Cromford Mills, Derbyshire

After another day hard at work on Katie's house it was time for another day out walking.
Having had a quick look on the internet there seemed to be some good walks around Matlock .. not too far away. So selecting a circular walk around Cromford and the Arkwright mill. we set off.. all was well until we hit the queues coming back from the main Cromford crossroads. We sat for ages and finally got through and down to the mill.

Parking in the mill car park we got ready and set off back to the village and over the A6 we had come in on. then it was up through the village, then a back entry footpath before we were high enough to get into the fields.
From here it was still parallel to the road to Black Rocks, from here we hit the trans Pennine route, across the top to the edge of the fell on the old railway track ... there was an engine shed and a pond (that Bertie really liked). The engine was used to haul up the rail cars on a cable. A smooth walk , and steeply downhill on a gradient. At the end of the gradient was a trap to prevent runaways before it came out at the canal

From here we did a little tour of the canal ... down past some wharves, past a pumping station, to a strange house at a junction of disused and active canals which had painted windows. This was the queue to traverse around the slope and head back up to another mill (modern) before heading back to the car park along the edge of the fell opposite to the railway line.
Getting a bit tired by now this final section along a road (we came off the fell too early) was a bit of a drag, but we perked up at the thought of tea at the mill.

The mill had a number of shops and displays we perused before tea, after which it was time to head home and get ready for dinner at Encounters ... Sue was not too well and did not enjoy the meal as much as usual - could be heat, exhaustion or dehydration.

Sherwood Forest, Nottinghamshire

Living in Nottingham Katie had not been to Sherwood forest .. so we decided to spend the day in the reserve ... The forest is kind of patchy these days and spread around but this looked like the main target to aim for.

Parking in the main car park, the first goal was to head for the visitors centre to find some info ... including a path map.
We set off following the crowds to Major Oak, in the middle, then headed out to the west end before cutting north to the top corner, and back along the diagonal all the way to the South East. Here we stopped in the craft shops for a cup of tea, and a long chat with a medieval bow maker and other items ... especially after the joust the other week.

All the way around were scattered various old oaks among other managed trees, but Sue and Katie also started recording the mushroom varieties along the way.
Back then to the van and home, dinner was to be at Encounters, but when we got there it was not open, so we headed to another restaurant - petit paris was good but more expensive than encounters and exceedingly loud. On the way back Encounters was open so we booked in for Thursday night.

Aysgarth Falls, Peak District

It was drizzly today, a little overcast, and also after yesterday's walk we wanted something a little less demanding. So heading off to Leyburn ... there was a small railway there and a chance of a ride.. I blame Bryon for all this transportation interests.

When we got there it was all very empty, and although trains were running they were only very dilapidated diesels, and also on a timetable we could not fathom.
So back to the shops ... after buying some cheese and buns in the market, and some new walking boots for me in a sale, we headed for a tea break .
In the break we saw that from the end of the railway they advertised a bus and a walk to see the Aysgarth falls. Seemed we could drive there and do the same thing.

Past the national trust centre and up the other side we parked in a pay car park, a little lunch in the back of the van then a short walk back and down to the upper falls .. no real viewing platform, but good views from the bridge and a craft shops centre in the old mill building. Intrigued by some paths we saw on the other side, we walked up towards the centre, and found a trail around the middle and lower falls ... with some much closer viewing platforms, and even access to the river.

Back the same way and past the centre there was a sign to the upper falls viewing spot, but there was a charge for this, so we settled for the bridge again.
A brief stop in the craft shop for trinkets and back to the van.

Malham, Peak District

Another of the walks in the book was around Malham cove, also taking in Gordale scar ... seemed like a good day trip and the weather was hot and cloudless.
Getting there was more of a nightmare... I headed off over to Wensleydale, in the general direction, but then the "idiot box" started pushing to go east then north ... we ended up back in Richmond ... before I ignored it and then headed to Skipton and got the paper map off.
Over two hours late we stopped at Malham tarn in a car-park surprisingly free.

South down the Pennine way we soon popped out on the limestone pavement at the top of the cove.
Then down to the bottom via a lot of steps, and out a major path following the river into the town.
The café on the map was not there so we popped into a pub for chips and soda.

After food, we set off down the river, and up a tributary ending towards Gordale Scar. On the way we passed Janet's foss - a waterfall.
From Gordale it was back up the fells, heading back towards the van. The first section was over sheep pasture to a road. Now it got tough.. as we got tired, the final section over the moor was tedious.
The last section past the lakes was boggy, but back at the van was a relief and a short rest followed by a trip to the tarn for photo ops.

We went back a different way .... via Horton ... and "the" viaduct.
As we came back from the West we stopped at a different pub on the way. the Kings Head in Gunnerside.
The food was more "general" than the punch bowl, cheaper, and larger.. but... not special, and the large parties on the nearby tables meant we would not be back this trip.

Arkengarthdale, Peak district

Yesterday I had picked up a book on walks in the Peak district. Checking on what was around Reeth ( the nearest town there were a few, but the one up a road to the north looked good .. Not sure we would get all the way around but as it was in a figure of eight we could drop out, part way.

We drove up and parked in the car park on the edge of the village (£3-50 for 4 hours!) then headed down through the village and up a very steep track which took us around the hill and up a valley.

This area was full of lead mines, and the hills covered in slag heaps and old workings, as well as a lime kiln ....

Then we were on the moors proper ..

looking back south.

We turned south on a new track/ road that had been built to a house/ shed replacing the old drove road, and worked back to the edge of the fell. From here we should have gone left a bit then down, but we went right and then down ... but ended in the same place on a farm track that led to some woods around a big house... it was on this descent that I discovered my boot had fallen apart with the sole very nearly off... so this kind of made the decision where to go next.
Through that wood to the house and down the drive past gardens and a cute bridge, and we were heading back to the car for lunch and a rest.

Some chickens came scrounging .. quite particular, only wanted soft bread no crusts!
Back in sensible sandals, we took a more sedate option to head for Bolton castle to pass the afternoon.

2017 Summer Break, Peak District & Nottingham

After the joust we took Katie back to Nottingham and after a fraught night courtesy of Loki we left for a few days in the Yorkshire Dales. Loki was not happy after travelling all the way up to Nottingham, only to find out he had to share the house with odd humans and a dog! He made his presence known, slashing Sue’s calf, then running off into the night.
We left her with Bertie the next day and off to our campsite ... very basic, but we had the van so really just needed a toilet and a place to park.
It was down by the Swale river, a steep drop down from the road, and apart from a few noisy neighbours in the barn and the occasional human, we were set.
Then up to the punch bowl pub for dinner. Good food and Black Sheep beer.

Trip Summary

• Day1 - Arkengarthdale, Peak District
• Day2 - Malham, Peak District
• Day3 - Aysgarth Falls, Peak District
• Day4 - Return to Nottingham
• Day7 - Sherwood Forest
• Day9 - Cromford Mills
• Return