Calves aching after a fairly strenuous weekend in Derbyshire, staying at the excellent Lee Wood Hotel in Buxton, where the food is just as good as they say it is and the service was first-class. We were there with Julia and Dave Evetts, who are not ones to sit around. Hence within a short time of arriving (we had lunched in Nottingham and travelled with the Evetts in their new sparkling red Audi) we were down in the town for a look round. Main discovery was that it was absolutely freezing, in the most freezing of freezing ways, and it was a big relief when we reached a coffee shop. I was a bit worried about the planned walk for Saturday, but it turned out to be nowhere near as cold. Icy, yes; snow, quite a bit on the ground; but bright sunshine and very good for walking, especially after we realised we were going the wrong way and retraced our steps slightly. Walked from Longnor down into the Dove valley and across to Crowdecote. where we had a warm baguette break at the Packhorse Inn. Then across the river (again) and across grassy fields back up to the ridge. Happily the ice had made the mud walkable, and we were able to climb a fence avoid some rather large-looking cattle, which may or may not have been bullocks. From the top we walked down into the opposite valley of the River Manifold and then back up again to Longnor. At each end of the walk we stopped for tea/coffee at the former town hall, which is now a teashop and purveyor of art, craft and a few books. I bought a nicely produced book about Wainwright, the fellwalker. Bit out of his territory, but never mind. While we were unbooting at the car, we watched a local cat perform an amazing trick of jumping up at a front door, hanging on by its front paws and knocking lower down with his back paws. Obviously a special Derbyshire skill.
After another superb meal in the evening (steak for me) we checked out of the hotel the next morning but left car and luggage there while we did a shorter but quite strenuous walk (three miles instead of five) ending at the summit of Corbar Hill. Quite a bit of snow around, so Julia and Dave (who had climbed it before) decided on discretion while I – quickly followed by Dot – scrambled the final fifty feet or so. Wonderful view from the top, with a lot of snow patches on the high ground all around.
On the drive back to Nottingham we stopped at The Miners Arms near Carsington Reservoir, where we had a very good carvery meal. Then after pause for tea/coffee at Toton we headed home to Norwich. Part of the A14 was closed, but we diverted via St Neots and avoided the worst of the hold-ups. No snow on the way, but when we got to Norwich it had obviously been snowing, and our road was icy, though not difficult to negotiate.