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Seven of us gathered at Peak Forest in gloriously warm sunshine, and with suntan lotion applied [three were wearing shorts – it must be summer!] we set off southwards on this supposedly familiar 7 mile walk. After safely navigating the not very obvious path over Loose Hill, we encountered the first of the day’s challenges – a missing stile and an electrified fence to get over. Safely done, it was then an easy stroll along a quiet road and down to Dale Head, before the coffee stop surrounded by flowers on the banks of the pretty grass track above Peter Dale. Around Hargatewall, a lack of signposts, long grass hiding the presumed paths that others hadn’t used for a long while, and well-hidden stiles, had us dithering about which way to go, but eventually we found the correct line of stiles [one particularly challenging one needing an ‘au cheval’ approach] leading up to our lunch stop, with yet another amazing field of 1000’s of dandelions, like a sea of yellow.. Rather than just repeat the same previous walks of 2022 and 2023, this meet leader suggested a slight extension taking in Wormhill Hill, but we hadn’t allowed for a large slightly intimidating group of over-friendly cows blocking our safe passage, necessitating a retreat and joining the Pennine Bridleway further along the road. There followed a delightful descent to the junction of Monk’s Dale and Peter Dale, to briefly join the Limestone Way heading northwards along Peter Dale and then Hay Dale, with its numerous cowslips.. Beginning to flag now in the heat, and realising this was certainly a longer walk than originally planned, we walked up Dam Dale and the final grassy uphill section towards Peak Forest with cows yet again blocking the stile we wanted, but thankfully a diversion through open gates led us safely to the main A623 road and a welcoming pub with ice cold drinks.
Thank you Paul, Chris, Andy, John, Bron and Nick for your great company, and lack of grumbling about the eventual 8 and 1/2 miles we did.
Vanda Boyd
Vanda’s photos:
Bron’s photos:
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