Date: 5th – 7th January 1996
Participants: Graham Beevor, Malcolm Duff, Howard Hillier-Daines, Drew Rush, Malcolm Rush, John Schmitt, Brian Shaw and Geoff Wright.
This year saw the start of a new age – ‘The Post Modern Era’, known affectionately to most people as the B&B years.
Malcolm D had suggested that instead of lugging rucksacks around the country and sleeping in tents, we should stay in a Bed and Breakfast and have the freedom to take on more challenging walks in areas that we had not previously been to. We could use the B&B as a base and drive out to a different location each day, instead of following one route over two days.
It would also enable Geoff, who had been absent for the last four years, to rejoin us.
The planning meeting continued to be held in early December at a pub in North Finchley. John agreed to take on the responsibility of organising accommodation and we agreed that for the inaugural event we would spend some time walking part of the Peak District.
There were eight of us that eventually set off for Castleton – Graham and Malcolm D drove. We had booked into The Rambler’s Rest, where Geoff and Malcolm D, and John and Brian were upstairs in twin rooms, whilst Graham, Howard, Malcolm R and Drew were in a large basement room that was later used as our communal lounge and meeting place.
Although we arrived late the ‘lounge’ was put to good use straight away, as we got out the map to check over the planned route for Saturday.
Saturday
The morning started with a good breakfast – what a change to sit around a table and be served, rather than huddling over a Primus stove wondering how long it would take for the water to boil.
We left the B&B and set off for the area east of Glossop. Our aim was to climb the hills to the Wain Stones, the highest point on the Pennine Way over Bleaklow.
We parked the cars in the woods called Lady Clough and prepared ourselves for the hike ahead.
It was cold, misty and damp.
We started with a climb up Birchin Clough and then, on a compass bearing, Nether Reddale Clough onto Alport Moor.
The higher we got the worse the weather conditions got. This did not deter us and we continued by following the ridge north-west above the steep slope to the River Alport onto Grains in the Water.
With hindsight, this is probably the last time we truly knew exactly where we were until later in the afternoon, when we reached Doctor’s Gate on our descent, as reflected on the route map shown above.
We were convinced that if we kept going in the right direction (approximately north-west) we were certain to find the Pennine Way that would guide us to the top. The route was hard going, up and down the peat hags with snowdrifts in the sheltered parts. The peat bogs were deep, at least 2m with some probably being 5m and sometimes interlinked, which coupled with the all enveloping mist made walking on a compass bearing virtually impossible. There was also some question as to whether it was being affected by magnetic rock, as is true near Kinder Scout.
Lunch was very uncomfortable – standing up in the cold and wet surrounded by peat and snow. It was apparent that some of us were a bit concerned that we might actually be lost – Malcolm R recalls:
“I remember being very cold and wondering what I’d let myself in for with the
move to more challenging hikes. At one stage I was a bit concerned but as always
it was good to have Graham and Geoff around to inspire confidence. I also think
that at one point we saw someone else out walking and that reassured us that we
weren’t completely off the beaten track”
We finally reached what we thought was our destination, but after some thought realised that we were probably at either Hern Stones or Dog Rock depending upon exactly how far we had drifted off course. It was also difficult to know whether we had crossed the Pennine Way before or after lunch.
Wherever we were, it was now time to head back, and we all agreed that the obvious escape route was to walk south. This we did and with visibility improving slightly as we came down the hill, we eventually crossed over the river onto Doctor’s Gate, an old roman road.
From there we followed the path east, knowingly crossed the Pennine Way, and reached Snake Pass (Part of the A57). It was then a straightforward walk along the road back to the cars.
What a wonderful introduction it had been to winter hiking away from the benign conditions of South East England.
Back at the B&B we were able to unwind. We watched some Rugby League on the television and took turns to have a shower. It was then off to the Olde Cheshire Cheese for something to eat and a few drinks.
Sunday
After breakfast we packed our gear into the cars that we left at the B&B as we followed the main road east out of town. We had planned a half-day hike before the long drive home.
Almost immediately we turned left up Hollowford Road and after about half a mile turned right to Spring House Farm. From there the climb became steeper as we followed the track / path to Crimea Farm and then just the footpath to the top of Lose Hill.
The weather was better than Saturday and we were able to enjoy some of the views.
Having recovered from the climb we made our way south-west along The Great Ridge Footpath past Black Tor.
The route ahead was clear and although not on our itinerary we could clearly see Mam Tor ahead with the Dark Peak to the north and the White Peak to the south.
As we approached Hollins Cross, Lose Hill and Black Tor were still clearly visible behind us.
It was time for another break and more time was spent soaking up the views.
From here we started our descent, looping south to the east of Mam Tor. As we approached the road that led into Castleton, we took the more direct route by following the footpath south-east.
It was not long before we were back at cars and ready for the journey home.
It had been a great weekend and one that we would never have enjoyed if we had not decided to change the format of the Annual Winter Hike.