogs) on the next pitch has gone.  As she hasn’t left anything to warn others she is coming back, our hearts soar as there is a chance to move Ethel out of the corner (‘Nobody puts baby in the corner’) Apologies if the younger reader doesn’t understand that comment – us oldies do!.  After a quick chat with the site owners, we move Ethel to her new home.  This allows us to watch the tv and enjoy more sun.

After yet another cup of tea, we get ourselves ready for our expedition.  The site owners recommended we used a website called plot-a-route.com as they had uploaded routes from the farm.  Normally we use the Alltrails or OSmaps apps to guide us but found the new one very accurate.  The only failing was that it closed the second I used my phone for anything else (like the camera), which meant I had to keep restarting it.

We are finally getting better at ensuring our rucksacks have the correct contents: water, first aid kit, money, waterproofs, power bank and lunch etc.  I looked very stupid as my trousers were a bit long and so I tucked them into my socks.  I am sure I attracted a lot of giggles from others (Mel included) but I convinced myself I looked like a hardened hiker.  I need to wear these trousers several times this week and soggy bottoms will not be comfortable.

Of we go with enthusiasm and energy in our hearts, which lasts about 5 minutes when we realise we start with a hill.  Mel and I aren’t compatible walkers as I prefer uphill to downhill due to my knees, and it is the opposite for Mel.  I slow Mel down and she slows me down (this is our explanation for taking such a long time to eat up the miles!).

But despite the challenges of movement, we find ourselves at Menal Head which has lovely views over a viaduct.  Typically, we hadn’t looked up the history, but it must have some as there were a lot of tourists taking photos.  Looking at the route map, I was pleased to discover that we weren’t taking the most common route and instead were going a bit ‘off piste’ which would hopefully mean we would meet less people. But regardless of which way we were going, we couldn’t start until Mel had bought and consumed an ice cream.

Off we traipsed, up another hill and I marvelled at the invention of walking poles.  They really do take the pressure off my knees and help me power up the hills.  The one disadvantage with them is what to do with them when you need to use your hands for something else.  They do have loops and you can put both poles over one wrist but I find this cumbersome and so I normally throw them at Mel to hold for me.

Mel hasn’t discovered the world of poles and steadfastly refuses to use them.  I have repeatedly encouraged her but have given up now after she accused me of nagging.  I will leave the job of encouragement to Callum and/or Claire as they are big fans too. 

The Menal Trail follows fields and tracks through the Peak District and provided us with some lovely views.  The weather was good – dry but cool and we were able to walk in t-shirts.  We entered a very pretty village called Ashford-in-the-Water and found a seat at the centre to eat lunch.  This was an unusual event as so often when walking, we spend ages looking for a log which isn’t wet or rotten to sit on to eat.  We tucked into cheese and ham rolls, mini mars bars and packets of crisps.  Much tastier than the food my sons eat when walking (they are seasoned hikers) – they eat revolting things like dehydrated prunes.  Ughh.

Off we go and once out of the village, we join footpaths again.  Derbyshire walks do not appear to be designed for anyone who is either disabled or overweight.  Styles are high, gates are narrow and have very tight springs and the strangest of all are the tiny gaps through big stones which walkers must squeeze through (see picture above).

After going up hills and down dales, we finally turn back into the site and collapse in a heap and enjoy a cup of tea before I head for a shower.  The shower block is beautifully clean and has lots of showers and loos, and a good space for the tent dwellers to eat if it is raining.  It also as plenty of sinks to wash your crockery etc.  The obvious downside is there isn’t a washing machine which starts Mel worrying that she hasn’t brought enough knickers with her.  I feel very smug as I know I have! I choose shower number 4 for my first shower and my official review is that it was spotlessly clean and there was plenty of room to get dressed.  However, as ever, it was the shower which let it down.  Button controlled – which we hate – and I was entitled to about 5 seconds of water before it dried up which caused much frustration when trying to wash my hair.  In the end, I stand without water whilst using my two hands to lather up.  It was just as well it wasn’t too cold.

I head back to the van and advise Mel to avoid number 4 in case I had unluckily picked the worst one, but her feedback later was that number 3 was just as bad.

The next day, after another good sleep, we opt for a more normal breakfast (toast for me and yoghurt and banana slices (yuk) for Mel) and we head off for another yomp.  A shorter one today but it was lovely.  We went up to the moors and the views at the top were stunning.  We put a stone on the cairn at the summit and wondered if we were supposed to say something deep.  In the end we opted for ‘we were here’ – not very powerful I know. 

Normally, by the time I get to the top of anywhere, I am gasping for breath as if I am about to have a heart attack, whilst Mel sounds like she hasn’t done any exercise at all. When mentioning this, she instructed me on the wonders of slowing my breathing down and I am pleased to say that more controlled breathing does work. No longer do I sound like a hot dog and instead, more like a purring cat (in my dreams).

We only detoured off the prescribed route once and had to tramp across the moors to get back on it further along.  All the while I was remembering the warning signs informing walkers of the dangers of hidden mine shafts.  Fortunately, we managed not to fall to our deaths.

Though shorter, it was as lovely as the walk the day before and once back in Ethel, we had a couple of hours to relax before heading to the local pub for a meal.  It was one of those pubs whish survives on the trade of both visitors and locals.  Locals noisily prop up the bar and visitors are hidden in a back room to eat.  Only Mel and I and another couple were eating and it was deadly silent.  If we spoke, they could hear us and vice versa which prevented us from doing our favourite activity of people watching and making unfair judgements about them.  As a result, food was consumed quicky and we headed off home to catch up on the latest royal family activity before heading to bed.

Tomorrow is a rest day as rain is forecast and on Monday we are heading for Castleton and Back Tor!