LEJOG day 27: Ellastone to Alsop-en-le-Dale
Ladies and gentlemen, readers, friends- I have reached the Peak District! I can report that it is beautiful here.
Today, everything conspired to make a really lovely day. I had a bit of a lie-in, the paths were well-walked and marked, I bumped into another crazy person, the views were stunning, the parts which threatened to be very busy weren't, and my hostess this evening has turned out to be an excellent and generous cook, which is a relief as there's nowhere eat within two miles of me. Oh, and the weather was good, a particular relief as in a moment of spectacular idiocy I left my raincoat in the back of my parents' car after they visited yesterday and it went back to Wales with them.
Yesterday was also lovely. My parents and I visited Shugborough Hall, poked around the rooms and strolled through the gardens and- most importantly- ate lots. The sun was out and I was very glad to see them. Plus, having spent in the region of £30 visiting National Trust properties since leaving Swansea at the end of March, I finally did the sensible thing and joined.
Today's walk took me through some fields and along a very quiet road into the Peak District, then through Dovedale, where the river Dove has carved out a stunningly beautiful path through the limestone and the National Trust has made it easy to walk along either side of the river admiring it all. The number of people passing through- 2 million a year- means I was worried I'd not have a moment's peace, but it seems to be school termtime so there were moments where I was completely alone to enjoy the cliffs. Sadly, not all the people I walked past have received the memo about always saying "hello" to and smiling at people you pass on walks, but otherwise it was lovely- and 2 million people a year feed the ducks, so they were really quite tame and came over to beg bits of my sandwiches for lunch. I didn't share, though.
After reaching Milldale and its bridge, I clambered up a very steep field to enjoy the Dove from higher up, then crossed the Tissington Trail to reach the village in its valley, before climbing impressively steep field to a very warm welcome by the cows at the farm I'm staying in, and a lovely dinner, too.
What I'm trying to say is: days like today are walking perfection, and make all the others worthwhile.
My only problem now is deciding which of two routes to take tomorrow.
Distance walked: at least 12.6 miles, I forgot to restart my GPS for a while after lunch
Time taken: 5h40 elapsed time, including lunch etc
Percentage completed: 37.9%
Miles per £1 of boot: 3.81
Lunch: pork and apple sandwiches, salami and nettle cheese and crackling, brought by my parents, who obviously love me very much
Last night's B&B: Cross Farm, Ellastone: another really comfortable, welcoming, lovely place to stay
Shugborough Hall
A bridge, barely visible
"What do you mean, there's no wifi?!"
useful gate
Bridge!
Very tame lady duck
Dovedale
DO NOT ROLL DOWN THIS HILL
The welcome party
They chased me down quite a steep slope
Today, everything conspired to make a really lovely day. I had a bit of a lie-in, the paths were well-walked and marked, I bumped into another crazy person, the views were stunning, the parts which threatened to be very busy weren't, and my hostess this evening has turned out to be an excellent and generous cook, which is a relief as there's nowhere eat within two miles of me. Oh, and the weather was good, a particular relief as in a moment of spectacular idiocy I left my raincoat in the back of my parents' car after they visited yesterday and it went back to Wales with them.
Yesterday was also lovely. My parents and I visited Shugborough Hall, poked around the rooms and strolled through the gardens and- most importantly- ate lots. The sun was out and I was very glad to see them. Plus, having spent in the region of £30 visiting National Trust properties since leaving Swansea at the end of March, I finally did the sensible thing and joined.
Today's walk took me through some fields and along a very quiet road into the Peak District, then through Dovedale, where the river Dove has carved out a stunningly beautiful path through the limestone and the National Trust has made it easy to walk along either side of the river admiring it all. The number of people passing through- 2 million a year- means I was worried I'd not have a moment's peace, but it seems to be school termtime so there were moments where I was completely alone to enjoy the cliffs. Sadly, not all the people I walked past have received the memo about always saying "hello" to and smiling at people you pass on walks, but otherwise it was lovely- and 2 million people a year feed the ducks, so they were really quite tame and came over to beg bits of my sandwiches for lunch. I didn't share, though.
After reaching Milldale and its bridge, I clambered up a very steep field to enjoy the Dove from higher up, then crossed the Tissington Trail to reach the village in its valley, before climbing impressively steep field to a very warm welcome by the cows at the farm I'm staying in, and a lovely dinner, too.
What I'm trying to say is: days like today are walking perfection, and make all the others worthwhile.
My only problem now is deciding which of two routes to take tomorrow.
Distance walked: at least 12.6 miles, I forgot to restart my GPS for a while after lunch
Time taken: 5h40 elapsed time, including lunch etc
Percentage completed: 37.9%
Miles per £1 of boot: 3.81
Lunch: pork and apple sandwiches, salami and nettle cheese and crackling, brought by my parents, who obviously love me very much
Last night's B&B: Cross Farm, Ellastone: another really comfortable, welcoming, lovely place to stay
Sounds like a good day .... perhaps we should have stayed with you!
ReplyDeleteGood for you. you had lovely company yojf parents must be very proud.
ReplyDelete