Yorkshire 2 Peaks

Mark, me, Peter, Andy, Dave, Karl, Ruth, Shaun, Carolina and Sue

A meet up from a walking Forum I’m a member of had been arranged in Yorkshire for early March, and as I had put myself forward for a long weekend of walking in Wales during the summer, I thought this meeting in Yorkshire would be a good chance to meet a few new faces before finding myself sleeping in a hostel with complete strangers.

We were to meet at some road side parking near Ribblehead for a 14 mile circular route taking in two of the three Yorkshire peaks walked in the charity challenge done by thousands to raise money, Whernside, and Ingleborough.

Shaun was the only person I knew from a previous meeting in Derbyshire. He was bringing two friends with him, Ruth and Andy. 

The guy organising the walk was Mark, but It’s quite funny at times when meeting people from a forum for the first time as many members will use a different name online, usually to protect their Identity, and Its usually only when you meet these people that you find out their real name. So when I met Mark for the first time I only knew him as .......Fat Goat!!!
Mark was joined by his walking friend Peter a more senior chap and his dog Scally. Also at the meeting was Dave, Carolina and a couple Karl and Sue. 

After getting our introductions out of the way, we all booted up and had a group photo before heading towards the viaduct of Ribblehead and Whernside beyond.

We're off !!!

The weather was cool, overcast and cloud was hugging the summit of Whernside.

The pace of the group was steady on the approach to the Yorkshire fell, but once on the hill it slowed as our organiser Mark took up position at the back of the group with Peter.
I chatted away with several of the group while crossing the railway line following the Three Peaks challenge route up to Force Gill Waterfall and stopped at this point to take photos and allow the back markers to catch up.

Ruth, Dave and Shaun capturing the waterfall at Force Gill

Mark and Peter taking up the rear

We were soon walking into the clag and only a faint view of the nearby tarn on Greensett Moss could be seen as we neared the summit of Whernside at 736m. Plenty of stops were needed to allow the group to stay together.

A catch up stop, I don't think Andy was in any Pain, just the way it looks

The group spreads out a little on the easy path 

Whernside Tarn seen through the mist

Dave patiently waiting for the group

Whernside summit 736m

Not much of a view at the summit of Whernside, so after the obligatory trig point photo’s, we soon all walked on south towards Brocket Holes Pasture. I was thinking this is going to be a late finish if we are to complete all 14 miles.

A misty mile

The slippery path from Whernside summit

As we made the descent of Whernside, we all quickly realised the stone stepped path was treacherously slippery. As we carefully negotiated the stone I heard a squeal from behind me. It was Ruth, she’d slipped and twisted her knee.

We all gathered round to offer help while Ruth sat on a step, Shaun brought out and applied a spray from his first aid kit, while I offered a knee support from my first aid kit which she used.Ruth pulled on the support, but was clearly in some pain when she stood up.

As we made the slow descent helping Ruth, I was momentarily distracted, looking behind me at Ruth, I lost my footing, then balance, and in a split second I was tumbling down the hillside.

The funny thing was, my spare drinks bottle flew out of my rucksack into my hand, I really didn’t know much about it. Fortunately I didn’t hit anything and was unhurt, so the group were able to laugh about my acrobatic display and duly awarded me 8.5 points for artistic impression.

Leaving the path, we picked our way down off the fell on safer rough ground 

We all made it down Whernside without further injury. Picking a spot at the foot of the fell to take a break. We had covered 6 miles now and there was one or two tired legs.

Frustratingly the cloud on Whernside started to lift revealing probably fantastic views we wouldn’t see today.

Brews all round, and a well earned break

Ruth was clearly not able to continue, which was a shame as she was bringing a lot of humour to the group. As Peter is a local man to these parts, he volunteered to drive her to his house and wait there for Shaun to finish the walk as she'd car shared with him today.

The organiser Mark decided he’d had enough and the other ladies echoed this by suggesting the pub. Although this sounded a good idea, five of us decided to continue. 

So at Chapel-le-Dale the group split and Shaun, Dave, Karl Andy and myself continued towards Ingleborough.

Heading for Ingleborough in the distance from Philpin

Shaun, Dave, Andy myself and Karl

It was a laugh a minute with this guys

It was quickly suggested we open up the pace and stretch our legs after such a steady walk, which we did, leaving the rest of the group to head to the pub.

Guys on a mission

Quick breather

Andy setting a steady pace towards Ingleborough

The path up to Ingleborough was a good stone slab one for most of the way and a steady climb but the last section was a bit steep, and a stop was suggested before the last push to the summit trig point. 

The groups last stop before this steep climb

Beautiful views across to Whernside

Last push for Ingleborough summit

Almost at Ingleborough summit 

It wasn’t long before we were once again over 700m as Dave and I were the first to reach the true top at 724m.

Ingleborough summit

The last time I was here, my boots were giving me so much pain I couldn’t enjoy the day. Today I’d done 10 miles and all was good. I felt fine and found the company good, five is a good group number, enabling interactions with everyone.

Backtracking a little, we headed for Simon Fell. The summit proved a little too elusive, as Shaun and I tried to find it, maybe a fellow purists Shaun also likes to reach the true summit, while Andy was happy to be roughly in the vicinity, and didn’t see the point of our efforts.

Leaving the summit of Ingleborough, Simon Fell and Park Fell ahead

Dave heading for Simon Fell

Looking back to Ingleborough

Park Fell was our next target, just over 12 miles into the walk, it was a proper trig standing at 563m.

Park Fell summit 563m

From here I had a chat with Andy about football. Him being a Hull City fan and myself being a Man City armchair supporter there was a little bit of fun banter. We also talked about the Walking Forum's awning which Andy started.

The walk down the grassy steep hillside threatened to give one of us a damp backside as a secure footing wasn't always possible. Once down off Park Fell, it only left the group to walk Gauber Rd back to the parked cars.

A tricky descent off Park Fell

It had been a good day, my feet were aching a bit but I had walked 14 miles.

This was a great set of people and hopefully I will meet a few of these guys in the future.

Ruth took a few weeks out to rest her knee as it was a bad twist. The knee support I gave her helped, and I would see it again in a few months from now when we met once again.

Tissington Trail and Dovedale

2014 was going to be the year I find new walking friends and open up my horizons. I’d taken part in a Christmas walk near Hathersage in the Peak District organised by a walking forum which I found pretty enjoyable. An invitation materialised from this walk by a private Facebook walking group organised by Tracey,a forum member.

I was travelling to the White Peaks in Derbyshire, just about as far south as you can get. I was given details of the meeting point through Facebook. I’d only met Tracey the once and found her quietly knowledgeable in matters of nature and the outdoors. I knew there was about ten people joining this walk, so a lot of strangers to meet for the first time, although I’d had communication through posts on the walking forum, so I kinda knew one or two people through typing posts.

Driving to the Peak District from home was a pleasurable experience as no motorways were involved in the route, the scenery was beautiful, especially from Buxton along the A515, with miles upon miles of gently rolling green hills. The down side was it had taken an hour and 20 minutes to drive the 40 miles.

Arriving at Alsop Station car park quite early, not knowing how long the drive would take, I was first to park up. While I began changing into walking boots, and messing with my GPS settings, cars started to arrive, walking over to each arrival I slowly introduce myself to people as they approached. A grey haired chap called John was the first guy I met, then Shaun and his partner Lisa, along with Mel, they had driven over from the East Yorkshire area, Andy, Tracey of course with her friend Gaynor and finally a family who I wasn’t able to introduce myself to, Joe who had an Alaskan Husky on the end of a lead and his partner Abbey and their three children, I think they were local to the White Peaks and had walked with Tracey a number of times.

There had been some misunderstanding on the forum the night before the walk regarding Internet ‘trollIng’ by someone wanting to join the walk by causing trouble and Shaun and I seemed to be unintentionally at fault for disclosing the meet. This wasn’t the best start to the day as Tracey didn't seemed to be very impressed her private walking group was exposed to the forum so to speak.

The route we were taking joined the Tissington Trail, this is a disused railway line that was owned by London and North Western Railways, and ran from Buxton to Ashbourne. It became a trail around 1971 after the Peak District National Park Authorities bought the route.

As the group set off along the trail, Joe and his family held back, they kinda did their own thing not really being part of the group, perhaps due to the dog or kids? I wasn't sure why while the rest of the group chatted to one and other as our pace varied. 

The group as a whole were friendly, and walking along the Tissington Trail was great, with excellent views out to Alsop en le Dale and Parwich from an elevated section of what had been the old railway track.

Having walked a little under 3 miles we arrived at a snack stop on the trail just outside the village of Tissington.

This gave us a chance to re-group and have a group photo taken by Mel, a real bubbly character.

I find in any group of people, there is always some folk you just click better with than others, and Mel, Shaun and Andy were the friendliest of the group and I was enjoying their company.

Tissington brew stop, Shaun and Lisa (left)

After the tea break, the group were back together as we headed through the stunning village of Tissington with its picturesque duck pond taking centre stage, a classic country village, with a beautiful grade ll listed St Mary’s Church made it complete, it could all be from a film set it looked so perfect. Unfortunately we didn't spend any time there and I failed to take any photo's, oops.

From the village we had a few fields to negotiate heading for the rifle range at Thorpe Pasture

Some of the wall gaps were quite a squeeze, as Joe and Abbey found out while helping their kids through each wall.

John, Gaynor and myself lead Shaun, Lisa and Joe and his family.

The rifle range at Thorpe Pasture

Waiting to regroup at the rifle range

The group about to ascend Thorpe Cloud

It started to become apparent that Mel was slowing down a bit, we were around the 5 mile mark now and the steep climb up Thorpe Cloud was hard going for her.

Views back from Thorpe Cloud

The group gathered, waiting for Mel

In the foreground Andy (left) Joe (right) in the background Tracey looking on.

My good self

View of Dove Dale stepping stones from Thorpe Cloud summit

We had been waiting a good ten minutes on the top of Thorpe Cloud, and once at the summit, Mel sat down for a rest which was fine, but I had to smile to myself as she then lit a cigarette and smoked it while we all patiently waited for her to finish. Although the day was sunny with broken cloud it was February and I was glad of my hat and gloves while waiting.

River Dove snaking through the Valley

Shaun and Lisa making their descent

A tricky bit of rock for Lisa to negotiate as Shaun offers a helping hand

Tracey decided we would stop at the stepping stones for lunch, which was a beautiful spot on the edge of the River Dove. Like most of the group I pulled out sandwiches from my rucksack, but Joe had other ideas and produced a small stove, to cook for his family, this wasn't going to be a quick stop I thought. After Joe had cooked his Sunday roasted joint of beef.......only joking, I think it was pasta, we all packed our rucksacks up and continued along the river path through Dove Dale to Reynard's Cave 

Entrance to Reynard's Cave

Lisa getting to grips with a little scrambling into Reynard's Cave 

John following up behind while Shaun takes a shot from below

Tracey in silhouette 

Some of the group who had already been to the cave stayed by the river while we explored. 

Weir on the River Dove

After another short stop in Milldale the group headed away from the River Dove along a path to Shining Tor

It was about 5.30pm when we arrived back at the car having walked 9 miles. It was a very enjoyable day, but a bit too steady for my liking. I'm not a fast walker by any means but I did find waiting for Mel after 5 miles was frustrating. She is a lovely person, but just a bit too slow and she has no intention of stopping smoking or getting fitter, which is a real shame because I got on well with her, but I couldn't walk with her on a regular basis. Shaun and Lisa I got on really well with, as I did with John and Andy. I never really spoke to Joe or his family, apart from Tracy, I didn't see them interact with the group at all.

 Apart from Thorpe Cloud, these are the sort of walks my wife could do with me in this part of the country, so not really what I was  looking for in a walking group, as beautiful as the area is, I was looking for a bit more adventure. However I did make some new friends and hopefully something might materialise from today.

I don't think Tracey took to me during the day, why? Maybe I said something she didn't agree with, or that forum misunderstanding? I don't know. what I do know is I wouldn't be invited on one of her walks again which if she didn't like me, is fair enough. After all good company is important during a walk.