With Anneli. We parked at the Dunstable Down visitor centre where we waited a very long time for our food in the very busy cafe while people outside flew kites. Then we followed something called the Icknield Way Trail north along the top over Five Knolls and through the fringes of Dunstable. Northwest along a track then southwest and into Totternhoe. Then along Well Head Road and a path past the Gliding Club to meet the Chiltern Way along the base of the escarpment. Along this all the way south to the B4540 then up to the top where i make a stupid wrong turn and get us hopelessly lost down in the wilds of Whipsnade. We put it right eventually and made it home. Never trust Lenman's route finding was the main take home lesson if the day.
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With Anastasia and Helen. Anastasia wanted to go somewhere where there were wind turbines. So we came here. We parked by Ashworth Moor Reservoir and headed north to wind turbine no. 1, then east to the trig point on Knowl Moor. There were dreadful young men buzzing around on motor bokes scattering litter and being noisy and it was evident from the state of the terrain they came here a lot. But they failed to spoil our day out. On up past Higher Hill and to the top of Hail Storm Hill. Once off the land rover track it got unbelievably boggy and we very soon had our boots full of water. But it stayed lovely as we headed south down the Rossendale Way and the Coal road to follow something called Fecit Lane to somewhere called Paradise where we found we were on the wrong side of the wall and had to climb over a barbed wire fence to get ourselves right. (You want the north side.) From here up a thing called Tom Hill then easily back to where we started. There is a pub here called the Owd Betts where they gave us very nice food. I had a Lancashire thing called Rag pudding. It was tasty With Shaun and Rachana, A little walk on a lovely day. We started Alsop en la Dale Station which is not in Alsop en le Dale but a car park on the A515. Up a hill passing New Hanson Grange to a meeting of paths and down to Milldale. Up Dovedale to Coldeaton Bridge. Then right up a branch dale and right again to gain Tissington Trail - very beautiful around here - and back. There was enough day left to make a visit to Arbor Low then a nice meal at Sycamore Inn in Parwich. With James, Sam and Delphine. His was part of the annual Sheffield Philosophy Department away weekend. Most other people formed a larger faster party and went off and did something longer, We formed a special elite group of the ultra cool but not very fast. From the Youth Hostel we walked into Castlleton, then up Cavedale to the top, then along the track by Rowter Farm, the down the `Winnats Pass. A lovely walk in delightful company. I had a big decision to make. Walked downhill from my flat in Walkley past the Sacred Heart Church and along the river to Malin Bridge. From here along the Loxley to Loxley. Through the village and down to the river again then up the hill past the Storr's Wood War Memorial to the top of the hill. Through the outer reaches of Stannington and down again to the Rivelin Valley. Up the hill again to Cookes and into Hunter's Estate Agent where I told them what I had decided. Then home. With Helen and Anastasia. The few available parking spaces by the Runswick Bay Hotel were looking full up but happily just as we were thinking that someone finished their dog walk and drove away. We followed Hinderwell Lane to Hinderwell, left along a cornercutting footpath as we reached the main road. Almost at once left again down Brown’s Terrace then right on a track, round a corner then left on another track downhill to a footbridge with a flight of steps on the other side. Lovely walking through the woods brought us to the Fox and Hounds pub in Dalehouse on the southern end of Staithes. Disagreeably right along the main road here but not for very long and soon we turned left to take a path past Cowbar Farm and under an old bridge to a road which we followed south into Staithes. Staithes is very pretty. The young James Cook lived here for a while. We stopped in the Cod and Lobster for a coffee. Then up the hill and onto the Cleveland Way which we followed all the way back apart from a little detour to bag the trig point on Hinderwell Beacon. A seven mile walk out of Paddy Dillon’s excellent Cicerone guide to the North York Moors. Then we went to Whitby to see the sunset from by the Abbey and grab some fish and chips from Mr Chips. Then home. Penistone is a small town just out of Sheffield on the edge of the Pennines. Its correctly pronunciation has the first two syllables rhyme with ‘Denis’ – of course it does - but I have heard of local schoolkids enjoying pronouncing it wrong for a laugh. Parking in the town centre on a Sunday is easy and free. I found a space just along the road from the rather splendid Paramount Cinema. Walking back from here towards the station there is signposted access to the Trans-Pennine trail. I followed this easily and pleasantly passing countless dog-walking-locals till it met the A628 Manchester Road near Ecklands. Here I turned right onto the busy road but only momentarily as almost at once a path turns off left acriss a field towards Ecklands. According to a sign a bull lives in this field but happily he was not there today so reached the hamlet with having to test my courage in the face of cattle. From the hamlet I picked up a muddy track running southeast then southwest climbing the eastern slopes of Hartcliff Hill. Left at the top of the track onto a quiet road then left again after a few hundred metres onto a path which circles the upper part of the hill then heads down towards Hill Side. From there very pleasantly across fields until getting back into Penistone and regaining the Trans-Pennine trail. Just over 5 miles. |
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