Meet Report: 16-18 June 2017.

Friday evening saw most people arriving at the Pondside bunkhouse, after an exciting drive, persevering to find their way from the Hathersage-Hope road turnoff, twisting and turning through Thorpe Farm and down and up to Nether Hurst hamlet, the road would not take any prisoners of low slung vehicles! One person arriving from the north found the route so narrow it was not repeated.

Mike, Ros & John walked down to Bamford’s community pub/cafe/post office, The Angler’s Rest, for a meal which was very reasonable and to be recommended, with others bringing food to prepare.

The bunkhouse is simple and secluded with two bunk rooms, two bijou showers and two WCs in a converted barn. Outside to the south there is ample parking and seating by a hearth and an overgrown pond. There was room for tents and several members chose to camp. It was an ideal spot in the dry warm weather as meals could be taken outdoors, in fact apart from sleeping most of the weekend was spent outside.

Earlier on Friday, Dave Booker and Fiona had a 9km ride on the mountain bikes around Langett, on single track woodland paths, with a rocky single track descent, providing for an exciting start to the weekend. Helen had been climbing at Froggatt and Michael had walked at Strines and Stanage. John and Ros stopped at Baslow on the way up and walked the Froggat and Curbar edges, following the river Derwent on the return.

Bill decided to take a circular walk directly from Pondside after arrival. He took a northerly route through Hurstclough Lane following a path immediately east of Dennis Knoll and on up to Stanage Edge at High Neb. From here he took the southerly route along the length of Stanage Edge and then on to the top at Higgar Tor. His route back to Pondside was made via Hathersage Moor, Winyards Nick and Mitchell Field; the flower meadows here were in full bloom, making for a wonderful vista.

The night’s sleep was not disturbed by snorers but something much louder. A faulty fire alarm! Just before midnight and again before one o’clock it triggered. The second time we disabled it and tolerated the eight-second beeps for the rest of the night. The farmer came to fully disconnect it the next evening giving us a better second night’s rest.

Saturday:

Thoughts of going underground were abandoned in view of the glorious warm, sunny weather. Some went walking, some mountain biking and others climbing. The obvious local crag is Stanage and Tim, Michael, Becca, Richard and Helen were among the early arrivals at the Popular End. They visited areas left and right of the Rusty Wall area to avoid disturbing the Ring Ouzels nesting there. Tim, Michael and Becca managed five routes whilst the pair of Helen and Richard climbed eight. Undue exertion was discouraged by the heat and route selection was rather limited by the crowds.

Initially, John Brown and Ros were at the predictably overcrowded Stanage but after a quick route they went off south over Carl Wark and walked back to the Pondside bunkhouse; the weather was extremely hot so the ice cream at the start of Burbage Edge was very welcome. Meanwhile Bill opted to go to Edale for a figure of 8 walk on to Kinder Scout. There were huge numbers of walkers on Kinder making the most of the warm weather.

The route Bill followed leaving Edale was on the Pennine way towards Upper Booth before taking the narrow track around Broadlee-Bank to Crowden Brook and up on to the plateau at Crowden Tower. As a result of crowds, Bill decided to make his way across the moor directly to the 636m top (although completely unrecognisable as a top!) and then over to a rather busy Kinder Downfall before returning to the top of Crowden Brook on the public footpath, before returning to Edale via Grindsbrook Clough which again was rather quieter. This was a great route but probably more enjoyable on a quieter and not so hot day!

The mountain bikers were active on both sides of the Derwent valley including Shatton Moor and a stop for refreshment in Hathersage. The ascent to Shatton Moor was enjoyably technical and the boulder scatter descent from Win Hill lived up to its name “The Beast.”

Carol and John walked to Hathersage, then crossed the River Derwent at Leadmill Bridge to follow the riverside to Shatton. At Shatton they walked up to Westfield which gave access to a sunken footpath that contoured below the shoulder of Shatton Edge and Offerton Moor before rising to give fine views of Bamford, Stanage and the valley. They descended a gill to rejoin the outward route, shortly re-crossing the Derwent via stepping stones, some of which were rather too sloping for comfort! Their walk ended across fields to Outseats and Hathersage, where they sought refreshments at the Scotsman’s Pack Inn.

Richard and helpers provided a splendid barbecue meal supplemented by two self-service hand-pulled Three Brothers’beers: Thai IPA and Ruby Revolution. We were also joined by others, David Large and his family joined us, and Jim and Chris Harrison who lived locally called in with their friend Paul, joining us for dinner. The evening was warm and we just sat watching Mike running after bats! As darkness fell the remaining charcoal embers were used to light a bonfire. Watching this fire, the alcohol-fuelled conversation flowed amiably until it was time to turn in.

Sunday:

This day again was shaping up to be hotter that the last so after all the clearing had been done, Tim and Michael left to climb on Nether Tor on Kinder’s southern edge high above Edale. They reached it via Ollerbrook and Ringing Roger, being caught up by Richard not far below the rocks. Richard and Michael climbed three routes, including the committing and enjoyable Primitive Route, HS. Tim had bruised his knee somehow so sat it out waiting for John and Carol who could be seen labouring up from below.

John & Carol went to Edale, parking before the village. they went through Ollerbrook, and up the Nab, crossing below Ringing Roger to join Richard, Mike and Tim who were climbing at Nether Tor. This lower approach was very rough and hard work so perhaps over Ringing Roger may have been better. Leaving the Smiths climbing, they scrambled up to the edge, pausing to watch a family of grouse before continuing along the edge with Tim to the summit of Grindslow Knoll, descending to Edale village and taking the track back to Ollerbrook.

Fiona and Booker ditched the bikes in favour of a walk in the rising temperatures. Starting at Burbage Bridge they followed the edge down to Toads Mouth then descended to Hathersage and a warm uphill to Stanage edge where they watched the parapenters.

John and Ros headed south by car and spent several hours walking and birdwatching at the Carsington Reservoir in the White Peak, the hope was for ospreys, but none were seen.

David and Ross went to join the crowds at Stanage, They completed three climbs in all until the heat outweighed the breeze. All these were D/VD standard. Geraldine and Catriona walked from Stanage to Hathersage in search of coffee and ice cream which I am sure was very welcome.

Overall this meet was a great success and much of the praise should go to Richard for a great choice of venue, lovely food, good beer and arranging such good and settled weather.

In Attendance:

Richard Smith (leader), Becca Humphreys (PM), Bill Gibbs, Carol Whalley, Helen Brewitt (PM), John Brown, Ros Brown (G), John Whalley, Michael Smith, Fiona Smith (PM), David Booker (PM), Tim Josephy, David Large, Geraldine Large (G), Ross Large(G), Caitriona Large(G), Christine Harrison, Jim Harrison, Paul Townsend (G).

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