03/03/2012 - Training Walk#6 - A foray into The Peak District

It was nice to see Lee was awake, breakfasted and dressed when Mark picked him up at 8am (we said we'd keep ribbing him for being late once didn't we?). We drove the short distance from his house to the car park on the Staffordshire Way in Rushton Spencer (conveniently close to the Knot Inn, purveyors of fine ales but I digress...)

The weather forecast had suggested rain, brightening later and judging by the look of the sky it looked like we might be in for a right dumping. Mark donned his waterproof overtrousers as a precaution (more on this later...)   We thought we'd try the MapMyHike iPhone app but unfortunately there was absolutely zero mobile signal so no live tracking this time.

At the point of leaving the car park, the mist had come down quite quickly so we couldn't see the mast on Croker Hill (our second hill) in the distance. Golden Hill, was the first target so we set off at a decent pace enjoying the gradual incline.

A conduit apparently.

Descending down to the Dane Valley Way and the River Dane itself we spotted three buzzards ominously circling (surely they didn't think we'd be lunch?) before crossing a feature labelled as a 'conduit' on the map. 

Looking like a mini-canal we assumed it was something to do with conveying water from the reservoirs towards the Macclesfield Canal itself, though it didn't look too well maintained.

Are we there yet?

On crossing the River Dane, the upward trajectory began towards Golden Hill.This we found relatively straightforward and a decent climb though as the mist came, it became harder to work out just where the top was. At last the peak approached, but alas no, it was a just a precursor as we walked along the ridge. Another peak approached, "This must be it" Mark suggested but again no, as we approached the top a further hill loomed into view, but again no. At the fourth attempt we reached the real peak but given the mist, there was no view to speak of.

Sure, it's big but can you get Sky Sports?

We descended Golden Hill to head for Croker Hill the highest point on the training walk and still the mast remained invisible in the mist. Eventually as we approached from about 200yards the mast loomed large out of the mist. Having previously believed this to be a TV mast, the clear BT signs all the boundary suggested otherwise. Nobody home but a vast amount of cabling, dishes and backup generators. Thankfully no interference on the GPS either. Having reached our first target at 1hr 54mins a good 10 minutes ahead of schedule we broke out the energy bars and headed down the hill towards Bosley Reservoir just as the things started to brighten up. A herd of deer broke out of cover and ran right through the nearby field but too quick for me and the camera - maybe next time.

The distant Cloud beyond Bosley Dam

We reached Bosley at 2hrs 30mins which was bang on our timing. Bosley Reservoir is owned by British Waterways and was built to supply water to the Macclesfield Canal. As we walked the perimeter path there were plenty of fishermen lazily sat at the side of the lake enjoying the sunshine which was starting to appeal given that my waterproofs were now causing me to sweat and becoming uncomfortable so time to get rid. No easy task, propped against a low wall, removing gaiters then boots all covered in mud. A good 10 minutes lost before getting going towards the dam.

Do you think the natives are friendly?

A small wrong turn (the OS map hadn't been updated - thats my story and I'm sticking to it) had us crossing the outfall from the reservoir (and sure enough it discharged into a conduit) and climbing a barbed wire fence which had inconveniently been put in our way. We then found the correct kissing gate we should have come through (but the map WAS wrong!) though the natives were helpful.

The church at Bosley

Crossing the fields we came to the village of Bosley itself. A lovely little village but unfortunately no time to explore, we had to press on to the Nemesis that is The Cloud. 

The steep face of The Cloud

Now I had thought (wrongly) that we had been up The Cloud every which way but Lee knew a different way, a way which was manageable up the sheer face without ropes and crampons. Now at this point, about 15km in Mark was beginning to feel the effects of the previous ascent/descent. The legs had turned to lead resulting in several stops to catch his breath as we began the ascent. At one point Lee suggested perhaps leaving The Cloud out altogether on this occasion to spare Mark's oxygen deficiency but determination won through in the end albeit reaching the trig point 25minutes after our planned 4 hour target. 

 

Croker Hill - have we really come from there?

Another carb bar scoffed and we hit the descent making steady progress knowing there were no more ascents (this time) on the way back to the pub...I mean car. Gradually descending through fields and woodland we picked up the Staffordshire Way and the former railway that would take us back to the Knot Inn...I mean Rushton Spencer...where the car is parked...yes. 

Incoming! Hailstones at 3 o'clock

At this point we got hit with a sudden unexpected hail shower and thats right, Mark's waterproofs were now snugly in his backpack. After persisting down for about 5 minutes and duly soaking the side of our walking trousers, the Knot....I mean Rushton Spencer came into view and the chance to get out of our gear to enjoy a pint of their finest (mineral water).

The stats for this walk can be found here.

10 Things we learned on this walk:

1. Taping the vulnerable areas of your feet and toes with zinc oxide tape certainly seems to protect. No signs of blisters or chafing and no soreness underfoot.

2. Your feet can slide forward in your boots as you go downhill causing pain to the ends of your toes though this seems to be mitigated by 1. above.

3. We seem to be using about 500ml of water per hour at the moment.

4. We need to find waterproof bottoms which can easily be removed and put back on again without losing too much time.

5. Mark doesn't like hilly bits.

6. When Lee says, "This is a nice little incline...", you're in for pain, lots and lots of pain.

7. Mark hates really hilly bits

8. Lee is part mountain goat and part gazelle

9. Knowing there is a pint of ale at the end of the walk is a surprising incentive.

10. Hailstones really hurt when they are driven into the side of your face - but unlikely weather in July.