A weekend at The Peak District

Starting my journey at St Pancras International.

 

A GRAND STATION.

I hadn’t realised you could take a train to the UK from St Pancras International . I have only ever used this station to go to Paris on Eurostar. Above the ground floor lays the The East Midlands line. It’s beautifully designed with some really smart-looking restaurants,Including the Champagne and Oyster Bar. I think I could happily spend the day there! This was my starting point for my weekend .

Purchasing tickets on a budget 

I had to purchase various single tickets from different companies, Northern Tickets, Virgin and East midlands. Buying well in advance, you can print them all from the same place.I was off to a place called Hope just outside Sheffield then a small bus journey or walk to Castleton staying in a Hostel for a walking weekend in The Peak District.

Meet Up Group Explorer’s UK

The UK Explorers are  an independent group they organise everything for you and therefore charge for leading the walks.  I was keen to try the night walk in the Peak District and spend a couple of days in a new area .

THE LAMBING SEASON

I took this with my I phone and couldn’t really get too close.

My first impression was of a grand tree-lined drive  leading to an old type Manor house, either side of the drive were grass pastures and the sight of very young lambs leaping about or huddling together under the tree. Lambs do truly leap and always make me feel happy. Shortly to feel depressed thinking about their short lives.

Talking the talk Doing the Walk

It can be quite nerve-wracking doing something new but still getting out of the comfort zone never done anyone any harm.. (well it probably did but that’s another story!!)

I had only met a couple of the group before. It’s not a constant group, people can join or leave any time, so you’re not necessarily going to meet the same people every time. It is a good way to get to know areas if your keen on getting out into places to walk at the weekends. We were a group of about 30 and had an annexe to ourselves, there were groups of cyclists and other random groups just out for the weekend. It’s a busy area for walkers.

We started off on Friday night with a night walk. Torches in hand..

 

 

 

Plenty of Ups and Downs in this area, or Peaks and troughs..

 

 

 

The caves are a big tourist attraction in this area. Myself and another walker had both got a bit impatient hanging about waiting for everybody on Sunday morning and decided to just go off and see the caves. It had been mentioned on the programme as an alternative to going on a 6 mile walk on the sunday. Having walked 11 miles the day before , or should I say climbed! and the night walk on Friday I felt a shorter walk to the Caves was a better option. It would be a shame not too.

I can’t say I have ever been in a cave like this before we had a guided tour explaining the history and foundations of the caves in the area.

Treak Cliff Cavern is a show cave near Castleton in Derbyshire, England. It is part of the Castleton Site of Special Scientific Interest and one of only two sites where the ornamental mineral Blue John is still excavated.

They are fascinating places to visit. I would recommend the area for a couple of nights  a days walking and great pubs to choose from followed by a day exploring the various caves. We only had time to visit one and then sadly a train back to London and the rat race!

I need to get a couple of coastal walks done in May before leading my Seven Sisters Walk in June. Look out for details on my up and coming walks page.

 

Until then Keep on keeping on