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3 of us from Fulwood and 1 from Hathersage travelled together but overestimated the journey time to Longnor “its in Staffordshire you know” but enjoyed a pre-walk coffee in Cobbles Cafe. At 9.45 a car load of Family Smith arrived, more than doubling our numbers and almost halving the party’s average age. It drizzled lightly, as per forecast, and we made our way through fields of long wet grass before crossing the ridge line near Top Farm and descending to cross the infant R. Dove via stepping stones and a rickety hand rail. The precipitation became heavier as we approached Crowdecote and those of us who had not previously donned waterproofs now did so, in the hopes that this would placate the rain gods.(Eventually it did).
Now followed a breezy ascent of High Wheeldon, the first of 4 hills on today’s route. This stretched the party out a bit but all foregathered at the summit and admired the view northwards where our route next lay. Before we had followed it very far we arrived at Aldery Cliff where two men, one carrying a large sledgehammer, were just emerging from the environs of the crag. There appeared to have been a rockfall on the right section of the crag.
After a short walk up the road we arrived at the Quiet Woman and decided on lunch on the village green which allowed access to supplementary refreshment for those who wished. After this fortification we felt able to tackle Parkhouse and Chrome hills in quick succession, although the slippery conditions meant care (and backsides) needed to be employed.
We now had just Hollins Hill left and took afternoon tea in the basin shaped summit tumulus. The weather had cleared up now and the views back were very rewarding. A descent to Hollinsclough and a reascent of a knobbly bridleway led to the minor road back to Longnor.
12.3 miles and quite a bit of up and down. Thanks to all for the company. Frank Mellor.

Driving out of Sheffield through a cloudburst, the meet leader nearly lost faith in the BBC weather app. It was still trying to drizzle at the Robin Hood, and two other early arrivals retired to Baslow for a weather-improving coffee. A successful strategy. By midday there were 8 of us at play: Gordon R, Julian, John, John, Vanda, Paul, Leon, Bill – and Scout of course. The afternoon saw plenty of routes done – and some of the forecast sunny intervals. A good day – even if the pub does close at 4 on Sundays.John.

Birchen Edge 21 Aug 2016. Photo: Chris Kell

Birchen Edge 21 Aug 2016. Photo: Chris Kell

Birchen Edge 21 Aug 2016. Photo: Chris Kell

Birchen Edge 21 Aug 2016. Photo: Chris Kell

Birchen Edge 21 Aug 2016. Photo: Chris Kell

What a great weekend. Thanks for the good company round the campsite and on the crags. Decent limestone, not very polished, even the classics. Entertainment was also found on the water. Dave C brought his blow up canoe, and Marianne was willing to try something new!! Ask them about their exploits!!!
Leon suggested Symonds yat for Saturday. David and I have had little luck there previously but the new guide explained why. One of the VSs we tried then, was now E2 5c!, Another was upgraded to E1 …..Loved the place this time and cherry picked clean and good lines.
Stayed down until Thursday and as no rain, climbed every day!
Below is a hit list of our favourite routes in each grade that we have done in the last couple of years. VD to E1. What are yours? Time for another visit??
Shorncliffe=sh, Windtours Leap=wl, Wyndcliff=wynd. Symonds yat=sy.
VD. 1. Central route 111, 68m, wl. 2.snoozing suzie,40m, sy. 3.Acoustic, 20m, sh.
4. Bottle buttress 75m, wl.
S. 1. Central rib route 1, 68m, wl. 2. Joyces route 15m, sy. 3. Golden fleece 24m, sy.
4. Vertigo, 15m, sy.
HS. 1. The Phoney Wars,24m, sh. 2. Johns route,60m, wl. 3. Zelda,55m, wl. 4. Indecisive
Victory, 15m, sh.
VS. 1. Whitt, 37m, sy. 2. Cadillac 30m, Wyndcliff, 3. Nibelheim, 87m, wl. 4. Heavy plant crossing,
17m, sh.or iron curtain,sh. or exchange, 24m, sy.
HVS. 1. Red rose speedway, 32m, sy. 2. No muskeeters, 28m, sh, 3. Laughing cavaliers28m, sh
(and all the other routes on this wall!!) 4. Tigers don’t cry, 18m, sh.
E1. 1. Motion pictures 21m, sh. 2. Side effects, 20m, sh, 3. The bone, 18m, sh. 4. Stress arete,
23m, sy.
E2. ……….next year?????
Good night! Linda.

A good gang of us set off up the lovely limestone. Some had had little experience on limestone, but with perseverance achieved great things. Worth trying instead of the local grit. Got us ready for the Wye valley. Linda.

A great location for a glorious day looking down Grindsbrook to Edale, the Lose Hill to Mam Tor ridge behind and the Peak District stretching off southwards behind that. The rock was rough and the climbing very good, although gardening is needed on some routes. The climbs done were generally agreed to be ‘awkward’ at some point, tough for the grade which is acknowledged in the definitive guidebook. The routes also seemed to require a variety of techniques that cannot be learnt or finessed ‘down the wall,’ mainly involving jamming of various body parts from fingers through insecure wide hands to full body and chimneying. An excellent day out rounded off with a welcome pint in the Old Nags Head.
David

We caught the shuttle bus to Kings Tree (free as we all had our pensioners’ bus passes). We started up Linch Clough and took a good track to the top of Lower Small Clough. A slight drop to cross Grinah Grain was followed by a climb up to Grinah Stones, the first of the Seven, where we paused for a coffee break and to admire the view. A short flat section brought us to Barrow Stones and our highest point of the day (1927 ft). We dropped down to cross the River Derwent and ascended the opposite bank to Swains Head. Heading east, on a pathless section, we passed Dean Head Stones and Shepherds Meeting Stones. After lunch at some unnamed (on the map) stones, we crossed Coldwell Clough, following a new fence and crossing numerous groughs, to reach the impressive Horse Stone.

Following better paths now, we knocked off Crow Stones and Bull Stones, completing the Seven, and pushed on to Cut Gate. The next stop was Margery Hill, a chance for a photo, cup of tea and (in one case) a snooze. The final high section was along Howden Edge and over High Stones before dropping down to the bottom of Abbey Brook where we stopped to read about the hydro scheme which is being installed there, which will make use of some old disused water pipes. After a final mile and a half on the flat, by the reservoir, we arrived back at Fairholmes.

A great day out on our local moors, and we had it almost to ourselves. We only saw two other people until we got near Margery Hill. We rounded off proceedings with a pint at the Ladybower Inn.

15 miles, 2350 feet of ascent, 8 hours.

Andy

Grinah Stones

Horse Stone

Crow Stones

Margery Hill

At Dean Head Stones (photo: Sean)

Apologies for the weather forecast, it was not correct. Myself Gordon and Tina did a couple routes and were then frightened off by a small squall which in fact never came to anything, in fact weather fine from 10.30 to 5pm. Confusius say don’t take any notice of the weather forecast in future!
Bill

10 of us gathered for this meet in Langdale, some on the quiet and luxurious National Trust campsite, others in the nearby Fell and Rock club hut. On Saturday, some went climbing, either on Gimmer Crag [cold and windy] or the lower and warmer Raven Crag. A group of 5 decided to scramble up the beautiful Crinkle Gill, using a variety of climbing techniques [see pictures] eventually finishing along the ridge and Pike of Blisco. In the evening we gathered outside the New Dungeon Ghyll, entertained by, and applauding, the passing ‘Iron’ men and women completing their final marathon section towards Ambleside. Sunday saw more climbing; 3 did alternate leads on a 3 pitch route on Raven Crag, while 2 others went to Upper Scout Crag where they ended up practising their abseil technique from a convenient tree. Others headed for coffee and the shops of Ambleside, before rain encouraged all of us homewards. Vanda Boyd

Addendum. I’d had problems posting my first Langdale Meet report with several pictures attached, so had rewritten it again from memory to send it successfully without pictures this time, but then omitted mention of Marianne on her 1st away meet with the club, who, electing for the supposedly easier option of a valley walk, ended up walking the furthest [12 miles] and she also managed to include one of the club traditions of finding a great café for coffee and cake to sustain herself.
Vanda Boyd

Having read Simon’s climbing report I can only add that the conditions were more suited to walking too! However when I ,as meet leader, arrived at Lineacre Reservoir I found one other member only-so we set out “a deux”.
Initially there were odd spots of rain filtering through the trees,but after the preliminaries and we reached the main road the spots of rain became a deluge which continued for the next 2 hours as we ploughed through fields of wet long grass and climbed gingerly over slippery wooden stiles and negotiated slippery mud banks.
There no anglers at the fish ponds in Barlow and, in fact, we encountered no other walkers all day.
By lunch,however, the rain had stopped.We continued past Cartledge Hall and traversed below Holmesfield before reaching the Cordwell valley floor.Fighting our way through the vegetation we began the steady climb through Meekfield Wood and so onto Barlow Grange.By this point the clouds had lifted enough to allow us to enjoy distant views to Chesterfield in the south and to Owler Bar and beyond in the north.
Our waterproofs had long since been been discarded and our damp clothes were largely dry as we descended past Birley farm and then followed the valley back to Lineacre where a group of frisky bullocks gave chase.
Undaunted we continued into the woods and were back at the cars for 5.30p.m.
An enjoyable day in tranquil countryside and deep conversation.
Mike