Foolow, Wardlow Mires, Ravensdale, Cressbrook, Monsal Head, and Ashford in the Water

Yesterday's weather forecast for everywhere I could reach was for 'showers and strong winds' so I stayed at home...and it remained dry all day in Doncaster, but we did have the strong winds. Today's forecast for the Peak District was for 'heavy rain showers and a gentle breeze' and so I took a gamble and got...steady, persistent rain; thankfully no heavy rain, but no dry spells either. 

When I left the house at 07:15 it was drizzling and pretty much stayed that way all day. Twenty minutes later I arrived at the railway station to discover that there were no trains running to Sheffield; this came as an unpleasant surprise to me because I'd checked online and the scheduled engineering works weren't due to start until next weekend - there was a shuttle bus running to Conisbrough, from where trains were then completing the journey to Sheffield.

I get very frustrated when something like this happens. Because of my Asperger's syndrome I've never had a job, therefore my services must not be required; so I assume that everything in the world is running like clockwork. Obviously this isn't the case; so, for example, why couldn't I be employed to tell people at the station what's happening and what their options are? There were no members of staff there when I arrived.

I got my first look at one of the new tram-trains waiting on the platform at Parkgate - it was only a quick glimpse as the train sped by, but it didn't look any different to the existing trams that already operate on the streets of Sheffield.

Travelling on the bus to Foolow I had a long and interesting conversation with three young men who were planning to travel all the way to Buxton and then walk across the moors to Leek.

I left Foolow and walked across the fields to Wardlow Mires and went in Yondermann's Cafe for the first time - it's usually very busy, full of bikers, but today it wasn't. I enjoyed the break from the rain...and the hot mug of tea and the scone served with butter and blackcurrant jam was delicious,. It's never too early for a scone.

I walked down Cressbrook Dale, passing the row of cottages at Ravensdale, and then reaching the much larger village of Cressbrook.

I climbed up to Monsal Head without needing to stop to catch my breath; when I reached the top I noticed that the public toilets there are now closed.

That's quite a few toilets that have recently been closed by Derbyshire Dales District Council. This is not helpful at all; it makes the Peak District a lot less attractive destination to visit. I hope that visitor numbers fall in the areas affected and this forces local businesses to put pressure on the local authority to change its policy, Certainly if I was the person who sells ice creams from a van at Monsal Head I would be demanding a massive reduction in the amount I'm expected to pay for the concession there.

I wasn't desperate for the toilets; I went for a pee in the woods a few minutes later - it's just that I was wearing some waterproof overtrousers and I needed to pull them down before I could get to the zip on my ordinary trousers...obviously it's much  better to do this in a toilet cubicle.

It was a straightforward walk to Ashford; when I got there there was a notice inside the bus shelter stating that buses weren't serving the village for the next few days - so I had to continue down to the main road and catch the bus there. There's no shelter, but I only had a few minutes to wait in the rain.

I got to Bakewell and noticed that the Sheffield bus was still waiting at the bus stop, more than ten minutes after it should have left. I rushed to get on but the driver told me it had broken down. The next bus, going back to Sheffield via Chatsworth House arrived almost immediately and I was able to board that.

Back at Sheffield I walked straight on to a coach going directly to Doncaster; it only took about thirty minutes, much quicker than one of the stopping trains [if they'd been running] and not that  much longer than an express service.

Low Bradfield and High Bradfield Circular walk

I had three different, conflicting, and constantly changing weather forecasts to choose from last night and this morning when deciding where to go walking today: I decided though that it would be fine to make an early start for the Peak District.

I arrived at Sheffield and left the railway station, running up the hill as fast as I could towards Arundel Gate to catch my bus, weaving in and out of groups of people like a demented rugby player who'd forgotten to carry the ball. As I reached Arundel Gate and was waiting for the pedestrian crossing to turn to green I saw the number 61 pass bus going to Bradfield,  the bus that I was hoping to get. I gambled and ran over whilst the crossing was still showing red and desperately lunged for the try line...but the bus had already departed...sometimes it waits in for a few minutes, but not today.

So...a wait of thirty minutes at a bus stop on a busy road at the back of the Crucible Theatre: The next service was a few minutes late but the driver made up time to arrive at Low Bradfield on schedule.

I walked along the road towards Agden Reservoir and then took the concessionary footpath which goes alongside the southern bank. It was quite muddy in places but I preferred this to the road - and there were nice views in places when there were gaps in the trees.

I reached the western extremity of the reservoir and then started walking along the northern bank for a few minutes until I found a path going in a straight line up the steep hillside, right next to a forestry plantation - I don't really like straight lines in the countryside.

This path soon turned to the right, and then to the left, to bring me out onto open heathland and then the moors, and finally a road. 

I headed north east and then east along this road, encountering one of the many ancient, but well-maintained, mileposts that there are in the parish of Bradfield.

There were some lovely views as I continued along the road...and a brief section of bridleway.

I took a footpath heading off uphill to the right; again walking in a straight line next to a pine plantation, until I reached another country road. I crossed this road; the next footpath was across access land and a few hundred yards later I arrived at a choice of footpaths; one was definitive and depicted on the Ordnance Survey map and the other was another concessionary path. I've been at this location before, several years ago and couldn't remember there being two paths...so I decided to take the concessionary path hoping to see some different views. I wasn't disappointed; the views looking down at Agden Reservoir were nice...unfortunately I was looking into the sun and was partially blinded by the glare....I managed to get a photograph of some sheep though.

This path came down off the moors onto a farm track, which in turn took me to the road that leads down to High Bradfield. A few hundred yards along this road two cyclists passed me, both rather overweight middle-aged men, one of them wearing only socks on his feet...bright pink fluffy ones.

There's a church at High Bradfield for me to photograph.

I then walked down the steep road to Low Bradfield and caught  the bus back to Sheffield.

It's been lovely and sunny today; far better than any of the weather forecasts had predicted...ideal conditions for photography, but not necessarily for walking. There was a harsh bitterly cold wind blowing, which despite me wearing my thick woolly hat pulled down over my ears I still got quite  bad earache and so ended the walk early just before two o'clock...the fine weather looked as though it was set for the day though. As soon as I boarded the bus and got warm my earache cleared up and I'm perfectly okay now, sitting at home.