Peak District Walks Whilst Stayng at Leek 3th - 15th October 2022

Walk 1.

 Tittesworth Reservour from the Red Lion in Leek Thursday 13th October 2022.

The start of our walk today.

The Roaches, Hen Cloud and Ramshaw Rocks

We always knew Ed likes playing games!

Tittesworth Reservoir from our lunch spot.

Distant views of a Chinnook heicpter.

Rabbit feeding by the Tittesworth Reservoir,

Tittesworth Reservoir from the road bridge to Meerbrook.

Distant views of Suttlingsloe.

Brindley Water Mill, Leek.

Distance: 8.0 miles. Climb: 1000'.

Time:  hours 0 minutes. O the move walking vrage 2.6m.p. Overall walk average: 2.0 m.p.h.

Temperature: 17.2 Celsius, although it felt a lot warmer in the sunshine.

Beaufort Wind Force: 0 - 1. Calm to light air, occasionally reaching 3.2 m.p.h.

Group: Martyn, Mike and Ed.

We arrived at the apartment in Leek at 10-35, five minutes after the time we were allowed to go in.

After taking all our gear into the apartment, we set off from the Red Lion in Leek on the first of our walks.

The route description was pretty good, although it wasn't clear as we approached the entrance of the Leisure Centre, but it wasn't long before we were back on track.

Just after Wardle Barn Farm we got our first views of The Roaches, Hen Cloud and Ramshaw Rocks, reminding some of us of the days we had enjoyed walking over them.

The shock of the day was seeing how low the water level was in the Tittesworth Reservoir, it being only just over 25% full.

The facilites at the Visitor Centre and surrounding area  have much improved - I now know why my water bills are so high!

Another surprise as we had lunch was seeing a Chinnock helicopter flying over the reservoir.

Throughout the rest o the walk we had good distant views of nearby hills and even Shutlingsloe.

Birds seen or heard today included: anada goose, Mute swan, European robin, Mallard, Rook, House sparrow and Common blackbird.

A good start to our three days in Leek, later celebrated with a pint or two of Hartington Bitter at the friendly characterful Wilkes Head in Leek.

Walk 2 

The Great White Shark.

The start of our walk in Longnor.

Distant views of the main objective of the walk today.

The trig point on Sheen Hill - only to look at, not bagged!

Approaching the site Pilsbury Castle.

Who's that on Pilsbury Rok.

Parkhouse Hill and Chrome Hiil as we descended Hitter Hill.

Resting on Parkhouse Hill.

I don't like the look of that!

It's great to be on a grassy slope like this.

Mike's view of Chrome Hill.

The rain is getting closer to Chrome Hill

Distance: 11.2 miles (13 miles). Climb: 1800' (2100').

Time: 6 hours 34 minutes (7 hours) On the move walking average: 2.3 m.p.h. Overall walk average: 1.7 m.p.h. (1.9 m.p.h.

Temperature. Max - 18.6 Celsius. Min - 12.2 Celsius.

Beaufort Wind Force: Max 4 - a moderate breeze reaching 12.1 m.p.h.

Group: Martyn, Mie and Ed.

It wasn't an easy drive across the moors from Leek to Longnor, but thankfully it lifted as we arrived at the start.

Throughout the morning, the weather was superb for walking, warm and sunny and not much wind.  We kept on getting good views of the Great White Shark (Parkhouse Hill and Chrome Hill.

Lunch was taken near Pilsbury Castle, where basked in the warm ssunhine.As we approached Eark Sternsdale it befan to rain and the wind started to pick up, reaching a moderate breeze of 14.2 m.p.h. on Parkhouse Hill.

The climb up Parkhouse Hill wasn't pleasant, but the path descending the north west side of the hill was far too precipitous for m liking and we ended up retracing our steps - not an enjoyable experience - never to be reapeated!

We eventually escaped onto a path that gently descended around the east side of th hill eventually arrving at the road below Chrome Hill.

At this point two of us decided to head back to Longnor, missing out Chrome Hill.  Only Mike continued over Chrome Hill, seeing no-one else and having to cope with the intermittent rain.

Ed and I arrived back at Longnor, by which time it was raining quite heavily, but we thought we could enjoy some liquid refreshment in one of the pubs or cafes in Longnor.  Alas none wedre open, so we sat i the bus shelter finishing off anything we had left over from lunch.

Birds seen or heard today included: Rook, European robin, Carrion crow, Jacdaw, Raven, Common buzzard, Common kestrel, Common blacbird, Woodpigen and Freal pigeon.

Walk 3.

Wolfscote Dale and Biggin Dale From Hartington.

The path leading to Wolfscote Dale from Hartington.

Switching sides of the Dove,

A patient Grey heron.

A Dipper on he Dove.

A Dipper on he Dove.

Another Grey Heron fishing in the Dove in Wolfscote Dale.

Wolfscote Dale.

Biggin Dale.

Drinks stop in Biggin Dale.

Leaving Biggin Dale on the ay to Hartington.

The green track leading to Hartington.

Hartington Hall (YHA).

Enjoying refrteshments in the Devonshire Arms, Hartington.

Enjoying refrteshments in the Charles Cotton, Hartington.

Distance: 5.8 miles. Climb: 476'.

Time: 2 hours 43 minutes. On the movewalking aveage: 2.5 m.p.h.Overall walk verage: 2.1 m.p.h.

Temperature: Max - 16.8 Celsius. Minimum 11,2 Celsius,

Beaufort Wind Force:  1 - 3. light air / light breeze, occasionlly gsting to a gentle brez of 10.2 m.p.h.

Group: Martyn, Mike and Ed.

We arrived at Hartington around 09-30, early enough to park in the centre of the village. 

It felt on the cool side so we all set off wearing fleeces, but were able to disard them as we entered the mor sheltered Wolfscote Dale.

We were lucky enough to get good views of a Dipper that seemed to be posing for us on the edge of the Dove in Wolfscote Dale.

Wolfcote Dale as teeming with walkers, D of E groups, a large Ramblers' group and a few independent walkers like us.

We wre in danger of gettingb back to Hartington too early, so I was forced to aree to a drinks break at about 11-15 in a sunny spot in Biggin Dale.

We ended up having lunch when we got back to Hartington, Micke and Ed sat by the duck pond, but I went back to the car to change out of my walking boots and shirt.

Birds seen or heard today included: European robin, Rook, Jackdaw, Carrion crow, Grey heron, Mallard, Dipper, Wood nuthatch and Blue tit.

A delightful walk to finish our three day stay at Leek.

We ecided to try out the two hosteries in Hartington before heading homeward.

Firsrt was the Devonshire Arms with its real fireaking it feel warm and cosy. The second was the Charles Cotton Hotel, not quite as cosy.  Between us we sampled five different brews, but none of them stood out to be worthy of note - in fact, I was grateful that only half pints of the brews were purchased.

Overall a really good three days in Leek, staying in a top quality apartment with excellent facilities, all that we needed. It was only a few hundred yards from our favourite Leek pub, the Wilkes Head where we enjoyed our favourte beer, Whim's Hartington Bitter, On the Thursday night we were invited to join in the landlord's birthday celebrations wiyj lots of food on offer. Unfortunatley we had already eaten at Ed's favourite place - the Green Dragon (Wethespoons, although they didn't have a beer on that he liked).

Home quite early on Saturday, time to clean my boots before it started to rain, and feed the washing machine before completing this blog.

Exploring the Flint Castle Hinterland 8th October 2022

Flint Castle - the start of the walk today.

Oakenholt Marsh from the Coastal path just before we headed inland.

The curch at Oakenholt where my godson Tom Ted R was christened.

A delightful green path on the way to Flint Mountain.

The Church of St. Thomas, Fli9nt Mountain.

The view from the highest point on Flint Mountaim, looking northward.

Goats in the grounds of the horticultural college at Northop.

A Common buzzard poses for us as we climb out ofthe Afo Conwy Valley twards the Halkyn Road.

Thankfully no bull anywhere in sight today.

Flint Castle ahead.

Acorns a plenty!

Flint Castle - the end of our walk today.

Walk stats: 

Distance: 10.3 miles. Climb: 1017'.

Tie: 4 hours 49 minutes. On the move walking aveage: 2.4 m.ph. Overall walk average: 2.1 m.p.h.

Temperature: Maximum - 20.0 Celsius in the Sun at lunch time. Minimum - 15.8 Celsius, but mainly about 17 Celsius.

Beaufort Wind Force: 0 - 2. Mainly calm and occasionally gusted t a 4m.p.h light breeze.

Group: Martyn and Ed.

This was asuperb day for walking, far sunnier and less windy than the any of the weather forecasts had predicted.

In the first part of the walk, we had good views across the Dee estuary to the Wirral that were  even better when we arrived at the "top" of Flint Mountain.

Lunch was taken on the Halyn Road, having decided on a slight extension to avoid crossing the A55 on foot that the path along the Afon Conwy sign posted us to do.

Hading downhill towards Flint, we had to cross the golf course, but a couple of golfrs pointed us in the the right direction after we pointed out where one of their golf ball had come to rest.

North Wales seems to be a hot spot for Oak trees, in Aurumn you think of hearing the rustle as you walk through fallen leaves, but today we seemed to walking on carpets of Acorns on most of the paths we used!

We arrived back at Flint Castle having had a good walk and looking forward to a refreashing pint at the Market Cross in Holywell. 

Birds seen or heard today included: Eurasian curlew, Mallard, Woodpigeon, Wood nuthatch, Carrion crow, Rook, Jackdaw, Eurasian jay, Common buzzard and Grey heron.

 

Conwy Mountain, Around Maen Esgob and Craigfedwen 1st October 2022

Heading towards the town from the long stay car park.

The view on approaching Conwy Quay/ Harbour.

A reyheron didn't seemed bothered by us!

It used to be called "Sheep drop", but not bany more!

Ed spots a new sign post on Mynyd y Dref.

The sign post Ed spotted!.

Ling still blossoming on Cony Mountain.

The view of Puffin Island from near our lunch spot.

Our final descent towards Conwy.

Our last look at the Castle Walls on the way to the car park.

Walk stats: 

Distance: 8.1 miles. Climb: 1772' wind assisted GPS reading. In reality about 1200' although Mike probably did about 1500'.

Time: 4 hours 27 minutes.O the move walking average: 2.2 m.p.h. Overall walk average: 1.8 m.p.h.

Temperature: Minimum: 14.2 Celsius at lunch. Maximum- 18.4 Celsius in sheltered parts as we approached Conwy at the end of thewlk.

Beaufort Wind Force: 2 - 4. Mainly a light breez, approaching a Moderate breeze over Conwy Mountain.

Group: Martyn, Mike and Ed.

This turned out to be a superb day for walking, largely sunny, very breezy but never feeling cold. 

On this occasion Ed remembered that we said we would take the little used aproach to Conwy Mountain, rather than tking the North Wales Path approach.

A good choice as far as the "sheep drop spur", but the link back to the main North Wales Path wasn't to my liking.

Mike was the only one to take the path over the highest path through Castell Caer Seion, when Ed and myself followed the North Wales Path towards the ychnant Pass.

After crosing the Sychnant Pas, we headed for our lunch spot just before Maen Esgob, once again sheltering from the breeze behind a stone wall.

After lunch we went past Llyn y Wrach, but alas it water was totally absent!

Much of the walk fro Craigfedwen and later from Mount Pleasant was along tarmac, bt at least it was easy walking.

Birds seen or eard today included: Oystercatcher, Common redshank, Eurasian curlew, Little egret, Herring gull, Lesser black back gull, Jackdaw, Carrion crow, Rven, Meadow pipit, Balck billed magpie, Ferral pigeon, Woodpigeon and lue tit.

On the walk today, we saw lots of people, many with dogs, but some looking as though they were on D o E challenges.

A very enjoyable walk followed by a very enjoyable quenching of our thirst at The Albion in Conwy. Alas far oo many real ales on offer than I could sample even though I wasn't driving!