An Amble in Padley Woods

Our plans for a walk have been sent awry by the grim weather this moring. As we sit in our cars in the car park at Surprise View we have a view of sorts, of the rain sweeping across the landscape. Time for a drink and a bun (cream eclair) before we set foot into the murk.

This is PC's birthday walk, so the extra bun is an essential, and comes in quite handy as we wait for the rain to pass, which it does eventually.

We muffle up as, although the rain has stopped it still feels rather cold. And after we have crossed the road and gone onto the narrow track down to the brook we discover that the rain has left the path slick with mud. We just need to be careful.

By the time we have slithered down to the water the sun is making an attempt to shine, and Mollie eagerly awaits a biscuit (one of the few words that guarantees her instant attention!)

The water looks particularly lovely with the sun glinting off it, but it also looks very cold. Wouldn't like to dip a toe in that.

We keep to the right hand side of the water as we amble downhill, and every now and then are rewarded by the bright glow of late autumn leaves.

We have decided against anything that resembles a strenuous walk - we have set off far too late and , to be honest, are feeling too lazy. It has got a little warmer so, encouraged, we find a fallen tree and settle down to lunch, with some apricot wine and our second bun - cheesecake this time.

Once happily sustained we set off again, heading for the bridge across the brook. Alas, it is not merely slippery going down to it, but boot-squelchingly muddy too. Mollie skips through easily enough but we have a job to keep our balance as we teeter on the odd protruding rock or stray branch.

We make it eventually, and from the bridge are rewarded with a lovely view upstream.

We climb up the path at the far side and the sun shining through the trees is particularly lovely here.

The copper colour of the beech trees, and the fallen leaves, are like walking in a golden landscape.

We have an interesting down-up to traverse as we cross a deep stream but we don't give the nearby workman on the road anything to laugh at as we manage with a fair degree of agility!

From here it is a continuing stroll along the high bank of the brook and to where we cross the bridge back to the other side.

We take the path across the moor towards the outcrop where what seems to be a small film crew are following a single young man posing on the rocks. He's there a long time, flinging his arms wide to the elements. We try to ignore him - it is rather surreal after all.

We get back to the car and yes, he is still on his rock, posing, although some of his crew - or maybe just interested onlookers - have returned to their car too. They may have to hurry up though, the light is beginning to fade and there is a fair chance of rain again.

We, however, have to return home and are glad that the weather, eventually, stayed fine.

HATHERSAGE MOOR

Due in part to our lack of exploration last week, and also the prospect of a dodgy pay and display machine giving us cheap parking, we once again meet up in the Surprise View car park with a vague plan of action  to enjoy a more scenic route today.

We're still in luck, the parking machine will still only let us pay for one hour (card payments only!) which we duly do before preparing to set off. There are still remnants of snow and a heavy frost tucked into the tussocks of grass and shady side of rocks. The wind is a chill one too, but at least the sun is shining today - and it has brought out a fair few walkers too.

We head off on the path that rises up through the sparse woods at the back of the car park and climb carefully up the rocks. Fortunately millstone grit isn't slippery, unlike the White Peak's limestone.

Mollie finds a toy to play with and we head onwards on the path towards Mother Cap. We detour off to the right as a chatty family group start to catch up with us. They aren't well dressed for walking so we guess they won't be going too far, we move away to let them overtake us as we explore the stones on the right of the moor before winding back to the path.

Mother Cap is a very distinctive - and much climbed - natural monument of stone, visible for miles.

We walk around it and continue along the path heading towards Windyards Nick. Now we are on the same route as last week, only with a better view.

We can see for miles, and we have a brief debate on whether the birch wood (pictured) could, in certain atmospheric conditions, seem to appear near the enclosure/sheepfold on Hathersage Moor, which is still some way off. PC says Yes. I say No.

We reach the aforementioned sheepfold and take the route around its southern edge and head towards Higger Tor.

It's always a bit of a huff and puff climbing up here, but the views towards Carl Wark are worth it.

It is quite busy on the top of the Tor, and a bit too chilly too. We start to make our way down on the other side as PC declares that we need to head into the coniferous woodland through which Burbage Brook runs. It is, she says, a non-negotiable stopping place (for obvious reasons).

Fortunately we find a comfortable spot in the woods where we are out of the wind and out of sight (more or less) and although it would be nice to say it was peaceful the constant yelling and screaming of a school-group up on the Tor carries for miles. 




However, it is good spot for lunch and coffee, and the much anticipated buns (cinnamon swirls - more cinnamon next time, please).

With lunch over we have a brief debate as to where to head next and choose, to go down to the brook and cross over. This turns out to be one of our less successful ideas. Whereas there is a visible path on the other side reaching it is probably only possible for those possessing greater agility than ourselves.

To begin with we have to negotiate the lumber left over from the felling of swathes of the wood (either last year or the year before) then find that the brook is flowing fast and deep. Any stones that might prove useful for crossing are either submerged or covered in slippery moss. We decide, instead, to follow a sort-of path at the side of the brook - we clearly aren't the only ones who have trod this way.

It is a bit up and down, and a bit uncertain in places, but we never actually find a place to cross. And again we end up having to scramble over heaps of discarded branches. We end up letting Mollie off the lead to make her own way, there aren't any sheep about and she is much better left to her own devices.

Eventually, though we come in sight of the little footbridge that takes the main path off of Carl Wark. It is quite muddy in places as a young couple, not ideally dressed for a day out, discover when she slips down. Unharmed, though, they continue up towards Carl Wark as we cross the bridge.

A new bridge has been built here recently, looking quite stark against the muted hillside. 

We walk up to the  main path running under Burbage Rocks and aren't at all surprised that there are so many people walking here. It is an easy route, and we make good time to the end of the road and the path. 

Once over the road we go through a gate into the edge of the Longshaw Estate, turn right to follow the road then through another gateway and across a stone clapper-type bridge.

















We follow the familiar route down and skirt the lower reaches of Burbage Brook, following it until we turn right on the high-banked path leading us back to the car park.

We have made pretty good time, and made so much more of the walk than last week. Fingers crossed we'll do as well next week.

FOGGY MOOR AND NO SURPRISES

To say that the conditions aren't promising for our first walk of the New Year would be an understatement. But, then again, it could be worse. It is cold and murky, but at least it isn't raining - yet.

We meet in the Surprise View car park, and as a pleasant surprise the parking machine isn't working properly so we can only pay for an hour even though we intend to stay longer. We leave short missives on our windscreens just in case a warden comes by to check, although we have never seen one.

Mollie is keen to be off on a walk and even though we don't exactly have anything planned set off to the gate at the top of the car park and on the clear track through the heather. We have a lot of catching up to do so it is just as well that we don't have to worry about finding our way. And Mollie can go off the lead for a while as there are no sheep on this moor at the moment.

PC is happily taking some photos, although the views hardly merit it on this grim day, and we reach the Millstone Edge with the fence to stop anyone falling over! I believe ravens nest here during the spring/summer months.

We walk along the fence line, still intent with our catching up, then as the path levels out we strike off to our right on a less distinct path that leads up onto the Over Owler Tor rocks. We've been here many times before and know that we need to pick our way carefully down the steep slope as the rocks can quickly roll away under your feet, and we have the added bonus of ice as well today.

PC realises (with a curse) that the memory card from her camera has been removed (hands up the guilty party!) and not put back. Hoping the camera has an internal memory she nevertheless resorts to her camera phone.

Once on the level we resume our way heading towards Winyards Nick, a depression visible for some distance and the place where paths cross. We continue ahead and approach the only enclosed field on this stretch of moor (and where we once encountered the Woods That Were Not There - we must write that up sometime). Needless the say the ethereal woods were not making an appearance for us on this walk despite the mist starting to descend.

We decide to veer left here and stop under a small stand of trees for a quick nip from the flask. It's orange gin, and it takes me by surprise - I was expecting Ramblers!

Then PC discovers, to her dismay, that her phone battery is flat! Ah well, my phone is working so we have to use that as a last resort. Not that there is anything particularly scenic to photograph.

We take the path straight on (as seen in the photo) as we only have a limited amount of time today so a longer walk is out of the question. And, surprisingly, there are a lot of people out today. It can't be the weather that has attracted them!





We walk along with the Over Owler Tor ridge to our left as the misty clouds descend even further. However, we find some convenient boulders and decide to stop for coffee, which morphs into lunch. There is probably a good view here on a clear day. Today is not that day.
The buns, though, are definitely worth the wait and are perhaps the most picturesque item of the day. 


It is biting cold sitting here so we don't linger for too long. We continue along the path as visibility reduces even further. I'm glad we aren't out on an unfamiliar moor.
At one point the path forks, and we decide to take the 'high' road. It turns out to be a good choice. Athough both paths would undoubtedly take us back to our starting place, eventually, this one is by far the easiest and most direct.

Before long we are striding up the short rise and are soon above Millstone Edge again. The views behind us are most unimpressive.

It isn't far to walk back now but we are surprised at how foggy it has become. At least we are back at the car park in plenty of time - enough time to sit in the slightly warmer environment of the car to continue our conversation. And then it starts to rain. We have done well to miss that.
But it has had to be a short walk and it is time to go. We'll meet again next week (fingers crossed) when we might be able to venture a little further.

HATHERSAGE AND PADLEY

First of all we'd like to introduce you to Mollie.

Mollie, as you can see, is an absolutely gorgeous border collie whose hobbies include walking and chasing sticks. She belongs to a friend of PC and we are to be her occasional 'dog walkers', although we think Mollie sees herself as a 'human walker' instead.

For this week's walk we meet at the Surprise View Car Park ready to do battle with the cursed Pay and Display machine that only takes card payments. It's special trick for today is issuing tickets completely devoid of details. Good one.

It is bitterly cold and there is a scattering of snow about, so we fortify ourselves before setting off. PC was concerned that we'd had the last of the Ramblers on our last walk so had brought some Cointreau (a bottle!) to fill up the secret flask. However, the flask had already been miraculously refilled (can't walk without the Ramblers) so we have a tot of the Cointreau anyway - well, no point in bringing it all this way and not trying it! And yes, it was good and suitably warming on this chilly day.

We head off across the car park and discover that Mollie isn't too used to being on the lead. She's a real puller, but once onto the path leading to Millstone Edge we are able to let her onto a longer lead. Later we'll be able to let her run which will hopefully tire her a bit.

On reaching the Edge we see the snow on the distant hills perfectly lit on this bright, sunny day - a good deal better than on our last walk up here. It's Candlemass today and, apparently, if the day is fine we're in for more winter. So it seems that we're pretty much doomed.

Mollie takes up a lot of our attention as we're walking along the Edge. It's a long time since we've had a dog for company and we're enjoying the novelty.

The path dips down and we take a left turn, walking carefully through the snow and ice. The ground, where it is bare of snow, is frozen solid and we're planting our feet carefully so we don't slip. It would be a hard landing. Partway down the slope and before we reach the road we cross the stile in the fence line to our left. Mollie watches us and we wonder how she'll take to it, but we needn't have worried. Patting the top rail of the stile and saying 'come on' has her leaping over with wonderful agility. Only wish we could do the same.

We make our way downhill through the brittle, brown bracken until we reach the path at the bottom running alongside a stone wall. A short way along and we find the gate leading into Whim Wood. At last Mollie can have a run and she teaches us to throw sticks for her - again, and again, and again. We play along, all that bending and stretching must be doing us some good.

At the exit to the wood it's back onto the lead for Mollie and a few paces up the road before we cross to the footpath leading towards Hathersage and Scraperlow Farmhouse (a Grade II listed building looking like a mini fortress). Again Mollie astounds us as she bounds up onto the stile, takes a few paw-steps on the adjacent stone wall, then lands with an 'easy-peasy' expression on the correct side. We take a little longer.

The first part of the path is the driveway to Scraperlow, but where the drive sweeps right we continue straight ahead and soon come to the woods by High Lees. We meet one dog walker coming to us from the opposite direction, but so far that's the only other walker we've seen all day.

On this path we're glad that it is so cold as the rutted ground shows what it would be like if the mud wasn't frozen solid. It wouldn't be particularly inviting. The woods, however, are pleasant and we must make an effort to come here at a more attractive time of year.

The path leads us onto a little lane running behind houses that front onto the main A6187 out of Hathersage, and there are some snowdrops trying to flower although it's probably a little shaded for them here.

We're soon onto the road and heading down to Hathersage and their conveniently placed conveniences. It isn't very busy today, the cold must be keeping everyone indoors, now that a few clouds have started to gather the great outdoors isn't as enticing.

Soon we're on our way again, and we cross the road before turning left on the B6001 towards Grindleford. There isn't much traffic and it isn't long before we're under the railway bridge and taking the left hand footpath which is part of the Derwent Valley Heritage Way. This runs alongside a very cold and bleak looking River Derwent.

It's flat, easy walking and we soon come to a gate being guarded by two bay ponies. They totally ignore us as we pass through the adjacent walkers' gate, but a black and white Shetland pony comes barrelling over to us immediately hoping, no doubt, to be fed. When it realises that we aren't going to be forthcoming with treats it turns its back and saunters off. Two other, grey, ponies a few yards further on don't even bother to lift their heads to look at us.

This is a long, wide field that slopes steeply up to the left. There is a small flock of sheep up there and we suspect they may be some kind of rare breed, but our knowledge is limited, to say the least. At the end of the field we go through a new-looking gate and onto a woodland path (Coppice Wood). There is a faint glimmer of sunlight but we can't find anywhere to sit for lunch so we carry on up the well-walked left hand path leading uphill and, eventually, over the railway line. Once away from the railway bridge we find a perfectly sized boulder to sit on for lunch.

By this time we have come to the conclusion that Mollie is a little bewildered. She's plainly used to walks that go 'there and back again' rather than just keep going, as well as walks that don't last so long. And as for sitting down to eat, she obviously thinks we've lost the plot completely. However she dutifully (gratefully) lays down as we break out the sandwiches and coffee and warm ourselves up with a nip from the secret flask. The Ramblers goes down very well as a few fairy-sized flakes of snow begin to fall. We ignore them and hope they'll go away.

After coffee, sandwiches and Ramblers the buns come out. They are our 'summer buns', not because we eat them in summer (although we do, given the chance) but because they are full of summer. Fresh strawberry tarts with creme anglaise. These are from M&S and we compare them with Tesco's Finest. Well, M&S tarts have more strawberries and a creamier creme anglaise with harder pastry. Tesco have a custardier creme anglaise but crumblier pastry. All in all, they're both exceptionally good, so no complaints.

Since Mollie wants nothing to eat or drink we pack up and head on up to the path leading towards Padley Chapel. As we approach we berate ourselves, yet again, for not coming to visit the interior when it is open and once again we put it on our To Do list.

We walk past the Chapel, and someone enjoying their lunch on the steps, and head down towards Grindleford, turning left onto the Padley Wood path before reaching Grindleford Station. It suddenly seems to be a long, steep haul up here and we remind ourselves why it is a bad idea to park our cars at the highest point of our round-walks as we always have to finish on an uphill stretch when we're beginning to tire. Not that Mollie seems tired. Although she's walking sedately on the lead now as soon as we're in the woods we let her off and she wants to play 'fetch the stick' again.

We always seem to be in these woods in winter, or at cold times of year, but at least it gives us the opportunity to see the wonderful twisted shapes of branches and trees growing around boulders. At the top of the wood a group are pitching a tent! and have slung a zip wire across the water. Rather them than us.

It isn't far to go now and we're trudging up the deep, hollowed pathway towards the road. Mollie is tired but seems to sense that we're closing in on our starting point, so when we finally cross the road and reach our cars she leaps into the back of PCs car at great speed and without any prompting.

We've done the walk in pretty good time and have really enjoyed having our new friend with us. But we are left wondering what the Candlemass prediction is for a day that starts fine but ends cloudy with tiny flurries of snow. Has winter gone, or is the worst yet to come?