Mount Famine with Achla

Achla is one of my work colleagues, and we both get the same day off during the week. This Tuesday we decided to go out together to climb Mount Famine (473m). Unfortunately, we picked a rather wet day. We had planned a slightly longer walk than we actually managed, as we decided to head back to the pub after the first summit. By then we were more than a little damp!

I've been unable to find out why Mount Famine is so called. Doing a google search for it, just produces several links related to the fell races starting from Hayfield, which is where our walk also started. Despite the rotten weather, we did, in fact, see a fell runner on the top. He looked significantly wetter than we were!

We parked and started our walk from the visitor centre, and walked through the village of Hayfield to find a path leading alongside the river. We picked up signs for the Penine Bridle Way, which we followed for a while before turning right up a short hill and over a stile (always fun with Monty) to gain a ridge. On a fine day this would have afforded great views across the valley, but we had to be satisfied with a misty view across to the hills beyond. We descended from the ridge to cross the bridleway, and then ascended Mount Famine itself. There was a path on the ground, although nothing on the OS map. We walked amongst the sheep (keeping Monty on a short lead), and had a final steep climb up to the summit.

The walk books and websites say that the view from Mount Famine is one of the best you get of Kinder Low, which is the highest point on Kinder Scout. You can, apparently, also sometimes see the spray from Kinder Downfall, which is a large waterfall coming down from the plateau. I've only ever seen it from the top, never from the valley below. This whole area was the centre of a significant event in 1932. On Sunday 24th April that year, about 400 ramblers set off from Bowden Bridge Quarry to climb up onto Kinder Scout. They were trying to assert their 'right to roam', and this mass trespass had wide reaching repercussions, leading ultimately to changes in the law, and the widespread freedom we now have to ramble and roam around the countryside. Those of us who like to walk and ramble have a lot to thank these 400 trespassers!

Once we had taken our photos at the top, we decided that we would be better placed in a pub, rather than out on the wet hills. We retraced our steps to the bridleway, and then walked back along it to the village. A pleasant lunch was had in one of the hotels, washed down with a 1/2 pint of Cumberland Ale.

Although the weather was grim, it was, as ever, great to be out. We managed to avoid talking continually about work, and both felt better for our exertions. Thanks, Achla, for joining me for hill number 25! Only 15 to go!!

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

The Cloud, in a cloud, with Rach

And here we are again, another hill! We picked a bad day today in terms of hoping for a view. All the books say that The Cloud (343m) has fantastic views. I'm sure that's true, but from our perspective, once you've seen the inside of a cloud, the view doesn't really change much...

The Cloud can be found in Cheshire, just outside the Peak District, and can be seen from all around. The views (on a clear day) take in much of the Cheshire Plain. The walk was good. Starting from the picnic area at Timbersbrook you can follow the Gritstone Trail up the hill. The Staffordshire Way also seems to make it up here (obviously having lost it's way and ended up in Cheshire...) The trail is easy to follow and the walking straighforward, even if it's all up hill! The steepest section is up some steps climbing out of Timbersbrook, with easier walking once you reach the National Trust area of The Cloud itself. Again, Monty had a great time, as did we all walking up alongside the trees with (presumably) a drop and a view to our left. There are some rocks near the summit that were good for a bit of clambering over, and then a nice walk back down through the treees. The wood was great in the mist - very eerie, with echoes that you wouldn't normally expect to hear.

Despite the mist and lack of views, we had a great time as a family. I asked Bethan for a quote about today. She says "A very nice walk at The Cloud, but a bit muddy! I liked eating the Minstrels at the top! Yummy!"

We'd taken some snacks with us, but once back at the car we set off to find a pub for a late lunch. We ended up at the Cat and Fiddle (2nd time for me this week!) and enjoyed a good mid-afternon lunch before driving home.

So, that's 8 hills down, and I've enjoyed every one so far. The exercise, the company, the great outdoors have all been good. I feel like I'm getting back on track with the challenge, and looking forward to a few more hills over the next few weeks, with Mam Tor, Shuttlingsloe and 'Ringing Roger' all being considered! I'm planning to post more photos on my facebook page, and maybe some on Flickr.

See you after the next hill!

Shining Tor with Nick in the snow...

Right. So, first of all, I know it's been a while. A combination of swine flu, a wedding, Christmas and the weather has kept me away from the hills for far longer than I would have liked. I'm a little behind schedule, but planning to crack on now!

Bearing all that in mind, I was delighted when Nick found himself with a day off that coincided with mine. We decided to head for Shining Tor, which is in the Cheshire part of the Peak District. It was only our wives who then pointed out that 'there's still snow up there', and that 'Sally Traffic said the road was closed!' We decided to press on regardless, deciding that if it really was that bad, we could always find a cosy pub for for lunch...

As I mentioned, Shining Tor is in the Peak District, right on the border between Cheshire and Derbyshire. We had planned a decent enough walk starting from the Cat and Fiddle pub, but on arrival at the pub, it became evident that Rachael and Andrea knew what they were talking about. The road wasn't closed, but the walking was much more challenging than we had anticipated. I've never really walked in snow quite like it. One moment you are happily walking along on impacted snow, then next you have lost your foot down to your knee in the snow! Our efforts were compounded by Nick trying to get his phone to work in order to take an important call. As I pointed out to him at the time - "Edmond Hilary didn't have to put up with this" (the phone calls - not the snow!!) Suffice to say, Monty loved the snow, and spent a lot of the time running around madly. He's particularly fond of chasing after (and then eating) snowballs! We decided to walk directly up to the summit, rather than walking down into the Goyt Valley which had been our intention. The summit is at 559m elevation, and I'm sure the views are great on a clear day. Our walk was great fun, but the views were not the best! In the end, we just walked up to the top, along the ridge for a few minutes, then retraced our steps. Even so, we were out for a couple of hours and felt we had earned our lunch at the pub. We both enjoyed the food, washed down with Mr Scrooge ale.

All in all, we thoroughly enjoyed ourselves. It was great to get out, and the snow was a bonus rather than a hindrance. So, we didn't end up walking quite as far, but it's not all about kilometers walked, or meters climbed is it? Spending time with a friend and having fun in the snow? Much more important!

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!