THWARTED AGAIN - AROUND HOWDEN AND DERWENT RESERVOIRS

We really aren't having the best of luck with our planned walk. Postponed from last week (because of PC's poorly car, now better) we were hoping to do it today, but no such luck. The area has been in the grip of murky smog for some time now and it still hasn't cleared, so no point climbing up high or exposing ourselves to moorland when seeing more than a few yards ahead is all we can hope for. So, another change of plan.

First of all, though, I have to go and buy a new pair of walking socks (forgotten mine) and PC has to buy herself a sandwich (forgotten the food!). Fortunately the little shop at Fairholmes is suitably stocked.

We debate for a little while on how to do the walk, the complete circuit of the Howden and Derwent reservoirs is quite a long one and the road walking can be tiresome, so we decide to cheat a little bit. Everything is loaded into my car (rucksacks, waterproofs, dog) and, leaving PC's car in the small dam car park we drive in my car to a small parking spot at the old 'Tin Town' site. This is where the workers who worked on the dams lived and a small information board shows photographs and gives some details.

The weather may be pretty grim but at least under the trees the fog is a bit thinner, although we are hard pressed to see across the water to the far side. We walk along the road feeling quite smug that we have been able to cut out some of the tedious walking.

We are getting closer to the Howden Dam wall when a car stops at the side of us. Apparently a sheep has been attacked by two terriers and the occupants of the car have stopped to chase the dogs off, but are worried about the sheep. We discuss briefly what the options are and eventually direct them to Fairholmes as the warden there will undoubtedly know who the sheep belongs to. We, meanwhile, will keep our eyes open for the injured sheep and any stray dogs.

It doesn't take long to reach the sheep, it is on the opposite side of the fence and although it looks a little stunned it doesn't seem injured. There is no sign of any dogs other than Mollie who is happily walking on her lead.

Unable to do anything else, and feeling that the sheep is probably just shocked and will recover, we continue our walk. At the dam wall we see the water tumbling over the edge giving the sound of a constant waterfall. 

Past the dam we continue on our way with the murk parting in places to give us a glimpse of a view, but nothing too spectacular. There are a few cars driving along the road today, but they don't seem to be stopping at the far end as they are soon driving past us in the opposite direction.

We pass the sharp bend in the road with the path leading up to Alport  and continue slogging on. It isn't the best of stretches of road, especially without any view to liven things up.

Before long, though, we are on the last leg of the tarmac road and a car pulls up. Yes, it is the same people as before. The news is that the warden has phoned the farmer, but that the sheep was moving around when they last saw it.

We press on to the turning circle and nab the bench through the gate. We're hungry and although it isn't lunchtime yet we decide to have a snack. A warmer of Cointreau first from PC's secret flask, then a choice. Birthday buns (yes, I'm 21 again) - three lovely cupcakes, one yellow, one pink and one chocolate. I choose the pink one, PC goes for the yellow and, yes, we share the chocolate one (well, we weren't going to give it to Mollie, were we?) Followed by a cup of coffee (gingerbread latte as a treat) we feel suitably refreshed and ready for the next leg of the walk.

Now we are off the tarmac it feels so much better, even if the weather hasn't improved. In time we reach the bridge and our turning point, but a good photograph is out of the question even though PC tries.

Then we are on the way back on the rugged track. There are always fewer walkers on this side of the reservoir although it does attract the cyclists who like to do the circuit. Today, though, we only meet a couple.

We are surprised at how soon we reach the Howden Dam again, this time from the 'other side', and it sort of creeps up on us as we don't see the towers until the last moment. There is a bench here, but it isn't terribly inviting so we decide to press on to find somewhere else for late lunch.

We find another bench, eventually, near Abbey Bank, and settle down for lunch. PC brings out a celebratory bottle of plonk (lovely) and no sooner is it poured than a hoard of walkers arrive, seemingly intent on joining us. Eventually their leader arrives and urges them on a way, much to our relief.

The wine goes down very well and is followed by PC's bought sandwich and my salad. (Trying to be good today, and failing). Then come out more buns from PC's rucksack. They are superb, and I am glad I only had a salad! The remaining coffee has stayed warm in the flask so finishes off a good meal. Of course, there is now the temptation to snooze and let it digest.

Once we are sure the hoard of walkers has gone we set off again at a more leisurely pace. Clear, simple walking on a broad track offers no excitement and few distractions given that the sky has barely cleared, although we are just able to see my car parked in the trees on the far bank.

Within a short space of time we are on the final stretch, descending the steps at the side of Derwent's wall, crossing the grass in front then climbing again up to PC's car. We all pile in, and a short drive later I am deposited at my car and readying for the journey home.

It has been a good walk, and it always feels a challenge to circuit the dams. We know we sometimes cover greater distances but maybe that the flat unforgiving surface underfoot is what makes it so tiring.

We plan our next walk (again) and hope it will be third time lucky.

PASSIONATE FROGS BUT NOT A HANDSOME PRINCE IN SIGHT

After last week's walk our expectations were high, so we weren't exactly prepared for today's grim start; drizzle, low cloud, wind. Not promising. But by the time we reached our usual parking space at the side of Ladybower Reservoir the rain had stopped and the wind had eased so after our preliminary greetings and sortings we decided to set off on our planned route.

This is another walk that we thoroughly enjoy, but we knew it would be a challenge for PC and her bionic hip. Still, she's no quitter and was adamant that she'd be up to it, so we set off down the road towards Fairholmes and their re-vamped loos - very nice - before heading towards the dam.

Here we met the first of many frogs. It seems they were intent on massing in great numbers to do - well, whatever it is that frogs do (although clearly many were still doing it!) There were dozens of them, and as many squashed ones as live ones, with quite a few having met their end whilst in the throes of a passionate embrace. Trying to avoid them I did a kind of hopping, skipping dance to PC's tuneful, "there's one there, oh and another one, and two more".

We avoid the path up to the dam and follow the road past Jubilee Cottages and Old House, both standing before the valley was flooded. The daffodils are out lining the roadside in cheerful, blazing yellow - unlike the sun which is staying hidden.

Soon we see the first of this year's new lambs, impossibly cute and posing oh-so-sweetly for the camera.

We continue along the road and just before reaching Wellhead we take the path to our left which climbs uphill. Even here there are frogs intent upon reproduction and not caring who can see them! A few steps along the path and there is an absolute orgy going on and it's impossible to count how many frogs are involved. Urgh!

The hill is steeper than we remember it, so it's a good job we have some Maltesers to prevent low blood sugars. We need to keep our energy levels up. Thank goodness the top rungs of the stiles are movable, a wonderful design element that should be incorporated into every newly built stile.

Of course, we have to pause regularly to admire the views, which means we have time to catch our breath and scoff a few more choccies. As we ascend we can see along Derwent Edge and down the length of Ladybower. Better still, possibly, the sun is trying to make an appearance, although the wind is building up too.

We pass the house on the hill (how do they get their motorhome up to it?) and are on the last pull. We stop to stare at, and photograph, a gnarled and twisted tree branch which is trying to disguise itself as a heron, or a turkey, or a dinosaur.Then we take the last couple of hundred yards at a run. (OK, we don't, but it sounds good.)

We decide to shelter against the wind behind a wall where we can enjoy the views, a coffee, a gingerbread man (yes, honest), and the sun which is really beginning to make an effort. We can hear grouse grumbling in the distance, and curlews with their eerie call. It's wonderfully peaceful though with not another soul in sight.

It might be sunny but it isn't warm so we set off again knowing that the climbing is done - all bar a slight incline near Pike Low. The track is firm underfoot and follows a long but much eroded and tumbled drystone wall. It's level walking and we can admire the views rather than watch where we're putting our feet and we can see as far as Lost Lad and Back Tor.

When we move away from the level path we're back onto peaty moorland which is often boggy, although just now it isn't too bad although some of the deep ruts have been filled with rubble, no doubt to make it easier for the 4x4s up here for the shooting rather than to help walkers.

We crest the final slope and pause to admire the views behind us as we can see as far as Crook Hill and the Great Ridge, although the quality of the light doesn't quite make it a good photograph. A shame, but at least we can appreciate it.

It's all downhill now, quite gently at this point, and soon we're at the cross-paths - left to the reservoirs, right towards Derwent Edge - but we continue straight ahead. We angle down a little to reach the derelict Bamford House where we find a seat (a fallen gatepost) and some shelter (a tumbled-down wall) in the sunshine where we can enjoy lunch.

Out comes a small bottle of pink fizzy wine - a prezzie from PC for my %* th birthday. Drinking lovely wine as we sit and enjoy the views makes a great day brilliant. Our sandwiches are eating with resignation but the lemon muffin cheesecakes - always a winner - are devoured with unseemly relish. However, we can't fit in the coffee yet, we're too full, so we sit and natter instead, enjoying the peace, the sun, the view, the company.

What a pity we can't sit here forever, but eventually we drag ourselves to our feet and rejoin the path which takes us down to Abbey Bank. Yet again we have more magnificent views, this time of the Howden Dam overflowing into the reservoir with it's usual thunderous, echoing roll.

This is a steep downhill stretch, and we pass the only other walkers we've seen on this outing. A couple and their dog toiling uphill. Rather them than me.

At the bottom we step through the gate into a thick carpet of crisp leaves that have somehow resisted being turned into mulch over the winter, and we walk through the trees and daffodils to join the wide path at the side of the reservoir.

We're on the home straight now, but we stop at a bench to finish off the coffee and enjoy the afternoon sun. It's turned pleasantly warm and that has fetched people out. Coffee done we meander back, but it isn't until we've passed the Derwent Dam that we look at the time, and realise that we're seriously late. So instead of a gently saunter back to the cars we have to step up the pace.

We make it back in record time, but there's no time to linger as duty calls. We won't be walking for three or four weeks now, though, as school holidays clash but at least we know that we're back to walking our usual distance. And getting a sun-tan into the bargain!