Snowdonia - Carnedd Y Cribau - Wild Camp

Regular viewers of the site will remember that in the last few months I have been involved with some kit videos for Karrimor. Thanks to Terry bnd I have been given the opportunity to appear in some more productions, this time for the outdoor manufacturer Vango. I have just returned home from a fantastic nights wild camping in Snowdonia, more precisely Carnedd Y Cribau overlooking the stunning Snowdon Horseshoe.



The afternoon and night spent on Carnedd Y Cribau is one I won't forget in a hurry. The conditions were near perfect and we witnessed one of the most stunning sunsets I have seen for a very long while.

listen to ‘Speechless in Snowdonia’ on Audioboo

The video we shot that evening has now gone live and you can view it in all its glory below. I was really impressed with what Terrybnd has pieced together, When I first saw it I was reminded of what a great trip it was. If you enjoy watching it as much as I enjoyed appearing in it... Then why not head on over to YouTube or Terry's site and leave a comment or hit "Like" :-)

Peak Routes Podcast - Episode 6 - Chrome Hill & Parkhouse Hill

Episode 6 of the Podcast follows my walk up both Chrome Hill and Parkhouse Hill. The weather on the day was rather wet, windy and a little wild but it was a great little wander. These 2 Limestone Gems are a must see for visitors of the Peak District and Crowdecote is a great place to start from to explore this stunning area.

[caption id="attachment_1620" align="alignnone" width="600"] Peak Routes Podcast - Episode 6 - Chrome Hill & Parkhouse Hill[/caption]

You can view the blog post to which this podcast relates by clicking over to Peak District – Chrome Hill & Parkhouse Hill. You'll find plenty of pictures, some video and more audio there to accompany this episode. I hope you enjoy it :-)

If you would like to download this episode or any of the others then you can visit the Podcast page of the site. You can also subscribe to get them delivered to you via iTunes or Feedburner. FeedBurner have all the popular Podcast catching links listed but please let me know if there are any other apps or programs that need adding to this list.

Peak District - Chrome Hill & Parkhouse Hill

There are some fantastic landscapes to be seen in the Peak District, it really does have it all to offer when it comes to views. You have the Dark Peak with its bog, moorland and gritstone edges. The White Peak offers up some fantastic limestone gorges, lush green farmland and its tranquil rolling hills. There are some sites in the Peak that really do look like they are from a different world. I remember the first time I set eyes on the Roaches and Ramshaw Rocks while driving north from Leek. It was like some form of Alien being had dropped these awesome looking objects for us all to enjoy. The wonders of nature never fail to amaze me, the fact that these shapes in our landscape can be formed by the powers of erosion. You don't have to look very far from the Roaches to find more examples of these Alien looking formations, Chrome Hill & Parkhouse Hill are just a mear hop skip and a jump over in the Upper Dove Valley.

The weather was pretty dire when I looked out over the eastern peaks from my bedroom this morning, I have never let that stop me before so ignored the dark clouds and got my kit together. I had decided that I would walk today regardless of weather, without planning any routes, without checking my maps, there was only one certainty, I was to start from Crowdecote and head over both Chrome and Parkhouse.

[caption id="attachment_1591" align="alignnone" width="600"] Crowdecote - Underhill Farm[/caption]

I parked up in Crowdecote at around 09:30 after a swift 25 minute drive from home, I chucked my waterproofs on and marched out into the rain heading for Glutten Bridge. I took the footpath that starts from Meadow Farm and takes you across the fields to Underhill Farm. The farmland around was looking rather deserted but that may have been because today was farmers market day over in Bakewell.



I eventually reached the garage at Glutten Bridge after passing through Underhill Farm and walking along the single track road. I turned towards the north for a short while and walked along the road before swinging back to the west again. I was greeted by a view of ParkHouse Hill's eastern flanks.

[caption id="attachment_1593" align="alignnone" width="600"] Parkhouse Hill from the East[/caption]

I made my way across the field just as the rain decided to stop for a short while, in no time at all I was walking through the gate to begin my attack of Parkhouse Hill. Access to this area was once pretty tricky but thanks to the Countryside Rights of Way act 2000 (CROW) thankfully it is no longer a problem. I'm so thankful that I can walk freely here, its all thanks to those valiant campaigners and trespassers that have paved the way for us all.

[caption id="attachment_1592" align="alignnone" width="600"] Parkhouse Hill - Access Land[/caption]

After a short sharp slog up towards the very top I was greated with a great view around to Chrome Hill. It almost felt like the sheep were teasing as I scrambled my way up the slippy ground, while they moved around with ease :-)

[caption id="attachment_1594" align="alignnone" width="600"] Parkhouse summit with Chrome Hill in the background[/caption]

The very top of ParkHouse Hill feels razor sharp. It is almost a sheer drop off the northern edge and you certainly wouldn't want to miss place your footing on a wet and windy day like today. I paused for a short while to take some pictures, record a snippet of audio for the podcast and then I begun my way down the western side.

[caption id="attachment_1588" align="alignnone" width="600"] Chrome From Parkhouse - Instagram[/caption]

listen to ‘Peak District - ParkHouse Hill’ on Audioboo

[caption id="attachment_1595" align="alignnone" width="600"] Chrome Hill from Parkhouse Hill[/caption]

I arrived back down at the bottom after slip sliding my way down the muddy and rocky western flanks of Parkhouse. Once I set foot on the road I was reminded of the very first time I ever came here. That was back in 2003 when the hunt for a Geocache bought me to the area. It was when Geocaching was in its infancy and there were very few Caches placed at that time. I remember when I was first introduced to Geocaching by my father in 2000 that there were only 3 in the entire British Isles, Now there are around 100+ in a 10mile radius of my home.

[caption id="attachment_1590" align="alignnone" width="600"] Chrome Hill Sheep[/caption]

After another sharp but short slog upwards I found myself standing at the very top of the awesome Limestone gem. Chrome Hill has always been a favourite of mine, from the first day I clapped eyes on the place I was hooked. The shape of it really does make me think it has been transported from a parallel universe :-)

[caption id="attachment_1603" align="alignnone" width="600"] Parkhouse Hill & Dove Valley - HDR[/caption]

The image above is my first attempt at HDR photography, I layered 3 images in Photoshop and tweeked it a little to come up with this one. I have learned a few lessons from this attempt so next time I will do a few things differently, mainly to concentrate on not allowing the camera to get wet and also where to focus on.

[caption id="attachment_1587" align="alignnone" width="600"] Parkhouse from Chrome - Instagram[/caption]

The rain had been intermittent for the last few hours, the cloud base was dropping now and the precipitation intensified. The wind was beginning to pick up too so I decided not to linger long at the top and make my way off the north western side. I began to drop down until I saw the archway which is 30 or so metres west of the summit. This is the area in which the Geocache was hidden all those years ago. I forgot to mention that the very first time we came we ran out of daylight, got absolutely drenched and didn't even find the cache. Thankfully, we managed to locate the sneaky little hiding place on our second visit :-)

[caption id="attachment_1596" align="alignnone" width="600"] Chrome Hill Archway[/caption]

[caption id="attachment_1599" align="alignnone" width="600"] Chrome Hill - Mini Cave[/caption]

Moving on from the archway and heading further downwards you come to another interesting formation. A huge chunk of exposed limestone with a great looking little mini cave.

[caption id="attachment_1598" align="alignnone" width="600"] Chrome Hill from the bottom[/caption]

[caption id="attachment_1602" align="alignnone" width="600"] Sheep near Tor Rock[/caption]

I kept going north westward and joined the concessionary footpath that leads up towards Tor Rock, the rain had all but stopped again thankfully by this point. I passed Stoop Farm and crossed the field towards Booth Farm.

[caption id="attachment_1597" align="alignnone" width="600"] Chrome Hill from Booth Farm[/caption]

Just before you arrive at Booth Farm you can pick up the bridleway that runs around the western flanks of Hollins Hill. I chose to head downwards instead of along the top of Hollins Hill mainly because I wanted to find some shelter from the elements so I could have a bite to eat. I found what I was looking for when I arrived at the bridge over the river Dove just before Hollinsclough. I'm not sure what the story is behind the sign, I can only assume some work is being done to strengthen the bridge.

[caption id="attachment_1600" align="alignnone" width="600"] River Dove Bridge - Near Hollinsclough[/caption]

After a very short break under the tree cover near the bridge I moved on once more. I walked up the muddy field and then joined the road down into Hollinsclough. There was not a sole to be seen in the village today, only the postman urinating against the side of his van. I never saw Postman Pat do that on TV, Mrs Goggins would have given him a firm telling off he had i'm sure :-)

After passing through Hollinsclough I picked up the track that follows the river down stream towards Glutten Bridge. I crossed the bridge next to the ford and I was back in Derbyshire once again. The river Dove marks the boundary between Derbyshire and Staffordshire and I had just realised I had come out without my passport. Thankfully I had only been an illegal immigrant in Staffordshire for a short time and was now back on home turf in sunny (not today) Derbyshire.

[caption id="attachment_1601" align="alignnone" width="600"] Parkhouse Hill - River Dove Ford[/caption]

I reached the garage at Glutten Bridge and decided that I would retrace my steps from here back to the car. I took the single track road, I made my way to Underhill Farm and then walked across the wet fields to Meadow Farm. The rain was quite intense at this point so in a way I was glad to reach the car and to be able to get out of it for a moment.

[caption id="attachment_1589" align="alignnone" width="600"] Chrome & Parkhouse from Crowdecote - Instagram[/caption]

Regardless of the weather I had had a thoroughly enjoyable few hours out walking. It was quite refreshing to have a relatively aimless wander today, Instead of plotting a route in ViewRanger and knowing exactly where I was going. The route I took over Parkhouse and Chrome is considered a classic and it really is. The stunning 360 views from both hills need to be seen and experienced. The weather was rather dramatic today but that only enhanced the experience, I don't mind a bit of rain, which is a good thing as this summer has been offering up plenty of it.

I'm hoping to head back over this way again soon and to bring you some routes from places further down the River Dove. Its hard to stray from the beaten path in these areas and bring you anything new but a routes a route. Thanks for taking the time to visit and to read my nonsensical rambling about my rambles :-)

Why not download the GPX route file for today's walk and have a go yourself [wpdm_file id=9]

Peak District - Monsal Trail

The weather this summer has been terrible, that is no understatement, it really has been rubbish. I know it must be digitally programmed into our British DNA to complain about the weather but this year it really is a valid complaint. We have had the odd day here and there where it has been nice but it always seems to fall when i'm at work :-). I can't let a little thing like the weather stop me from getting out into the Peak District though, I simply had to adjust my expectations a little and just get kitted out in the waterproofs.

Where to go when the weather is bad? Well, for some reason I can't get Bleaklow Stones out of my head but today I didn't think it would be doable judging by the forecast. The plan was to stay low and plot a route where plenty of cover was available. The Monsal Trail instantly sprung to mind as a place that was more than worthy of further exploration and would be perfect for the days weather conditions. So... a quick call to my mate Andy and the plan was set.



I reached the parking spot near Bakewell Station after a 20 minute drive from home and the rain was already falling heavily. We got kitted out in our waterproofs and then begun our wander along the trail.

A brief historical excerpt about the trail... The Monsal Trail follows a part of the former Manchester, Buxton, Matlock and Midlands Junction Railway, it was built by the Midland Railway Company in 1863 to link Manchester with London. It has many breath taking views along the way and you can feel the history as you walk along it. The trail officially begins down at the Coombs Road Viaduct which is around a mile down the hill from Bakewell station. We chose to start at Bakewell as there is usually ample parking near the bridge which crosses the trail. Today the road resembled a river bed as recent flooding had dragged lots of stones and rocks on to it. When we left the cars we half expected to find that they had been washed away when we returned.

[caption id="attachment_1555" align="alignnone" width="600"] Headstone Tunnel[/caption]

After leaving Bakewell station you gradually head up hill until in what seems like no time at all you arrive at Hassop Station, more on that later. After Hassop you pass Great Longstone Station which was built to service Thornbridge Hall. Sadly I have no pictures of Longstone from today's walk as at this point the rain was rather heavy. After Longstone the next main feature you come across is the Headstone Tunnel, this tunnel along with numerous others on the line were finally opened to the public back in May 2011. Previously the tunnels were bypassed by using footpath diversions, thankfully after a grant of around £3.7m we can now enjoy the original route the line took through the spectacular tunnels.

After walking through the 487 metre Headstone Tunnel you come out on to another spectacular landmark, one of the crown jewels in the Peak Districts Historical arsenal, The Headstone Viaduct. Here is a picture of said Viaduct from the Peak Routes archive as once again the weather spoiled any chance of getting pictures today.

[caption id="attachment_1199" align="alignnone" width="600"] Monsal Dale[/caption]

The Headstone Viaduct is a fantastic specimen of the ingenuity of a great age in British industrial history, there are many others around the british isles but this is one of my favourites. when it was originally built there was some opposition as it was said to have destroyed the tranquility of Monsal Dale, this may be true in some ways but its there and I can't help but be impressed by it. I've said in recent posts that when I first stood below it around 15 years ago I was awe struck by it, It stands around 40 feet high at its centre and its 5 arches span the 300 metres across the dale.

Anyway thats quite enough lamenting for an age gone bye, Back to the job in hand... As we walked across the Viaduct and reached the other side I spotted a little sign that I hadn't seen before. The sign is pictured below and it represents the newly plotted White to Dark Peak walk to celebrate 25 years of the Country Walking magazine. If you would like to find out more about this then head on over to livefortheoutdoors.com.

[caption id="attachment_1568" align="alignnone" width="600"] White to Dark Peak - Country Walking Magazine[/caption]

After the Headstone Viaduct you walk along towards the Cressbrook tunnel, another one of the freshly opened gems for us all to have a wander through. As you approach the tunnel the Cressbrook Mill that was built by Richard Arkwright who plays a big part in the industrial history of this part of the world. It was once a thriving Mill but after a long history it went bankrupt in 1965 and it is now apartments.

[caption id="attachment_1554" align="alignnone" width="600"] Cressbrook[/caption]

The Cressbrook tunnel is another long and impressive tunnel at 431 metres long. when heading west it weaves slowly around to the left before you come out into the open once more.

[caption id="attachment_1559" align="alignnone" width="600"] Cressbrook Tunnel[/caption]

[caption id="attachment_1557" align="alignnone" width="600"] Cressbrook Tunnel[/caption]

After the Cressbrook tunnel you don't have to wait long before you get to enjoy another one of the trails many tunnels, which was lucky for Andy and I as it was still raining heavily. Litton tunnel is next and it slightly longer than Cressbrook at 471 metres long.

[caption id="attachment_1563" align="alignnone" width="600"] Litton Tunnel - Looking out of the eastern entrance[/caption]

After the Litton Tunnel the trail climbs steadily as you pass Litton Mill, another Mill that has a very fraught history of bankruptcy and poor treatment of workers. Just like Cressbrook the Mill has now been turned into stunning apartments and a quick web search will find some available for holiday hire.

[caption id="attachment_1562" align="alignnone" width="600"] Millers Dale Viaduct[/caption]

Millers Dale is the next station on the journey westward along the trail, easy access and ample parking are available here. The station itself is now home to the Peak Park Rangers and it has handy toilet facilities for those in need. We chose to keep going today along towards the Chee Tor Tunnels of which there are 2. before reaching the first tunnel you pass the huge Lime Kilns, an historical relic and another way in which the geological wealth of the Peak District was exploited in years gone bye.

Due to time constraints we chose to head back the way we had came after we reached the Chee Tor Tunnels. The rain today had not stopped and we decided to have lunch before heading back towards Millers Dale Station while sheltering in the Tunnel.

[caption id="attachment_1561" align="alignnone" width="600"] Hassop Station from the Monsal Trail[/caption]

It was a rather grim walk back as the rate at which the rain was falling had intensified to a level at which folk in Derbyshire would class as chucking it down ;-), that is a scientific measurement, more than throwing it down but slightly less than pissing it down.. pardon my language but you need the facts to understand the scale at which i'm going by.

Thankfully we had the tunnels to shelter us from the torrential downpour and we eventually reached the haven of Hassop Station. I will admit to having never stopped here before, I have walked past an embarrassing amount of times but i'm so glad we decided to stop today. The Cafe inside the station has a vast array of goodies on offer and there is plenty of other things on sale in the book and gift shops. Cycle Hire is also available here so if you would like to find out more then click on over to http://www.hassopstation.co.uk/ Andy and I enjoyed a cup of coffee while taking the load off our feet for a while.

[caption id="attachment_1560" align="alignnone" width="600"] Hassop Station Cafe[/caption]

After a short break from the elements in Hassop Station we ventured back out into the rain to walk the final stretch back to the cars at Bakewell Station. I can thankfully confirm that the cars hadn't been swept away by a river which was now running down the road. It had been another great walk and I joked with Andy that one day we would manage a walk in nice weather. Its a long running Joke that when he and I go for a walk we seem to always experience weather at its most extreme. We've had wind (Peak District – Ladybower & Alport Dale), we've had snow (Peak District – Kinder Scout – Northern Edge in the Snow) and now we've had about the worst rain you could get today.

listen to ‘Peak District - Monsal Trail & A Wet iPhone’ on Audioboo

If you would like to find out more about the trail and what amenities are available then visit http://www.peakdistrict.gov.uk/visiting/cycle/monsaltrail. Thanks for reading my post for today's wander and I hope you will join me again soon for another Peak Route :-).