To walk or not to walk?

To walk or not to walk, that was the question.

Just over a week to go until our 3 peaks challenge and the above was running through my mind. What if I turned my ankle took a fall and injured myself, what if I stumbled on a rock and fell…..yeah, what if!!!

Life’s a gamble and there’s only one certainty, at some point, some day it’s going to end. So what do you do? Hide away? Wrap yourself in cotton wool? Or get out there and enjoy it? The choice is yours. My choice was to go walking and so was Matt’s.

Where to go was the next question, last time when we just picked a start point and made it up as we went along proved to be pretty popular, well, with Matt and me it did. Start point chosen, the very charmingly named Cutthroat Bridge near Ladybower Reservoir. Pulling up at the lay-by near our start point, Matt’s face lit up, he’d spotted a burger van. So while I was lacing up the boots, he was pestering a rather cold looking burger/bacon/hot dog sales executive. He must have been the first customer of the day because it took quite a while for him to come back with a cob (it’s a cob, not a balm cake, roll or bap) and a coffee, which he polished off pretty quickly whilst deftly lacing up his boots.

We set off along the edge of the A57 and crossed it at the bridge. I had a rough idea where we were heading, but there were lots of options open, a full circuit, half circuit, walk by the reservoir or not, choices, choices. We started gaining height over fairly sodden ground at a decent pace, when I started getting pains in my shin area, like a sort of cramp and what was worse, it wouldn't go away. We reached Whinstone Lee Tor where I had to stop (a) to take some photos and (b) to adjust my boots, hopefully to ease the cramping in my shin. Whatever I did, it helped and the cramping feeling left as soon as it appeared.

Ladybower Reservoir from Whinstone Lee Tor.

The views were excellent, looking out over Ladybower Reservoir, over to Hope and Kinder Scout. There were low clouds, but this was making way for sunshine…..yet again brilliant weather (will I ever get to use my waterproofs). It was a bit breezy walking along the edge, as we passed some curiously shaped and named rock formations, Wheel stones, Salt Cellar, Dovestone Tor and Cakes of Bread. All the time, the views got better and better, being able to see clearly for 360 degrees was fantastic, especially at Back Tor which was the highest point we’d reach that day. It was here that we had to re fold the map to work out where to head next and for Matt to reach inside his rucksack and pull out….yes you guessed, a Ginsters. This time, it was a Peppered Beef slice, although he admitted that the Spicy chicken one was his favourite. I had a cereal bar L.

Wheelstone rocks.

Another odd shaped rock.

Cakes of bread.

We chose our next route and instead of following the blindingly, bleeding obvious path, we traipsed across the heather, noticing the error of our ways, we soon made our way back to the path. If anyone had been watching, our excuse was that we getting in some practice for Grouse beating for the local shoot. It must be trig points that confuse us, or ley lines…or holding the map the wrong way around.

We passed the Cairn at Lost Lad and headed towards Sheepfold Clough, where we would descend to Abbey Brook and follow this to Upper Derwent  Reservoir. All pretty standard really, beautiful countryside, babbling brooks and glorious weather. On reaching the edge of the reservoir, we decided that instead of walking alongside the waters, we would go back up to the high ground. A few spots of rain fell….that was all. We started the climb up Abbey Bank, which was steep and energy sapping until we arrived at Bamford House, it’s not really a house, more a collection of stones. We decide to stop for something to eat here and sat overlooking Derwent Reservoir when a light aircraft flew along the length of the water banking and turning as it went, if it had been a Lancaster Bomber I think I would have burst with pride, next time maybe.

A not so 'famous grouse'.

Re fuelled and ready to get going again we again decided to head for the high ground rather than down towards the waters edge. Matt must have had some serious energy food because he was on mission, striding out at a serious pace. Following in his wake, I managed to keep pace with him over the boggy, energy draining ground, occasionally stopping for a short breather until we reached the top edge just south of Back Tor. He admitted later that he was trying to see how fast he could walk, well the old git kept up with him. Keeping at a decent pace we walked back the way we had come across Derwent Edge, still marvelling at the now even clearer views under sunny skies. 

Back on the edge.

By now I was setting the pace and felt as good as I have ever done during the day, which must mean that I’m getting fitter, which is just as well really.

Walk done, 21.5km, no injuries, no blisters and no burger van when we got to the car, hey, you can’t have everything.

So, last walk before our big day next week, have they helped? Oh yes. Have we enjoyed them? Most definitely. Will we complete the 3 peaks next week…..you’ll have to follow us on the website to find out.

You can keep up with our progress on the 3 peaks challenge on Friday 12th October through twitter or facebook, both which feed onto the website.

http://www.3peaksin24hours.co.uk/

Chris