'Walking Around The Peak District'

I'm an administrator on the 'Walking Around The Peak District' Facebook page. One of my duties is to approve new members joining the group. I recently reviewed the membership list since it had passed three hundred names and something that I noticed is that a few people seem to have surnames which are very relevant to the Peak District

ALLSOP: There's a place called Alsop-en-le-Dale near Ashbourne - I haven't been there yet.

BAKEWELL: The capital of the Peak District...well at least the headquarters of the Peak District National Park Authority are located here. A beautiful little town; also the home of the Bakewell Pudding and the Bakewell Tart.

BENTLEY: There's a location near to Matlock called Bentley Bridge - it's where I get off the bus when I visit Lumsdale.

BOOTH: A word that's part of several placenames in the Vale of Edale; Nether Booth, Ollberbrook Booth, Grindsbrook Booth, Barber Booth, and Upper Booth.

BROWN: Brown Knoll is near to Kinder Scout. 

HOPE: A village in the Peak District and the name of the valley where it's located. Easily reached by bus from Sheffield.

KINDER: Kinder Scout is the highest point in the Peak District - it's also a rare surname in England.

ROWLAND - A hamlet near Bakewell.

SHELDON: Another village near Bakewell - Magpie Mine is nearby.

WHITE: A very common name; the limestone country of the Peak District is known as the 'White Peak' and there's also a 'White Edge' to the north of Baslow.

Tideswell, Sparrowpit, And Castleton.

The bus journey to Tideswell from Sheffield started off by me helping a young Chinese woman, most likely a student, work out where she wanted to get off the bus. She just kept repeating the words 'Monsal Trail' and showing the driver her mobile phone. In the end the driver, myself, and another driver who was walking by worked out that she was wanting to go to Miller's Dale, the only place where she could easily reach the trail from anywhere along the bus route. 

I arrived at Tideswell, and without looking at the map, headed out of the village in a westerly direction hoping to soon come to a footpath which would take me towards Peter Dale. Maybe this was a mistake because I needed to walk along a road for more than a mile until I reached the entrance to the dale. I don't like having to frequently stop to consult my map...it spoils the walk for me. This would become even more evident later on when I got lost by just heading off in the general direction I needed to be going and somehow straying from a footpath which looked to be quite straight, and straightforward,  on the map.

There were some expansive panoramic views of the White Peak countryside from this stretch of road though.

It's a pleasant, and quite easy walk up Peter Dale and then Hay Dale, although I left the latter half way up to continue following the Pennine Bridleway along a well maintained track, then a short stretch of road until I reached the next footpath. There was then another short stretch of road...and then my problems began. I consulted the map, was confident that I'd memorised the route for the next mile or so until I'd reach the main A623 road. The path appeared to go pretty much in a straight line, and that's what I did - I could see where I was going and so just headed off in that direction. In one instance there was a well-defined path...and then a few yards later an open gate which I walked through without checking the map...then, a few minutes later a dry stone wall and no way out of the field. I retraced my footsteps and soon found another gate which was closed, but I only needed to lift the latch...so I assumed this must be the route of the footpath. Wrong again; more walls, fences and locked gates which I had to negotiate until I reached the road. I've just been studying the map again and I still can't work out where I went wrong...a bit of signage along the way would have helped here...as it would a bit later on past Sparrowpit when I attempted to climb over an old dilapidated gate and it broke, leaving me with a prominent bruise on my inner thigh to add to my recent collection.

I always walk briskly when I'm walking along busy roads so it wasn't long until I reached Sparrowpit. Most of the village was up a hill where I didn't need to go...but I did pass by the pub - and it's got a very unusual name, The Wanted.

After struggling to find the path again and having to forge my own route across open country I eventually reached Rushup Edge. The walk along this ridge was the highlight of the day as I enjoyed the views of the Vale of Edale and The Great Ridge - with the sun being at the perfect angle for photography.

As I approached Mam Tor I was aware that time was tight if I wanted to catch the next bus from Castleton and so consciously increased my pace, even breaking into a jog when I reached a tarmacked surface. I arrived at the bus station with about five minutes to spare; I think I must have jogged for about a mile [yes, mainly gently downhill] but I didn't feel tired, out of breath, or even that sweaty...my health and fitness is still improving and I'm getting younger by the day. I've discovered the fountain of eternal youth...I just need to invent a time machine now and maybe I'll be able to go back and put things right in my life.

Ladybower Reservoir, Nether Booth, and Castleton

I got off the bus just after it had crossed over the Ashopton Viaduct and turned right to travel up the valley to Fairholmes. I was immediately climbing up steep grassy fields; the first photograph was taken probably no more than five minutes after getting off the bus.

As I climbed higher, past Crookhill Farm, I noticed four large, freestanding, sturdy, white gates seemingly randomly positioned in the field where I was walking. I've never seen this before anywhere, and was puzzled for awhile until I thought that the most likely explanation that I could think of is that they've been put there to protect the farmhouse from avalanches, to dissipate the force of the snow crashing down the hillside. Of course I might be completely wrong and they are actually something to do with the sheep that were grazing on the grass.

Just after I reached an area of Access Land at the base of Crook Hill three mountainbikers caught up and then kept pace with me for a while as we all climbed up towards the northern of the two twin summits. We talked about their gear ratios and where they planned to go for the rest of the day.

They waved goodbye as soon as the path levelled out and then went back downhill. This section of the walk is very easy underfoot, a wide gently undulating grassy path with only an occasional stile or gate - the views are nice as well.

The terrain was good, the views were good, and I felt good, so I jogged for a few short sections along here; only the gentle uphill sections....and I was going to feel even better about my stamina and fitness a couple of miles later.

The path came down to the Snake Pass Road and then continued further down into the bottom of the valley and then up the other side through woodland to reach the open meadows near to Hope Cross. Looking at the map, I calculate that the climb up from Haggwater Bridge is about 350 ft and I did it without once having to stop to catch my breath. I convinced myself that I deserved a break when I reached the top, an opportunity to eat my sandwiches and have a drink. I didn't need to stop though, After the good news on Thursday about my blood test results I was very capable at that moment of powering forward...I felt I was unstoppable - no hill in the Peak District was too high for me to conquer. The diabetes picked on the wrong mug when it picked on me; not only will I defeat it, I will destroy it too...and I will be much stronger in so many ways for having done so.

Just before Hope Cross I reached a junction of paths, I certainly didn't need to refer to my map to check which way I was going.

A few minutes later as I was walking along the track that leads down to the road in the Vale of Edale I took a photograph of the challenge ahead, traversing the Great Ridge.

The climb up to Hollins Cross, the lowest point on the ridge is about 550 ft. I stopped twice on my way up, once when I was struggling opening and then closing a gate, and then further up when a couple with a large boisterous dog was approaching downhill; I stood to one side to let them pass. Maybe I could have done it without these short breaks...I don't know.

It was a steady descent down to Castleton: I arrived at least an hour earlier than expected and just sat at the bus station until the bus arrived. When it pulled in at least a dozen people got off who looked like as though they were here for the Christmas lights and the carol singing in the pubs.

On the way in to Sheffield, travelling down Ecclesall Road, a student got on the bus and asked for a student concession. The driver asked him for proof of status; the student said he had his NUS membership details on his phone. He quickly scrolled through several pages and then showed it to the driver...who was immediately satisfied and let him on. I was sitting quite close to the front of the bus and caught a glimpse of the screen; in large capital letters I could make out the word 'STUD.'

For the rest of my journey home I tried to think of the first four letters of an appropriate word which would work for me...but nothing came to mind.

UPDATE: Someone on Facebook has suggested that the white gates might be used for horse jumping practice. I briefly considered this but thought it would be dangerous in a field that a public footpath crosses. You never know though, that might be precisely what their intended use is. I know absolutely nothing about horses, and have no interest in them whatsoever, and stay well away from them.

Thanks Nigel, for the response though.