Just a reminder that our local countryside has major attractions, as well as some of those more distant locations that have featured in recent postings.
And it’s so nice to be inputting this from a proper keyboard!
Sue and I assembled at the Cat and Fiddle at 10 am, together with Sue W, David, Andrew, Graham, Tove and Paul, for a picturesque Peak District bimble, in undecided weather.
The walk down Danebower Hollow, which frequently sees the tyres of my bike, was in a cool breeze under a cloudy sky.
By the time we passed the chimney beyond the A54 road, the sun was emerging.
Elevenses were taken in bright sunshine at Three Shire Heads, where Cheshire meets Derbyshire and Staffordshire. It took some time, as tales of recent trips and plans for future excursions were savoured, together with much discussion of the (surprisingly?) successful London Olympics, which finished on this day.
Beyond Knotbury, men in camouflage sporting pop-guns were shooting at targets rather than decimating the grouse population on this, ‘the glorious twelfth’. We skirted the red flags and headed up Drystone Edge as the cloud drifted back.
Drystone Edge didn’t quite live up to its name – it got steadily more boggy as we progressed towards a minor road beyond Cheeks Hill for lunch in a sheltered spot amongst the Bog Asphodel.
After that it started to tip down, so by the time we reached point 475 and said goodbye to Paul, who strolled back home to Buxton, our leader elected to omit a planned visit to Errwood Reservoir and head straight back to the Cat and Fiddle for a welcome beer.
A most pleasant stroll in the best of company – 15 km (9 miles) with 400 metres ascent, in about 4½ hours (see below). Thanks to Sue W for organising it.