Snow snow, snow snow snow snow, snow snow snow snow, snow snow there’s no limit: Castleton, 10 February 2012

Up with the lark, except there weren’t any larks, because in Leicestershire it was grey, drizzly and wholly uninspiring.  But, today was a day to walk in the Peak District, and whatever the weather’s doing here, it’s usually doing something else there.  So, we gritted our teeth and headed out to Derbyshire, and we were right, as just after Chesterfield grey gave to white.  In Castleton, it was a snowy paradise.

The fine views of the valley got better as we climbed, and naturally there was a deep coat of snowflakes all over the Devil's Arse.  By the top of Mam Tor, we were in a near white-out, but Claire had her compass out and we stayed on the right track – until we just had to pause to make a snowman and temptation got the better of us.

Down the hill through a combination of slithering, sliding and sledging on our derrières – waterproof trousers are a wonderful thing.  Welcome drinks by a cosy fire, and home after another excellent day of trekking in the surprisingly Alpine East Midlands.