Tag Archives: buxton

The road to Grin Low

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Negotiating the walk to the station, rather gingerly
Negotiating the walk to the station, rather gingerly

There was more snow overnight on Friday, and on Saturday we decided to take the train to Manchester. Julia was particularly worried about tricky underfoot conditions on the way to the station, but we managed to reach it unscathed, to find that a return ticket to Manchester, including a tram journey anywhere while there, amounted to £6 each. Since the train journey was an hour long, this seemed to represent absurdly good value for money.

As we neared Manchester, the snow disappeared, until there was no trace at all after Stockport. In Manchester there was a cold wind, but it was sunny. We went to the Imperial War Museum North, not far from the BBC and the Lowry Centre where, coincidentally, an edition of Britain’s Got Talent (I think) was being filmed. On the way back to the tram stop we had to negotiate star-struck crowds outside.

The museum itself was intriguing from an architectural point of view and laid out  in rather a chaotic way (thus reflecting war, no doubt). There was a good short film on rationing projected on the walls to all and sundry, some excellent poetry from poet in residence Mario Petrucci and a particularly good one on the Twin Towers by Simon Armitage. There was also a superb aerial sculpture by Gerry Judah called The Crusader.

We also climbed up a 100ft tower (160+ steps – the lift was broken, no doubt through enemy action) and partook of refreshment in the cafe.

Julia was worried (again) about underfoot conditions in Buxton and tried to book a taxi, to no avail. Dot and I walked on ahead, but Julia and Dave made it without too much trouble. It wasn’t really too bad, unlike the following morning, when two of our waitresses fell over on the way to work – happily without serious injury.

There had been no more snow, but there was plenty lying around, and we decided not to be too ambitious. We headed (by car) for Poole’s Cavern, possibly the only place in Buxton that we had been to but the Evetts hadn’t. Pausing only for coffee (after all it was practically an hour since we had had breakfast) we toured the cave in the company of an excellent guide called Robin, who was particularly good with the children in our small party. We had seen it before, but it was worth seeing again.

After lunch in the cafe we decided to drive up to Grin Low – a very short distance, but it involved (initially) a road too slippery to drive up and a car park too slippery to get into. However, Dave parked skilfully at the side of the entrance road, and we ventured out onto the snow, some of us more gingerly than others. In fact the most dangerous bit was getting out of the car, where the ice was treacherous. Having managed that, the quite deep snow on the hill was pretty straightforward and beautiful to boot.

We were within about ten minutes of Solomon’s Temple, a tower on the summit, when Dave and Julia decided it was too dangerous to go further; so they headed back. Dot and I continued, and found it was actually quite easy, give or take the odd dog. Climbing the tower was another matter: the steps were treacherous, and we had to be very, very careful.   Good view, though. We got back to the car about ten minutes after the others and drove back to the hotel.

The hotel was at its best: the food was excellent, and the rooms were just right. We also got into conversation with two waitresses we knew from previous years and got shown pictures of their children!

The journey home on Monday was even easier than the journey north, and the only problem we had was going astray when trying to find Donnington Services and adding about ten miles to our journey. This is much more complicated than it sounds. We stopped once for coffee at Leicester and got home before 3pm.

I was very tired but had to rouse myself to go to Dunston Hall in the evening for a meal with Audrey and Bent, who had been spending the weekend there. This was a birthday surprise for Bent, who seemed quite pleased, to give him credit. The meal was pretty good, but we both declined the sweet, rather heroically.

Yesterday morning Dot was quickly back into her working role, and I walked up to Archant for a pensioners’ coffee morning – the first time I’d been in the building for years. There about 20 present, most of whom I knew at least by sight. Robin had invited me, and his wife Shelagh was there too. Also Tony Foulkes and Alan Atherton, looking very ill. He was apparently told a couple of months ago he had a couple of tumours on his lungs: he looked painfully thin and got out of breath very quickly. However, he took the trouble to welcome me and have a chat. A really nice bloke. Also had a brief chat with Pete Kelley, who happened to be in the canteen.

When I emerged from the building, the sun was blazing down and it was really quite pleasant; so I took the long way home.

Cold walk around the reservoir

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Dave and Julia take a close look at a hazard on the Fernilee footpath
Dave and Julia take a close look at a hazard on the Fernilee footpath

The weekend at Buxton turned out less muddy than I anticipated, though there are those who found it extreme. In view of the forecast we were fortunate: our walk on the Sunday was dry and mainly sunny, and the promised wind was not as severe as we had been led to believe.

Led by Dave, we walked round Fernilee reservoir, the outward leg being a bit of a challenge in view of the fallen trees and minor diversions. The home leg was much easier, along a former railway track and so flat, though still very wet in places.

In between the outward and the inward leg came lunch, of course. At Julia’s behest this was essential, and so we climbed up out of the valley into Fernilee village and The Shady Oak, which was surprisingly empty for a Sunday. Dot and I weren’t very hungry, so we shared cheese sandwiches, washed down by cider.

Back at the hotel, Dave and Julia hastened into town (they have more stamina than us, perhaps because their natural pace is slower). Dot and I followed after a short rest – bit of a mistake as far as I was concerned, because although we had a cup of tea looking out over the gardens and then ran into D & J on the way back, it left me feeling really exhausted and not too well.  Usual head problem, but not as severe as it might have been.

The previous day, with abundant rain promised, we took the train to Manchester. Dot and Julia spent most of the day in M & S and Selfridges, while Dave and I went to the Museum of Science and Industry, which was fascinating but cold. We saw only part of it and both wanted to return some time. The wind and rain held off till we emerged from MOSI, when we were lashed by it on the way to the free bus (great system in Manchester city centre) (the free bus, not the rain).

Back at Buxton the wind and rain were even worse, and we had to battle against it up the hill to the hotel. Surprisingly, though, no snow over the entire weekend. Hotel was good as usual, other than low water pressure (being fixed). Food was very good.

The journey up there went reasonably well, though there were some hold-ups, and the second half was in pouring rain. Coming back was easier. We called at Andrew’s in Coventry, but he was out, and as I had cold symptoms and the house had a diarrhoea and sickness warning, we didn’t linger – just dropped off his jacket, which we’d had dry-cleaned. We used the Bedford route back to Norwich, which is longer but easy.

Yesterday Dot dropped me at the church hall to meet the man replacing our electricity meter. He had phoned to say he would be early, but was in fact half an hour late because he’d received an emergency call. Anyway, he replaced the meter as I watched (he was a pleasant guy) and I then walked home. Felt pretty groggy when I got there and was quite relieved when it turned out that most people were not coming to Tuesday Group; so we cancelled it and had a relaxing evening watching television.

Missed our new Monday slot at the cinema this week (too tired after journey), but may go this afternoon, if Dot finishes her paperwork in time. We had a lie-in this morning, and I feel a bit better.

On Ilkley Moor with adequate headgear

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Dot on Windgather Rocks

We left Norwich just after 11am on Friday, and despite a blockage on the A146 that we avoided by driving down country lanes, we arrived at the Ferini Gallery in Lowestoft in good time for the Arts and Eats session. Ian Fosten eventually put in an appearance, and Dot and I helped with some food-and-furniture-fetching from his house, taking the opportunity to say hello to his wife Bridget. Lovely weather: quite warm in a cold sort of way.

The session went well. I gave Lynn Mummery a bit of encouragement, and Ian didn’t need any, providing about as many poems as Lynn and myself put together. Good response generally. Unfortunately Dot and I had to rush away at the end to get on the road to Nottingham – a four-hour journey. That went reasonably well, largely because Dave E warned us of a huge delay on the M1. As a result we went up the A1 and into Nottingham from the east.

Evening meal with Evetts at an Italian restaurant in Stapleford. Julia coping with ankle injury very well. Left for Buxton after leisurely breakfast on Saturday, and after going wrong in Derby got on to the right road and went via the A38 to the A6. On Dave’s advice stopped at Monsal Head for a snack and a look at the stunning view (as advertised). As we approached Buxton we could see snow on the hills, and in town there was even snow on the streets. Went badly wrong on entering town (after getting petrol at Morrisons) and spent some time orienting ourselves before finding the hotel. Excellent meal after stroll into town to find station.

On Saturday we climbed through Buxton Country Park to Grin Low. Lots of snow at the top. Misty outlook: very atmospheric. On return had guided tour of Poole’s Cavern, which was impressive. Then back to the hotel to change (walk = just under five miles) and then drive to see Gareth near Belper. Drive not much fun – well over an hour, or more than an hour longer than Adrian’s estimate of 10 minutes. Lovely to see Gareth, Nicky, Grace and Max. House very impressive. Easier drive back. Another superb meal in hotel. Bad night, though.

Much nicer day on Monday: sunny and still. Through lack of adequate prep, drove to Whaley Bridge then back along Taxal Ridge, stopping at Windgather Rocks, which we climbed on to. Then down to Goyt Valley, from where we walked up past Errwood Hall ruins to Foxley Edge (diversion from main route). Afterwards drove along Goyt Valley – icy roads – and up to near Cat and Fiddle, then back to hotel, where we relaxed in room awaiting arrival of Barbara.

She arrived about 30 minutes late after missing her intended connection at Stockport. Another good meal at the hotel ensued, and I collapsed afterwards and went to sleep fully clothed, then again in pyjamas. Had quite a good night this time, and enjoyed another full English in the company of the waitress who recognised us from previous years. Left for Ilkley shortly before 11am: first part of journey was horrendous, along the A6 with numerous delays until we hit the M60 after a couple of attempts. Then much better, though even on the motorway the ubiquitous speed cameras made life difficult (long stretches where lights were being upgraded and a speed limit of 50 was enforced by average speed cameras).

Then another slow stretch round the outskirts of Bradford and along the A65 to Ilkley, which is a very pleasant town and a vast improvement on anything we had encountered on the journey. Arrived about 1pm and had lunch in a lovely little cafe run by an Italian. Then walked up to Information centre and dropped in at a clothes shop where I bought laces for my shoes and some thermal underwear. Eventually dropped Barbara and Dot off at school just after 3pm, which left me two and a half hours in which to amuse myself.

Ice on a pool at the summit of the Cow and Calf Rocks, near Ilkley

Started by going up to the cow and calf rocks and climbing up them (well, not the calf, obviously). Bitterly cold, so didn’t hang about, except to take a few photos. Then drove further up into the moor before returning to town. Called in at museum that I had looked up on the web, but it was half closed – the art gallery half – which was disappointing. Returned to original cafe and had a cup of tea and a muffin, then read a while before getting some fuel and returning to the school. I was on time, but Dot and Barbara did not emerge until 30 minutes later, by which time I was getting a mite chilly.

Set off for home about 6.30pm, and again the first part of the 230-mile journey was tiresome – very slow and visibility bad because of our faulty lights. After we hit the A1, however it was very straightforward: we drove all the way down to Huntingdon and then down the A14 as far as the Cambridge services, where we got a little food and Dot took over the driving. Home without further incidents. Weather conditions good, though cold.

Cold again today. I made a small attempt at catching up, then had to go out to North Walsham for a Paston session in the library, Discovered the librarian, Sue Lawrence, was the daughter of Mrs Hicks, mayor of Little London in my EDP column and a good friend of Mrs Cousens. She seemed pleased to see me. Jo and Rob also there for another researching local history session with Richard Hoggett. Refuelled the car in Norwich afterwards, refilled the screenwashers and watched a bit of TV. Now it’s started to snow, and more is forecast.

 

Superb walk at Lyme Park

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Julia, Dot and Dave on a bridge over the Macclesfield Canal, coming towards the end of our walk. We are headed for the ridge top right.

The best kind of wintry day: cold, but with sunshine and a certain stillness in the air. The weekend was much the same, and our longish walk at Lyme Park on Saturday was superb. We covered just under five miles, with a fair bit of ascent, and happily Dot and I were relatively untroubled by our recent ailments. I felt pretty well throughout. She had a slight ache in her back, but had no problem completing the walk, which left the car park at Lyme Park (which is in Cheshire and was used by the BBC in the filming of Pride and Prejudice) before heading over a low ridge and down to the Macclesfield Canal. We walked along the canal for about a mile and half and spent some time watching geese skating on the ice and eventually plunging through it. Then we headed back up over the hill to our start point.

We were actually staying in Derbyshire – at the Lee Wood Hotel in Buxton – with Dave and Julia Evetts. Unfortunately the excellent food there negated the slimming work achieved by the walk, and at the end of the weekend I found my weight had worsened rather than improved. So this morning I did another couple of miles. I am really too heavy now and am determined to take off about half a stone. Dot is quite keen to assist me in this.

Didn’t feel 100 per cent in Derbyshire and had to go to bed earlyish both nights, but we still had a very good time. However an ambulance was called for someone else and I think it must have hit our car, because there is a dent in the back wing. Rather irritating.

On the way north on Friday we called in at Coventry with Andrew’s new TV/DVD combi, which I managed to set up in his room after walking to the shops with Andrew to purchase an aerial lead. Bitterly cold, and at that point quite windy. The set-up was very easy, and Andrew seemed to get the hang of it. The Langleys staff, who seem to be taking a closer interest in Andrew than the previous owners did, have said they’ll make sure he can operate it. They also took him into the city so that he could buy some clothes last week.

Before Coventry we had called in on A Ethel to give her her birthday present and stayed for a while. She seems very frail, but looked better than she had a couple of weeks ago. Rosemary is out of hospital and recovering from pancreatitis.

Clear drive back from Derbyshire via Chesterfield and the M1 on Sunday. Stopped at Cambridge Services for a snack, and both felt very tired. Nevertheless I took Rupert to Lowestoft in the evening for another poetry reading event at the Seagull Theatre, while Dot relaxed at home in readiness for an early school visit today. The reading went quite well, though it was a mixed bag as usual. Host Ian Fosten in good form, except when he omitted me from part two by mistake, and I had to point it out to get my second three poems in. Quite a good reception: did a couple of light-hearted ones (Directions and At the Chemist’s) which provoked some laughter. Also did Careless Rain, Mother of a Year Six Boy, Denver Sluice and In Love with the Second Cello.