27 of us set out from the Foxhouse proceeding across Totley Moor to the Trig Point before descending to Barbrook Bridge for a coffee break. See pic below (courtesy of Andrew). We then headed up hill passed Lady’s Cross, over the White Edge Ridge past White Edge Lodge and so down to lunch at the Grouse to celebrate Charles Knowles 90th birthday. Apart from those walking, others had either travelled by car or cycled to swell our number. 43 members past and present, plus Charles’s nieces and friends, sat down for an excellent lunch. We also were treated to a very tasty birthday cake, kindly made by Rosy.
Speeches then followed by Vanda, Paul and Charles who in turn was delighted to see everybody including his old friend the writer Hamish Brown, whom he had accompanied on many trips in the UK, the Alps, the Pyrenees, the Himalaya and especially the Atlas mountains of Morocco over the past 50 years, and who had travelled down from Fife in Scotland. Some of us then returned to the Fox House via the Longshaw estate, skirting round some logging loading on the main track.
A great occasion, a great turnout and pleasant sunny weather. For those walking to and from the Fox House, a distance of just over 6 miles.
Many thanks to all for making it a special day for Charles.
Pete

Andrew’s picture:

JB’s pictures:

 

Linda’s pictures:

five of us enjoyed what all agreed had been a brilliant day. weather continuing to improve from overcast to bright , warm sunshine with dry rock. lots of fun with small crawling challenges and scrambling on Hen Cloud and both lower and upper tiers of The Roaches,. The “torpedo tube” was specially enjoyed and lots of photos taken. views from the Skyline area were spectacular. lots of birdsong very much in evidence and thanks Richard P for identifying them.

The walk along the valley from Roach End produced a bit of mudnesss which needed a bit of care. We visited the crash sites of a Lancaster and later a German Junkers JU88. both were large bombers but little wreckage remains.

Return back to the cars was via the coll between Hen Cloud and The Roaches.

A couple of us took up Bill s kind invite for a coffee.

Gordon

5 of us including new members Kim and Mark enjoyed a steady and relaxed day . walking up the dale revealed considerable evidence of recent flooding but the path still easily passable. We had a good look at Mandale mine. By group decision we opted to do the longer 11 mile version of this walk. views from the plateau were as good as ever and the pleasant nature of Lathkill dale and Bradford dale.
A good day was finished with a brew in the local pub,
Gordon

Six met at Cawthorne village green and completed a six mile round of the parkland of Cannon Hall and Deffer woods. No rain as predicted, a few blue skies, good chat and easy going walking. An exploration of the historical village cafe was made at the end.
Hope to offer another Saturday walk next month.
Ali

Nine of us set off in better than predicted weather to scramble up and down some of the many Red Brooks which drain from the Kinder plateau. After trekking up Ashop Clough we ascended Upper Red brook with two of us shedding our rucksacks to wriggle through the chockstone finish. Joy at reaching our high point at the trig point was short-lived. We then had to make a steep descent to Mermaid’s Pool and scrambled back up to the plateau via Red Brook No 2. Whilst the majority enjoyed their sandwiches, Phil led a few of us down an exciting scramble to a hidden cave right on the lip of Kinder Downfall. We concluded that it might have been preferable on a day when the waterfall was not blowing back up the cliff! After a bog trot across the plateau we descended Nether Red Brook and returned to the cars via Ashop Clough.
An enjoyable day out which kept us away from the Sunday crowds and revealed some of Kinder’s hidden secrets. Paul.

Paul’s pics

Rick’s pics

An excellent meet in a comfortable hut, a beautiful location and fantastic weather.
On Saturday we woke to blue skies and great conditions. After some toing and froing dropping off enough vehicles at the end of the ridge-10 of us set out to do a full traverse of the Nantley ridge in perfect conditions. The initial ascent from the hut to Y Garn was pretty brutal, but the remainder of the ridge was straightforward enough with 2 scrambles and 6 summits. A modest length of 8 miles, but some 3,360 feet of ascent overall made some legs feel weary at the end! The views across to Snowdon and the Moelwyns to the east and over the coast on the west easily compensated for any discomfort.
Back at the ranch a team of cooks led by master chef Leon prepared a great communal curry with a complimentary aperitif of good quality port. The curry was followed by a fresh fruit salad, gateau and Christmas pudding-all washed down with liberal amounts of alcohol.
The drinking and socialising continued in front of the fire in the lounge afterwards-but it all proved too much for the meet leader who had to be woken from his slumbers on the settee after everybody else had gone to bed!
On Sunday the clear weather continued, but with a strong northerly wind and some verglas on rocks in exposed locations. The party split into different groups, with mountain biking, an ascent of Moel Hebog and an ascent of Yr Aran.
A great week-end.
Thank you to all who came for your company and help with the catering and hut management.
Mike D

Eight of us met at Calton Lees to the shocking news that since there is a half term in the month free parking had been suspended. Once I felt I had grovelled enough I led off towards Beeley. After being told off by a farmer for straying off the footpath, I started to feel that this was not my day. However the weather and the company were both good and things began to get better even though an attempt to avoid a known bog resulted in an abrupt U turn at a totally flooded point. Stand Wood wasn’t too busy. despite the school holiday, and we stuck to the lesser used paths to avoid crowds. On leaving one section we were taken aback to find a farm cart full of kids with water pistols heading our way, they were meant to be shooting at sheep targets in the trees but ‘hey’. After admiring various clumps of snowdrops in Edensor we passed 2 large herds of deer one Roe, one Red on our way back to the car park. Having shunned the Chatsworth cafes on the grounds that they had enough of our money for one day 4 of us retired to the garden centre cafe for coffee and delicious freshly baked cheese scones.
Thanks to those who turned out and paid up, it was worth a fiver to walk with you.
Lin.