A few of us went camping in Horton in Ribblesdale in the rain. That turned out to be a minor issue compared to the problems experienced with the all night rowdiness of the occupants of 3 tents (not from our group). The issue culminated with a vist from the police at 3:30 AM on saturday morning !
 
Most campers had very little sleep that night. Nevertheless, Helen Marsh and boyfriend Jonno achieved the round of the 3 peaks within the 12 hour deadline.

Chris H
 

10 of use set off for an adventure from Millers Dale station. The walk, led by Steve started innocently enough, and we all marvelled at having a dry day after so much rain in the last couple of months. We spent most of the morning walking uphill, although nothing too strenuous and we sat on the green at Chelmorton to eat our lunch and debate whether to go to the pub or not. Finally we decided yes, so we took over the covered smoking area outside leaving the smoker to stand elsewhere!

Then it was time to set off for the Indiana Jones part of the walk. This involved descending the slippery limestone path into Churn Hole followed by two sets of stepping stones along Chee Dale and then the highlight of the walk - lots of mud! After much slipping and sliding we made it through to a tea stop on a dry grassy slope then headed back to the cars.

Thanks Steve, we may have complained a lot but we enjoyed it really

3 intrepid walkers and 2 dogs( Lolly & Po) braved the elements for a terrific walk from the Grouse Pub even though it only stopped raining for 20 minutes while we managed to have lunch it did not dampen our spirits. the 11 mile walk led by Scott found us walking along paths that were streams and crossing streams that had become rivers although enjoyable all the same.

From your roving but very wet reporter

Chris
(sorry no pictures left camera in car)

The family walk went well with eight families and nineteen children storming up and along Stanage Edge with not a single "Are we there yet?" to be heard. An ice cream van had even conveniently parked at the end.

There seems to be lots of interest. There is a 5 year spread of ages among the kids so the ones we are doing are very easy for the older ones so I think if this continues to be as popular as it is there may be a case for throwing in a few more challenging ones for the older ones- maybe as an extension of a shorter walk. Pat and myself could devise one and spilt our family into fast and slow.
Its good to have them so regular as the kids are getting to know each other now.

Helen

We had a brilliant 16 mile walk yesterday from Hathersage along Stannage Edge.

The conditions were perfect as can be seen from the photos. A pity there were only 4 of us, but this did enable us to make good progress.
Cheers, John.

 

The forecast said mostly dry but overcast, and that was optimistic enough for ten of us to set off from Whaley Bridge. The "Happy Fathers' Day" phone call ten minutes into the walk (my son Mike) also explained a few absentee regulars.

A pause to look at the Roosdyche (sometimes claimed to be a Roman chariot racetrack!) and on towards Fernilee village. After stopping for sustenance at the Fernilee dam, where we were investigated by three generations of Golden Retrievers, we ambled along the east shore of the (rather depleted) reservoir to the much more impressive Errwood dam. This is where our route met the Midshires Way, which runs about 225 miles from Stockport to Buckinghamshire.We had an appointment to meet up for lunch with the "family section", about twenty of whom (including offspring) we found just arriving at the Car Park, along with Helen and Colin who was trying out his injured foot.

Lunch was taken on a grassy bank overlooking Errwood reservoir, and that's when the little b*****s made their presence felt!

No, not the kids, they were fine!

Midges! Hordes of 'em! In your hair, up your nose, down your ears! Tickling, biting and generally being a pain.

Not surprisingly we didn't stay there very long and headed along the waterside and up to the ruins of Errwood Hall. We'd bid the families farewell and they had dropped back a bit, but we could still hear the whoops from the kids as they discovered the ruins!

Thankfully as we climbed up from the water we left the entomology behind and followed the Midshires Way (by now re-named "Midgeshires Way" by Harvey!) which goes high along the western side of Fernilee reservoir before dropping back down into the valley just before Taxal. Delighted to find that tea was being served at Taxal Church, together with a complimentary history lesson. As we left for the final leg, my phone rang again.

"Happy Fathers' Day" from daughter Claire this time!

 

Geoff

Hi-de-hi!  Eleven campers enjoyed the delights of the Malverns for a weekend of fun, sun, walking and much relaxing!
 
Started with much hilarity as Campbell realized he had left his outer tent at home – so check out the photos for the rather impressive home-made tent.  He is to be nominated for a Blue Peter badge for innovation, and was renamed ‘Swampy O’Brien’!.
 
The Marlbank Inn provided much needed liquid refreshments, with a great selection of beers, and friendly locals, happy to suggest walk options, and being a stone’s throw from the tents, it was a quick stagger home…
 
Saturday provided the opportunity to explore the many delights of Great Malvern, and we all made it up on to the hills at some point.  The main walk covered most of the tops, with panoramic views at all times, and we really enjoyed taking a relaxing pace to appreciate the wonderful weather and scenery.
 
Mandatory pub stop at the end, in Great Malvern, and we bumped into Shirley, Phil and the boys, and swapped stories about our exciting day.
 
Then all back to camp, to cook the Waitrose and Somerfield barbeque, kindly purchased by Colin and Helen, and their choice of food and three course menu was commended by all.  John provided his services as a waiter, and Dave was the official smoke-absorber, as it followed him round all evening.  We nearly had one critical incident, as Campbell moved on from last year’s crime of shoplifting to knife crime, by moving rather quickly and nearly stabbing Peter in the face.  Thankfully I didn’t see it, but it caused much laughter by those who did, and Peter dodged out of the way, so all was well.
 
During the evening, we were joined by Bob& Rose (Backpackinglight.co.uk), and as they live locally they gave some suggestions of places to visit. 
 
Saturday night at the pub was Debbie Hodgson, singing a number of cover versions, and much singing and dancing was had by most of us!
 
Sunday morning dawned with yet more sunshine, and we enjoyed a very leisurely breakfast, before packing up camp.  Day trips included visiting Elgar’s grave, pick your own fruit from the local farm, and lunch by the river in Upton-on-Severn.
 
Many thanks to Helen, Colin, Campbell, John, Dave, Shirley, Phil, Jonathan and Michael for all coming along, and making the weekend such fun, and we look forward to another great camping weekend in 2010…
 
Helen & Peter

So most of the group either had a lie in following Glenys' party last night - or they were put off by the promise of a spot or two of rain.

 

Never mind, 4 of us drove down to Bakewell and set off for a walk along the river then up through the Haddon estate to Rowsley, just a few short showers of rain so far. Then it seemed to be getting geavier so it was on with the overtrousers. Howard suggested that we should shelter in a barn for lunch, which was a very good idea as the rain was now setting in for the day and it would be our last chance to be dry for a while.

We carried on and when we reached Calton decided to take the shorter route back, rather than continue into Chatsworth. We watched a couple of fast jet planes flying low back and forth above us, presumably a demonstration for the Chatsworth Show. I would like to tell you what sort of planes they were but we did not have a planespotter in our group.

We continued, ever wetter but still in good spirits and the rain did ease a bit as we neared the end.

Driving back home we stopped in Buxton for petrol and Geoff remarked that the price had dropped by 2p a litre since the morning so I said it was worth staying out in the rain to save money!

 

So to the rest of you I say: Shame on you for wimping out of a nice walk - but at least you stayed dry!

 

thanks Pam for a nice walk

Sue T

 

PS the distance was 8.879806 miles (converted from km on my pedometer)

 

 

 

A few of us went to The Grapes on Monday 25th May to see George & Elaine presented with the CAMRA Pub of the Month award - and to share the sandwiches!

Between September and April The Grapes is our "local" after our Wednesday night slidehows at Hazel Grove Civic Hall.

We are always made very welcome as we usually take over the front room of the pub for a chat and a drink.

Well Done The Grapes, see you again in September.

Sue T

16 people enjoyed a walk from Castleton to Win hill via Hope led by Chrsi & Wendy.

We walked along the river past the Roman fort but we did not see any romans! We went through Brough and up to Win Hill for some excellent views from the top.

Then we went down the river to Wooler Knoll, down the Roman road to Hope and back to Castleton.

 

John started out without butties but ended up having quite a feast: tuna, turkey and ham salad sandwiches followed by 3 chew bars.

As Joan was eating her lunch on top of Win Hill a sheep plonked itself on her lap and started to share her sandwiches but with the help of some of the group, Joan won!

The weather once more was wall to wall sunshine and it was a very good day.

your reporter this week is Joan

What can I say about this walk. It was very wet and very muddy.

All I can do is thank the 22 courageous  people who came out on such an awful night.

We walked along the old railway to Reddish Vale where we circuited several ponds before deciding to head back to the Railway pub to get wet inside as well as out!!

Jack

"... where Derwent rolls his dusky floods

Through vaulted mountains, and a night of woods."

 

That was in 1789, but of course Derwent has been dammed since Erasmus Darwin (Charles's Grandad!) saw it, so doesn't roll so much these days; and I suspect that the woods weren't Sitka Spruce either!

 

Despite the weather forecast the day looked quite promising as Helen led 15 of us from Ladybower, and with the Derwent Valley on our left we climbed up towards the Edge.

A cuckoo repeatedly calling from a copse to our right just emphasised the perfect spring atmosphere.

Things were looking a little less hopeful as we reached the top of the climb. The sky had greyed over, and a cutting east wind did its best to blow us back down the way we had come. However, a sharp left turn and the wind was behind us as we headed along the Edge, passing the Salt Cellar and many other celebrated shapes, blasted out of the gritstone by centuries of winds, frequently much stronger than today's. A curlew found it hard going trying to maintain a straight line, but swallows and skylarks just let the wind help them around.

As we approached our scheduled lunch stop (Dovestone Tor I think) the rain came in, and with admirable timing reached full force just as we arrived. Quite an amusing sight watching 15 people trying to cram beneath a rock overhang big enough for about half of them! Not keen to hang around, we were soon on our way again, and the rain eased shortly afterwards. Thank goodness for the flagstones which have been laid, otherwise we'd all have been up to our oxters in the mire!

Back in sunshine, we dropped down from the end of the edge to the track by the shore of the reservoir, very grateful to be back on firm footing and out of the wind.

Seated on some of the exposed ruins of Derwent village, a final tea-break at Mill Brook Bay was the cue for the rain to return (perhaps it's something to do with food!).

Despite the occasional heavy showers, it had been a most enjoyable day, with spectacular views in the clear intervals, and lots of laughter.

As to the weather? Well, I suppose after the last few weeks of fine Sundays, our luck had to change sometime!

 

Geoff