Ringing Roger and Grindslow Knoll with mum

Yesterday (Saturday 30th) was meant to be a trip over to Castelton and up Mam Tor with my friend Joe. Unfortunately, Joe was ill, but my parents were free, so mum stepped into the breach! Rest assured, Mam Tor is still there, and Joe and I still intend to climb it - just watch this space!

The original plan for my walk with mum had been to climb Kinder Scout. After various discussions about routes, and length of walks etc, we settled on climbing up onto the Kinder Plateau via Ringing Roger, and then walking around to climb Grindslow Knoll before returning to Edale. This walk essentially takes you all around Grindsbrook Clough, which is a popular route up onto the Plateau. The walk starts and ends in Edale, and you walk up through the village initially following the route to Grindsbrook Clough. When you leave the village and cross the footbridge, however, you then leave the main path and head up the hill in front of you, zig-zagging up The Nab and climbing quickly. After attaining the summit of The Nab, you then head North towards Ringing Roger, which is a rocky crest leading upto the Kinder Plateau. You can walk around it, or scramble up it. We chose the easy scramble before a rest for a cereal bar among the rocks at the top.

From there, it is a relatively simple walk along the main path, keeping the drop back to Grindsbrook to your left. You follow this high-level path around with great views back to Ringing Roger, and across the Clough to Grindsbrook Knoll with Mam Tor over the other side of Edale. After crossing the main path up from the Clough, we headed stright up to the Knoll to finish before picking (and sliding) our way back down into Edale. One of the great things about this walk is that you can see almost your entire route all the way round (weather permitting, of course!)

For us, the walk was far more treacherous than we had anticipated. The paths were still covered in impacted snow, sometimes very deep, and there were dangerous icy patches. Monty nearly had me off the edge once, and I think we all fell over - some more than others (how are the bruises mum?!) The more dangerous aspect of this kind of walk was highlighted when we saw someone air-lifted off by mountain rescue after falling and (probably) breaking her wrist.

The weather was amazing, with hardly a cloud in the sky, which meant it was very cold on the top. The wind was severe at times, and we were glad of our many layers of clothing. I took a lot of photos, some of which I'll post here, with more on flickr (www.flickr.com/photos/jons40hills) and facebook.

It was great to get out with mum and dad, and we all really enjoyed the time out. It was quite a challenging walk at times, about 8km long, and with Grindsbrook Knoll at 601m, quite a climb. We all survived though, albeit with a few extra bruises, some tired legs and with one less walking pole (tip from my dad: make sure you don't drop your walking pole when stopping to take a photograph on the edge of a precipitous drop...)

Thanks mum for my 9th hill (only 31 to go!) here's hoping to get on with a few more soon. The Cheshire Matterhorn is in my sights, as is Mam Tor, of course.

www.flickr.com

Climbing Thorpe Cloud with Dan

Made it to the Peak District for my 6th hill. We met our friend Dan, so there were 4 of us today, myself, Rachael, Bethan and Dan. Oh, and Monty! When I had first told Dan about my plans to climb 40 hills she had been a little unsure. She had asked my brother to recommend a 'gentle' hill, and he suggested Thorpe Cloud. Apparantly he described it as an easy hill with a good tea shop at the end! Half way up the steep slopes of the hill, Dan was mentally preparing an abusive text to him...!

Thorpe Cloud sits at the entrance to Dovedale. As you walk up alongside the river approaching the stepping stones, it rises steeply above you to your right. When we arrived today we had to use the uneven ground of the right (South/East) bank of the river to access Dovedale because the river was high, and flooding over the stepping stones. You could actually manage to get across if you wore decent walking boots or wellies, but even then you risked getting your feet wet! At the stepping stones you leave the river and climb straight up the hill. You quickly gain height, and think you have done well until the ground levels off a bit and you see the rest of the slope before you. The first picture here is from that point with Bethan leading the way, as usual! It's a sharp pull up to the top, but doesn't take too long. Thorpe Cloud isn't all that high (287m) but does rise dramatically up from river level, and you certainly feel you've climbed a decent hill and worked hard for the views. Talking of which, you do get a good vista at the top, looking South the land looks flat and full of fields, while North looks straight up into Dovedale valley, which is beautiful.

We ate our lunch at the summit, quite quickly because we soon got cold It was a good walking day and we avoided any showers, but it was chilly in the wind, especially when the sun went in. We weren't really complaining though, any hill walk in November where you get some sun and no rain has got to be a bonus! Getting down was interesting. Rach is in dire need of some decent walking boots, and her walking shoes today were not really up to the task in hand. Somehow she managed to remain upright, but only just! All I could hear from behind me as I was pulled down the hill by Monty was Rach slipping and sliding down. We made our way back to the stepping stones that cross the River Dove, and Bethan and I walked across as far as we could. I managed to get all the way across, but I'm sure Bethan's boots would have been full of water if she'd tried. We managed a short walk up the valley alongside the river before the thought of finding that tea shop drove us back to the car.

Ilam Hall has a National trust shop and tea-room. After the chill wind it was great to get warm indoors. Tea and cake were very much in order, and we enjoyed a leisurly hour or so there. The Hall is in a great spot, with views over it's church to the entrance to Dovedale and Thorpe Cloud. The village of Ilam is also very picturesque, with dainty cottages lining the street. All in all, it was a great day out. We all felt invigorated by being out and about, and I'm looking forward to hill number 7!

Up The Wrekin

Hill five done today! Nigel drove us down to Shropshire to climb The Wrekin. This is a great hill that rises above the Shropshire plains giving great views all around. It's 407m high, and involves a short, sharp climb up to the top. It's another ancient hill fort, just like Bickerton and Caer Caradoc. You can still make out some of the earthworks. Legend has it that The Wrekin was formed when a giant was walking to Shrewsbury with a huge shovel full of earth to destroy the town. He met a cobbler with a sack full of shoes needing repair, and asked him for directions, telling him that he was going to damn the River Severn in order to flood the town. The cobbler replied that Shrewsbury was a long way off, showing him all the shoes he had worn out walking from there. The giant gave up his quest on hearing this and dumped his shovel of earth down, forming the Wrekin...

We didn't see any giants today.

The weather was perfect. Morning showers cleared for us to walk up in the sunshine. It was a bit hazy for really good views, but you could see down to Caer Caradoc and the Long Mynd as well as East to Brown Clee Hill (on the list for anther day!). We enjoyed the walk as did our 2 dogs.

We had a quick driving tour arund Wenlock Edge to Cardington for lunch at The Royal Oak washed down by a pint of Shropshire Lass.

Another great day, good weather, a good hill and good company!

Walking with Aunt Jean up Uncle Stan's hill

I know I said that I was going to walk up Box Hill in Surrey, but Crooksbury Hill was where we went on Wednesday this week. We climbed this hill in memory of my wife's Uncle Stan. This was his favourite hill, and there is a bench on the top dedicated to him. We spent a few days with her Aunt Jean, and had always wanted to climb 'Uncle Stan's Hill' with her. She was only too pleased to take us there.

Crooksbury Hill is another small hill, easy to walk up, but with a great view from the top. Leafy Surrey seems to be laid out before you. We sat on Stan's bench and ate our packed lunch, willing the sun to come out for an even better view! The leaves are all turning, and the trees all yellows and golds at the moment. A great time of year to be out walking. There were four of us for this walk. Myself, Rachael, Bethan and Jean. The dog had been left behind when we came down to visit Jean. After a walk around, we managed a quick drink in the local pub, then went for another walk on Puttenham Common. It was a lovely walk, again with some great views, and trees to climb for Bethan.

The weather has been amazingly mild for the end of October, and being outside to enjoy it during half-term a huge bonus. I've managed 4 hills so far, so I guess I'm on track for the 40, although need to pull my finger out between now and Christmas! I'm still looking for ideas (and friends) for hills, so let me know your thoughts!

3 down, 37 to go!

Caer Caradoc is a geat hill to climb. You can find it just North-East of Church Stretton, and on the oppsite side of the valley to the Long Mynd. As you approach down the A49 it rises up sharply out of the flat plains around. It is a proper hill, with steep sides that make you wonder how you are going to get up.

Bethan, Monty and I met my parents, Carole and Graham, and my brother, Simon, to climb it today. The weather was perfect, overcast for the ascent, followed by sunshine and blue skies coming down. We managed to leave the car near Comley, and walked straight up via Little Caradoc. The picture above is from the top of Little Caradoc (327m), looking towards Caer Caradoc (459m) itself. It was steep walking at times, but not for too long.

The views from the top are great. As you ascend, you get an increasingly impressive view of The Lawley, behind you with The Wrekin beyond, and a great view of the plateau of The Long Mynd over to you right. My dad had fun with Monty. Managed to get almost pulled over a couple of times, and finally accepted that the dog was stronger than he was!

We were expecting strong winds on the top, and it was a little breezy, but not too bad. We easily managed to find a sheltered spot for our lunch. A leisurely stroll down was then in order, heading first South, then curving around East then North around the bottom of the hill. The mid afternoon sun was warm on our backs as we headed back to the car for tea and cake.

My mum is going to arrange to climb another hill with me sometime, and wondered about doing Kinder Scout. I've climbed it once before, with Simon, and remember it being quite a hill. Should be good. Simon is still giving me list of hills he would like to climb, mostly in Scotland, and mostly very high...