Castleton

CASTLETON, CAVE DALE, MAM TOR, HOPE

Distance: Eight and a half miles

Difficulty: Moderate

Weather: Overcast with Sunny spells

Walkers: Colin Davison, George Dearsley, George Whaites, Peter Beal, Lawrie Fairman, Jock Rooney and Tips, Jock’s son Keiron

B Walkers: Tony Job, Geoff Spurrell, Ken Sparrow

Apologies: Alan Hart (meeting)

Leader: Beal/Fairman   Diarist: Dearsley

Starting Point: The George, Castleton

Starting Time: 9.41 am. Finishing Time: 2.30pm

The group set off a few minutes early but was soon stopped in its tracks by Mr Fairman who remembered he had left his Sat Nav on his car roof. The forgetfulness proved a stroke of good fortune because Mr Rooney, Tips and son Keiron (thought absent) were actually delayed finding a parking spot and were able to link up with the Wanderers. Mr Whaites sported his new Brasher boots.

We left the village with the Old Barn souvenir shop on our right, following the signs for Cave Dale.

A steepish climb took us well above the village and near the summit we dog legged right, climbing a wooden stile and then turning right with a farm on our right.

George, Colin and Peter

 Mam Tor (below) could be seen in the distance. We crossed the road to Perryfoot and a few minutes later crossed a second road (to Chapel-en-le-Frith) to begin the climb up to Mam Tor.

Mam Tor

The view half way up Mam Tor

As we reached the summit of Mam Tor the wind seemed to stiffen, blowing from right to left in the direction of Edale. We stopped for a snack at the summit at 11.01am. Mr Davison had found a blue garment which looked like oven gloves but which was some kind of scarf-come-hand-warmer obviously dropped by one of a number of schoolchildren visiting the area. It was to remain in his possession.

View from the summit

We resumed our walk at 11.15am following the stones on the Great Ridge to Hollins Cross and beyond.

Two beasts at the summit

Negotiating a stile and turning left we began our descent into Hope, reaching the outskirts of the village at 12.26pm and the welcoming doors of the Cheshire Cheese at 12.26pm.

The B Walkers hove into view just as we arrived.

Here was a cornucopia of choice, including Peak Ales’ Swift Nick and Farmers Blonde both at £3, Hartington Bitter at £3.20 and Brown Cow at £3.30.

The B Walkers had started in Castleton, followed Hollowfold Road and passed Loosehill Hall and Riding House Farm.

Sign

Joined by the B Walkers we resumed our walk at 1.20pm, turning right out of the pub. After a few minutes later we reached Castleton Road, turning left at the Woodroffe Arms pub.

At a sign saying “footpath to Castleton” we turned off right to follow what appeared to be a small river identified on the map as Peakshole Water.

We stopped for lunch at 1.46pm, resuming at 1.58pm. At the end of the track we turned left into Castleton and a few hundred yards later reached the second Cheshire Cheese of the Day.

Here Chatsworth Gold and Black Sheep was £3.06 and Castleton Ales bitter £2.40. Mr Beal duly dispensed birthday beer to celebrate his 63^rd.

Next week we will meet in Bollington at the free car park opposite the Spinners. The Miners Arms will be the half way stop. Mr Beal extended his early apologies for a three week absence from Wandering. He’s off to the Caribbean, lucky chap.