Meet Report: 8-10 October 2021.

We were all assembled in the Carlswark Cottage by 10.00pm on Friday and anticipating good weather, were looking forward to the next couple of days. It was great to see the meet fully booked as well.

Saturday

The day dawned cloudy and a little foggy but we all set off on our respective walks into the dales, with Daniel, Helen, Michael and Tim heading off for a climb at Birchen crag. After several routes, (Stoker’s Wall, D : Trafalgar Crack, VD: Emma’s Dilemma, S) the light drizzle turned to rain and climbing was abandoned for a walk.

Skirting woodland above the Oread’s Heathy Lea hut the foursome dropped in on the Chatsworth estate’s Victorian Jubilee Rock (East Rib, E, 4m and dry).

A direct route to the popular Chatsworth stable block coffee shop fuelled the directissimo ascent to the Hunting Tower. Woodland walking southeast took in the Emperor (fountain-feeding) Lake and now drained Swiss Lake before emerging onto moorland for Hob Hurst’s House, a prehistoric burial mound.  Dreary Gibbet Moor gave rough walking by an aqueduct then track to cross a stream valley back to the Robin Hood after this culturally varied 16km outing.

The other group led by Helen set off for a tour of the edges (Froggat, Curbar and Baslow) with a return across White Edge. John left the group at the top of the climb up to Froggat Edge as he was not feeling too well and took a lone walk around Froggat Edge, White Edge and Curbar Edge, watching a fine stag as it came up to the rutting season, stopping for coffee at Curbar Gap, then continuing across to Eyam taking in the Riley graves and having a walk around the village (a lot of history and some very sad stories) before returning to Stoney.

The rest of the walkers carried on around the edges, with a stop for coffee at the same Citroen van in Curbar Gap that John came across later. From here the route went down Baslow Edge, with hazy views of the Chatsworth Fountain. They turned easterly to pass the Wellington Monument and then proceeded to walk onto White Edge, dropping down to the Grouse Inn on the A625. They saw many of the runners doing the Grindleford 21 mile fell race as they made their way down to the river Derwent at Grindleford. They returned to Stoney Middleton via Froggat Edge and rounded off the day with a few pints at the legendary Moon Inn.

Sunday

Helen and Michael Smith met Michael Crowther at Cutthroat Bridge on the Snake Road, walked over to Ladybower and followed it up the valley. That gentle introduction ended abruptly as they climbed up to Pike Low then Lost Lad to the high point of Back Tor.  Its 360° views were marred only by smoke from heather burning 5km away towards Bradfield. The rest of the briskly-paced 17km round was easier going, southwards along Derwent Edge to Winstone Lee Tor and east back to the cars.  Much better weather than Saturday.

Martyn with Lizzie, Matthew and Richard Taylor, took a walk up to Eyam to check out the history of this interesting plague village before setting off home. John had done this the day before, so he took a walk to the south across some of the quieter paths to join the river just north of Baslow, it was a much better day weather wise and this short circuit was great before the drive home.

Helen, Tim and Daniel went over to Froggat Edge where they were able to climb several routes in warm sunshine before departing.

All in all it was a really great time in the Peak with good food and company making the trip really special. Thanks and appreciation to Helen Brewitt and Daniel O’leary for their great organisation.

Present were:

Helen Brewitt (Meet Leader)

Daniel O’leary; Richard Taylor; Martyn Trasler; Mathew Trasler; Lizzie Trasler; Michael Crowther; John Brown; Tim Josephy; Conrad Tetley. With day visits from Helen and Michael Smith.