10 mile walk from Tideswell to Monsal Head (and back!) - 22nd May ‘22

Slept in! 9.30 when I finally rolled out of bed. The dogs didn’t seem too bothered about the lie in though! Pot of tea and bacon bagels for me, Pedigree Chum for them - although I suspect they would have traded places at a stroke?!

On the road by 10.30, heading for Tideswell. I popped into the village to buy a sandwich for lunch and also get some change for the car park. It was very busy with lots of MAMILs having coffee. I’ve never seen so much lycra, helmets and flat whites all in one place!

I parked up at 11.15 at Tideswell Dale car park. That’s significant because I didn’t get back until nearly 4! My long walk necessitated a full day parking ticket which I gave to a lady driving a Volvo on my way out. It must have looked odd as I ignored the 2 non Volvo drivers in front and made a b-line for her. I shouted out that we Volvo drivers should stick together but the perplexed look on her face suggested she might have heard something else!?

What a walk. Totally different to Castleton. About 80% of the 4.5 hours was dogs off the lead and a large potion of the 20% was on roads. My faith in humanity was restored and, more importantly, I (and the dogs) could just concentrate on enjoying a beautiful Sunday afternoon without threats of death, fines and guilt. Tideswell 1, Castleton 0!! And many thanks to Pete for suggesting this particular walk to me - great call!

The first half of the walk was relatively busy but nothing like yesterday. The path headed down Tideswell Dale to the River Wye and then hugged the banks of the Wye through to Cressbrook. 

Then a big climb up through the woods onto the Monsal Trail and then over the viaduct and up the steep Dale side to Monsal Head. The Monsal Trail was incredibly busy here with lots of families, cyclists, dogs and walkers.

There was a Morris Dancer troop entertaining in Monsal Head car park. The dogs were somewhat bemused by this and Tilly give me a quick incredulous look as if she was saying .. “and you think we’re unstable?!” A quick pint at the very busy pub. I shared an egg and bacon sandwich and 2 bags of hula hoops with the dogs. All was going well until one of the many dogs sitting around the pub garden benches started barking! That set Tilly off on one and was a signal for me to get back on the trail.

From this stage onwards, the walk was much quieter. In fact I hardly met anyone for the return trip and the few folks I did meet I had some nice long(ish) chats with.  One young couple were very taken with Tilly and couldn’t believe she was 10 years old!  So back down the hill / woods into Monsal Dale. Then quite a long walk along the road back to Cressbrook. At this stage my left foot/ankle was really starting to hurt. I considered keeping on the road and doing a short cut back to the car. Then, for the first of two times today, I thought back to my chat with Mandy on Friday. I remembered her story about the virtual crocodile hanging onto her leg and realised my slight discomfort was nothing to stop me.

At Cressbrook we headed up the beautiful Cressbrook Dale. The stream had all but dried up but this part of the walk was very atmospheric with the almost overwhelming smell of wild garlic. At this stage we must have gone at least 45 minutes without seeing another sole - and this on a sunny May Sunday afternoon?!

Then there was another steep climb up to Litten. Here we had another bullock incident but not quite as alarming as Thursday. This picture really confirms the challenges of walking in the Dales - a scary looking style (especially for dogs) and an even scarier herd of excitable bullocks waiting to welcome us to their field!

I considered the pub for another drink but thought that might be pushing it for the drive home so I got a cup of tea from the Post Office to give me some energy for the final push homeward. This part of the walk was a bit boring as there was along trek on the road before I could get back on the footpath down to the car park.

Just after these pictures were taken and about 500 yards from home I fell over! I was busy looking up at the rocks when I tripped on a rock - ironic eh? 10 years ago I might have been able to steady myself and stay on my feet but, that was 10 years ago. I just resigned myself for the fall and looked for a soft landing. I achieved quite a graceful fall with only my pride dented. I looked round quickly to make sure no one had witnessed it before picking myself up and dusting myself down. And then I heard it … Kim laughing at me. Just as if she was there. She would have made sure I wasn’t hurt and then would have cracked up. I smiled and really felt I walked the last 500 metres with her by my side.

The biggest problem about doing stuff on your own is you have no one to share your thoughts and experiences with. I think that’s why I get a lot of satisfaction from writing the blog. This is my way of sharing my experiences and I find myself writing the blog as I’m going along during the day.

It was a nice feeling to climb back into the car and leave the car park. Back to Brunnehilda by 4.15. I collapsed on the bed and spent a very entertaining couple of hours watching the football - Man City v Villa. It was all very exciting. I then took the opportunity to do an hours work before getting ready to go out for dinner. At this stage I realised the dogs hadn’t moved for 3 hours and, in the case of Tilly, she didn’t look like she ever wanted to move again! 

Then for the second time today, my time with Mandy earlier in the week motivated me to do something I didn’t want to do. I headed into Buxton to have a sit down dinner on my own. Ironically I nearly didn’t as the first 3 places I went to all stopped serving food at 8. I finally found a nice little Mexican restaurant called Lonestar and had a very pleasant beer and burrito. I watched the golf on my iPhone!

I can’t say I enjoyed the experience but at least I did it and i guess that’ll make it easier doing it again! 

The gas has run out this afternoon so I bought another canister on the way home. Once back to Brunnehilda it was the usual Ken Burns and Cadburys chocolate. Good timing as I’ve now finished the Civil War box set and all 3 bars of chocolate and it’s the last night!

I’m hopefully off home tomorrow at 9am so no more from me for a bit. I won’t bother scoring the site as things really haven’t changed since I stayed and scored it in March. Although I now know why there is a gate - it keeps the guests away from the stock!

Castleton and Bank Top Farm - 21st May ‘22

3rd day of 4 of my Derbyshire trip and another memorable one. It started with bacon bagels and a pot of tea. It’s a lot cooler today so no alfresco breakfast for me. I had let camp discipline slip a bit this morning and had turned a blind eye to the occupation of my bed by my 2 hairy travelling companions!

I have a new neighbour- that makes 3 of us now. Albeit this camper van is outside the gated area and amongst the sheep and lambs. I haven’t seen any sign of life yet though!

Out by 9.15 with a first stop of Tideswell. Jeannie and Pete have a cottage in the village and they had mentioned the local bakers that specialises in Tidza Puddings - in their opinion a cheaper and tastier alternative to the popular Bakewell Pudding. I can’t yet vouch for their taste but the £12 for 6 was a lot cheaper than Bakewell Puds.

Onto Castleton arriving to take one of the last places in the large public car park in the centre of the village at about ten past ten. My plan was to do the same walk I did in March but anti-clockwise - the opposite direction I walked last time. My logic being that the vistas would look different but I would still be familiar with the route. That non- adventurous  approach wasn’t really sticking to my adage of embracing things Kim and I wouldn’t have done. This was me playing it safe - I justified it to myself as a result of Thursday afternoons stresses with cows, getting lost and walking conditions but I really think it was the fact that, after living with Kim for 40 years, it’s hard not to be just like her!

Now, I know it might seem obvious to you (the reader / observer) but it was quite a surprise to me that a Saturday in May was a lot busier than a Thursday in March. The weather was very similar but the amount of traffic - cars, walkers, dogs, runners and cyclists was amplified tenfold. This wouldn’t normally be a problem but as the proud owner of two paranoid collies this was to prove a challenge!

Derbyshire is super dog friendly in shops, pubs, cafes etc but they are quite the opposite in the great outdoors. The cynic in me wonders if this is because their owners aren’t spending money in the fields / on the hills! Every stile had a warning to keep dogs on the lead culminating in this one that seemed to suggest death and destruction would probably be the outcome of non-compliance! 

I found this a little unfair as off the lead my dogs are as compliant as a Tory MP being asked to defend law breaking but on the lead they act, especially Tilly, like Vlad Putin after being poked in the eye with a big stick! So whenever we encountered another dog on a lead - and there was a lot of other dogs and 99% were on a lead - we got a great deal of barking, gnashing of teeth and straining on the lead! Don’t get me wrong, it was a pleasant walk but about 75% was on the lead. Now as mentioned before, 2 enthusiastic collies pulling me up the hill is a lot easier than the aforementioned muts pulling me down hill! Mental note to self - next time I come to Castleton  (and there will be a next time) avoid the weekend!

The good news was that I’d spent so much energy  and time on the walk avoiding canine clashes I’d forget to look out for middle aged couples and be angry / jealous - so that was a bonus!

The walk took about 2.5 hours including a long stop for snacks and WhatsApp calling Thom, Bobby and Laura. For those in the know, I went up the broken road to Blue John mines and then down the hill to Speedwell before looping round back into the village. I was planning to stay for a drink in one of the many village pubs but it was so busy I thought I’d just head home.

I got back to Brunnehilda at about 1.15. Another Ken Burns Civil War episode, a pot of tea, a Kriek, bagels and then a shower before heading out to the other side of Ashbourne to visit the Davis’ (for 4pm).

I used to work with Helen at Volvo Daventry and know her husband Karl as well as he too worked at Volvo many years ago. Including Pip (their daughter) they were tremendous hosts and made me very welcome. After a G&T in their back garden (with a view to die for!), a tour of the magnificent 7 acres (including dressage yard) and the 3 luxury holidays homes they’ve built in the yard, I got to meet Helen’s two horses - Winston and Tom!

We reminisced and put the world to right for an hour or so before retreating indoors for a magnificent home cooked tea. We managed to fit in a quick game of pool (which modesty should have prevented me from mentioning that the boys beat the girls - but it didn’t!) before I hit the road and the 35 minute journey back to Brunnehilda at about 9.15. 

It had been a splendid afternoon / evening. It reminded me how lucky I was to have so many good people around me. Not just family and friends that I see regularly but people like Helen and Karl that I see very occasionally.

The usual evening finale of Ken Burns and Cadburys chocolate. No rain today but relatively chilly. More of the same is due tomorrow!

Matlock Bath, Stanton Moor & Carsington Water - 20th May ‘22

So not such a nice weather day today. The rain kept off until about 3pm and then lots of heavy showers. Didn’t stop a great day though.

Alarm woke me up at about 8.30. Got to say, Brunnehilda’s bed is a treat so I certainly sleep well. Although one thing I’ve noticed, my side of the mattress has dropped a lot compared to Kim’s side - I can’t think why?!? So I always start on Kim’s side and straight away start sliding over to mine. No time to breakfast just washed, shaved, fed dogs and in the car for 9.15. In my haste to get out, I managed to forget the dogs leads - so a quick search on Volvo’s new and very good Google system and I was at a local pet shop buying a new one en route. 

The rush to get out was to drive over to Matlock Bath to be at the New Bath Hotel outdoor pool for a 10am booked session. Oh my goodness, it was magnificent. No chlorine, continually replenished spring water at a refreshing 19 degrees. I overheard a local say that 11 up and downs was 1/2 mile so that’s what I did. Started off by upsetting the locals - I initially went into the fast lane which my modest breast stroke certainly wasn’t. I shifted and all was right with the world. I felt invigorated after 45 mins and had that lovely inner warmth that only comes after you’ve had a spell immersed in a very cold liquid.

Mandy (family friend from West Haddon) is a member and was the reason I even knew the place existed. So after my swim session I met up with her at the pool as she had very kindly offered to show me a nice dog walk. I was a bit worried about walking my two crazy collies with her cute little dog (Ethel) but she was fantastic and totally ignored my two. She may be little in size but she’s got a big character - that’s Ethel not Mandy!

We walked for an hour or so on Stanton Moor. What a great place and well selected by Mandy as the dogs could be off the lead and free to run and explore. The place is so atmospheric as well - the Druid stones, the weathered rocks and the fabulous views. Definitely another one to come back to.

By this time we’d worked up a thirst so Mandy introduced me to the locals at her local - The Boat Inn at Cromford. Lovely place and super friendly folks. Even after I’d insulted her friend Bjorn by assuming he was a Swede. He was Norwegian which is like calling someone from Glasgow English!

I lost track of time a bit, but I think it was about 3 when I left Mandy and Cromford. Just as the rain was starting to kick in. 

Tilly was still up for more walking so when I saw a sign for Carsington Water on my way home, I made a detour and parked up. We only walked for about 45 mins but in that time we had sun, heat, drizzle, downpour and blimin cold! Britain in May eh?

I went to the Anglers Rest at Millers Dale for tea. I had to wait until 6 for them to start serving food so the dogs and I sheltered under an umbrella by the river and watched the ducks trying to keep dry out the rain! Got to say though the grub was great - pork loins with pepper and mushroom sauce. I shared it with the dogs. Well, when I say shared, they had a few chips and some of the less juicy bits of the pork loin!

Back to Brunnehilda for a quiet night in with Ken Burns and Cadburys Fruit and Nut!! Oh, and Question Time on iPlayer. Hopefully my neighbours were far enough away not to hear me shouting at a couple of the morons they had on the panel!

It’s been such a nice day spending time with Mandy and Ethel. Mandy’s been through a tough 3 or 4 years and seeing her positive approach to everything she does is so inspirational. So much for me to learn from her.