HASSRA Leeds Rambling Club

WINTER WALKING WEEKEND IN BAKEWELL, DERBYSHIRE

4 – 6 December 2009

The weekend started off in Hathersage, a pretty small town in Derbyshire, with a very nice café above a hiking shop where we ate lunch before meeting up with the rest of the rambling party ready to roll, as it were. It was Andy and I’s first trip with the Rambling Club and we were made to feel very welcome.

Friday afternoon’s walk was a round trip of about 7 miles from Hathersage, up onto Stanage Edge, a high limestone ridge overlooking the valley, along to Burbage Edge and then back down over the moors into Hathersage again. A lovely walk, fabulous views all round and we passed ‘North Lees’– the three storied house that evidently inspired Emily Bronte to write ‘ Jane Eyre’.

We ended our walk as night fell but we were dry!

Our hotel was The Rutland, in the very centre of Bakewell. Both hotel and the town were wonderfully trimmed up for the Christmas Period, adding a festive, almost Dickensian atmosphere. It was a very traditional hotel which added to the effect. The food was exceptionally good as was the service we received. Our room was very comfortable and cosy and I would highly recommend The Rutland for a break.

Saturday’s ramble was from Edale, just over the ridge from Castleton. The challenge came at the beginning, climbing up the long long ascent from Edale to the high ridge overlooking Castleton. The task was made harder by the wonderful breakfast just a while earlier. After climbing the ridge we walked along to the east, wonderful views to both sides of us, down into the valley north of Hope and back up onto Hope Brink and to Whin Hill. Our aim was to walk to Hathersage and to catch the train back to Edale to our cars. We had a choice of the 3.30 or the 4.30 train. Hence that final leg down the valley to Hathersage turned into a mad dash through heavily muddied areas finally reaching the station at 3.26!!!! But we did it and the rain then came on in buckets! But we were dry, again. Saturday evening meal was an unexpected treat – a Christmas Dinner - which I am sure we all thoroughly enjoyed.

On Sunday, we spent a couple of hours walking on Stanton Peak, closer to Bakewell. This was very interesting, having been a Bronze Age settlement. There were Nine Maiden Rocks remaining and a short distance away, the Cork Stone. This are had also been a quarry and there was a tall tower overlooking the valley, presumably a folly. As we finished this ramble, the rain came again but we had reached the cars!

It was a lovely weekend, we thoroughly enjoyed both the walks and the company and look forward to meeting everyone again.

Carol Shillings