Just had a training weekend in the Peak District, following roughly the route of the Bullock Smithy Hike event, 57 miles. Organised by my friend Alan, and with Andrew coming too, we were joined by a special bonus guest, Storm Dennis. Dennis had terrible wind, put such a dampener on everything, gave everyone the cold shoulder, and had such a stormy temperament. But although he hung around for the WHOLE weekend, he didn't spoil it.
Usually the route starts and finishes in Hazel Grove, but because of trains and getting there, we started and finished in Macclesfield. The route started along the canal, then along an old tramway, up towards Higher Poynton, before heading east past Lyme Park. Because the forecast for Saturday seemed like the worst day, we missed out some of the hills on the second half and stuck to the lower levels, along canals, tracks and roads, close to Whaley Bridge, Chapel-en-le-Frith and Sparrowpit. I think this was a good decision, as Dennis was being a bit unpredictable, sometimes appearing in a quite mild temper, and at others flying off the handle into a frenzy. The last few miles were up over a hill pass, along a road. A man in a van drove past, and then stopped, and asked if we needed a lift anywhere. What a nice man! Declining the tempting offer of what looked like a nice warm, dry, and friendly van, we carried on, and completed our 27 mile run with Dennis, running the final mile down Winnats Pass into Castleton. This was magic, a deep, green canyon, with rocky walls rising up into the sky (which had mysteriously cleared, now we were just about finish running). I don't have any pictures, as my phone was well waterproofed within several layers inside by rucksack, but it was really beautiful - after being buffeted about all day, to have a moment of still air felt really peaceful.
Overnight was in the YHA Loosehill Hall in Castleton, a striking Gothic mansion, built in 1882 as a gentleman's residence for Squire Ashton, the son of the family who lived in Castleton Hall in the village. The village itself is around 900 years old and was built around Peveril Castle perched up on the hill, which was built by William the Conqueror's son, who was called William Peveril. Loosehill Hall is meant to be haunted, but the only thing untoward at dinner (in an amazing old dining room, with chandeleirs and fire place) was Dennis, who was just getting annoying now, quite frankly.
Didn't get much sleep, what with the wind and rain rattling the windows (or maybe, it was the resident ghost), and was glad to get up in the morning, and face what lay ahead, rather than laying around thinking about it in the dark. Sunday was the harder day, 30 miles and more hills. The forecast (checked obsessively every 10 minutes) said the rain should clear by around 10:00 and although it would feel colder, and the wind would be stronger, the prospect of a dryer day seemed a fair deal.
In an attempt to put on some weight at breakfast, to act as ballast against the gales, we completed a hearty breakfast, before heading out. Just as we opened the door, a deluge of epic proportions hit, so we retreated back inside, until it eased off. Smug at having avoided an early soaking, we headed out, only for the rain to start again 5 minutes later....
The forecast was wrong, and the day was mostly a wash out, and involved running along paths that were now rivers...
...and fields that were now bogs. The route was the southern half of the loop, down past Peak Forest to Earl Sterndale, then past Flash, Macclesfield Forest, and back to Macclesfield, for pizza and a train back home.
The forecast was wrong, and the day was mostly a wash out, and involved running along paths that were now rivers...
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