Weekend in Eskdale

Last weekend, 18 November, Mrs G and I trundled up to Eskale for a long weekend with my brother and niece and some of their families, our daughter and some of her family. The weather was very kind, the cottage we all stayed in was first class, the walks were short but with a high injury count. With three good pubs within a mile we drank and dined well.

Against advice, on the way up on Friday we drove over Wrynose and Hardnott Pass, which was great fun in the mist and drizzle. The views were fantastic unfortunately because of the poor light they did not quite translate into wonderful photos.

Saturdays walk from Boot was along the path past Christcliffe towards Eel Tarn, down to the Woolpack then via Doctor Bridge and Low Birker to the Stanley Force waterfalls and back along the road to Boot.

 On Sunday we walked along the road to Beckfoot Bridge, up the zigzag path to Blea Tarn over the side of Blea Tarn Hill and back to Boot.

The journey home on Monday was a tour of Wastwater, Cockermouth, Keswick, Ambleside and Windermere. Of these the highlight was Wastwater with the light and the clouds it was beautiful followed by a lovely drive out to Gosforth passing through the small settlements that lay beneath Seatallon.

It was a great weekend catching up with everyone, enjoying some highly amusing moments, thoughtful reminiscences, exchanging news, making plans for future visits and meets. Walking rightly came second this weekend.

Ambergate to Crich Stand

Date : 30 October 2011

Area : Peaks

Walk : Ambergate, Crich

Start At :Ambergate

End At : Ambergate

OS Sheet : OL 24 & Explorer 269

Distance (M/k) : 7.25 / 11.25

Ascent (ft) : 959

Descent (ft) : 949

Route
These notes are provided to enable the walk to be plotted on a 1:25,000 map.

From Ambergate Station car park (Pay & Display) walk down the approach road, left under the bridge,turn right, North, on the A6. Take the first footpath on the right and up on to the canal towpath, at the next bridge cross over the bridge, follow path across Crich Chase to a road, left to junction, right to path on left, through housing towards Crich Church. Head for the Tramway Museum, turn right and take track on left to Crich Memorial. Proceed along a path north to Wakebridge Farm and out to the road. Straight across, down to another road, across and down to the Canal, follow the towpath back to Ambergate.

Journey

Without a doubt Sunday’s weather here in the East Midlands was certainly unseasonal, being warm and sunny with high clouds and blue skies from mid-morning through to late afternoon.


Due to various problems, illnesses, other commitments Andy and I have not been out walking since we got back from our Lakes walk. However we both felt that a shorter gentler walk was the order for today. On Friday I searched around on the internet for walks through or near Crich eventually coming up with three likely ones. I plotted these on to the digital map and morphed them into this walk.

As soon as we got off the road and on to the canal we could feel it was going to be a good walk, the climb up and across Crich Chase was through quite dense woodland still green with some autumn colours here and there. It was very pleasant, quiet and peaceful. Our route into Crich took us through a housing estate bypassing the village centre, next time I’ll cut across the bottom of the village and come over to the top of the road from Bullbridge, walking more through the centre.

Just before we reached the Tramway Museum we stopped in a Tearoom for tea and a slice of excellent Banana cake.

Andy and I have both been in the East Midlands since the late 1970’s and although we have passed by Crich Stand on foot and by car, this would be our first visit to the memorial.

Crich Memorial is dedicated to the fallen of the Sherwood Foresters it is a truly beautiful location, wonderfully well-kept and very moving, The immediate setting of the tower surrounded by the natural humps and hollows of the hilltop now softened by well mown lawns, memorial plaques, the flag flying proud, the surrounding views and the tower itself make this a serene place for visitors and very fitting memorial for the men honoured here.

Indeed, unlike any other war memorial I have ever visited I felt it had a military feel about it, as if it’s actually been made for soldiers, not just for those who come to remember. I am not sure I have expressed what I felt accurately, but for me, an ex-soldier, it felt a something like belonging.

We walked on in a touch solemn mood, which lifted as we reached where the footpath crosses the tramlines from the tramway museum at the point where the lines terminate. We waited around here for a few minutes until a tram came up the line and stopped.The driver got out fiddled about with poles, handles and seats before the tram went back.

Passing Wakebridge Farm we crossed the Crich Holloway road, dropping into an enchanted wooded valley, with sprinkling brooks, rocky bits and side paths into small enclosed quarries with sheer rock faces. The trees here had changed from green to a golden yellow curtain, which was back lit by the sun from the south west creating a wonderful atmosphere. On another day the valley might appear dark and brooding, on Sunday we were lucky.

A steady stroll along the canal, stop for lunch, pause to watch the ducks who by their antics seem to think it was spring already.

Then back to the car and off for a pint or two.