Break out the emergency tiffin, squadron! Sunday 15 June 2014

An early-morning alarm clock’s bell can be a rude awakening even for the most seasoned of ramblers.  At this time of year, the long days at least mean that the sun is already up, which helps.  But the big reason for not throwing alarm clocks vigorously out of the window this particular morning was that one of Ian’s Derbyshire walks was in the pipeline.

Hmm, cheese sandwiches, you say?

Can I join in?

We started in the impressively picturesque village of Tideswell, complete with many a fine cake-shop (toffee tiffin!), and headed off into the rolling countryside.  A spot of drizzle cooled us down as we climbed hills out of Monsal, and before long we had found a friendly herd of cows to sit and eat lunch with (at one point they were rather too friendly, until a part-time cowboy who shall remain nameless drank a can of pop too fast, the inevitable sound effects happened, and a herd of bullocks fled from the scene).

Down in the dales, our afternoon diversion was a warmer walk, which of course justified an ice cream stop – where we were entertained by very sociable cats.  The rambling highlight for many of us was probably the return route via Cresswell Dale, an unspoilt valley full of orchids.  Yep, that was worth getting up for.

Of course, after all that exercise and intellectual stimulation, we all had to stop for a cream tea at the end.  Well, mens sana in corpore sano, and all that.

Cromford Mill and strange lights in the sky, 1 June 2014

Look - blue skies!

After a week of rain, the walking group arrived in Cromford under a dazzling blue sky.  Dazed by the sunshine, we gathered in the courtyard of the old mill complex and admired the early industrial architecture... until someone pointed-out that we were in the wrong place and needed to get down to the canal.

Huffa-puffa-huffa-puffa-chuff-chuff-chooooo (etc.)

With the full posse assembled, we coasted along the towpath and then, lulled into such a false sense of security, started up the old railway incline.  

Ramblers may not be as fast as trains, but from the look of the track-bed perhaps we have a little more endurance!

That endurance was needed soon enough, as we trekked through idyllic flower-strewn meadows and started to be lightly steamed by the suddenly oven-like conditions, slowing down to navigate heaving pools of cow dung (thankfully neither of the usual topplers fell in), and taking rather a lot of pictures of Highland cattle.

The scenery, in the gaps between sweat and sneezes, was magnificent – worth the trek in any weather.

New LRWG recruit no.1

Up the apples and pears...

Relief from the heat came in Bonsall, site of many reported UFO sightings which are nothing to do with the pub’s fine range of real ales, supposedly.  We didn't have any Close Encounters, even if a few of us were still baffled by a bright light in the sky (it really had been a long time since the sun shone).

LRWG new recruit no.2

We made it back to the mill just in time to top up fluids at the café and raise a teacup to toast Rob for leading us on this classic route once more!