Staffordshire Moors and Derbyshire Peaks
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In May 2008 the Dognappers went by train to Uttoxeter and walked home. The seventy mile walk across the Staffordshire Moorlands, and the Derbyshire Peak District took four days.
Three dognappers (the fourth is behind the camera) on the eve of the walk.
Friday evening, in The Plough near Uttoxeter, fine tuning the route.
Saturday morning, in perfect weather we followed the Staffordshire Way north along the River Dove, walking through water-meadows covered with dandelions and mayflowers, then through fields of oats, having had Staffordshire oatcakes for breakfast.
The Dognappers always wear the latest fashion.
Did you see that !
Bill, had borrowed his wife's hat.
By late morning we were in Rocester (pronounced Roaster) site of an ancient Roman settlement and of developments during the industrial revolution. Here we left the Staffordshire Way, to start the Limestone Way.
Overlooking Gold's Wood, taking a short rest in place of lunch. The Duncombe Arms at Ellastone had been a disappointment, closed Saturday lunchtime!
Over banks of bluebells.
Approaching an overnight stop, the Dog and Partridge at Swinscoe, the two slowest walkers took the direct route, the others chose a slightly more ambitious one. The tortoises arrived first. They had plenty of time to speculate that the hares were lost.
Sunday, gentle hills and dales, beautiful weather.
The Limestone Way takes a big loop to the east, so we left it at Thorpe (to re-join a day later), and took a more direct route north. For most of the walk we had the coutryside to ourselves, but on Sunday afternoon we came to a popular stretch of Dovedale. Crowds wanted to use the stepping stones, an informal one-way system had developed...
...walkers competed to photograph the "beauty spots"...
...and grown men performed strange rituals in the water.
At Milldale we left the Dove and headed for lunch at the George and Dragon, Alstonefield...
...passing a Riley rally on the way.
The crowds were concentrated into a small area. Before long we had the countryside to ourselves again. Via Hartington and Sheen, over hills of buttercup...
...and of gorse...
...and along the Manifold Valley, to over-night at the Crewe and Harpur Arms, Longnor.
That evening we had a guest to dinner. Catherine came to check on our progress.
Monday, protected against the strong sun, more hills, valleys, and farms.
Lunch at the Angler's Rest, Miller's Dale. Bill and John took revenge for defeat last year in McCuaig's Bar.
In the afternoon we followed Monk's Dale, Peter Dale, Hay dale, and on into open limestone country. Here, following an old green lane zig-zagging its way into the distance.
Descending Cavedale. We overnighted at the Old Nag's Head, Castleton.
Tuesday, we gave ourselves a head start by taking the bus to Hope, and the train to Edale, to start the Pennine Way.
Up Jacob's Ladder on to Kinder Scout
Our route across Kinder allowed Steve to spend a few minutes in his favourite chair.
Although sunny, up on the moor there was a bitterly cold wind. Perhaps as well. Otherwise we would have carried our winter gear four days for no benefit.
They can't have been the first to attempt this vandalism.
Crossing rocks near Kinder Downfall.
The descent from Harry Hut, across Chunal Moor, and down to Glossop.
Intense satisfaction and medicine for aching limbs at the Star Inn, Glossop.
Photos by Bill and Carl Carl was particularly happy to complete this year's walk. He wishes to thank all those at Tameside General Hospital who last September saved his life, and who have since enpowered him to re-build the strength, to be able to walk the walk. Thanks also to the other Dognappers, who this year agreed an easy walk, and were patient with Carl's slow progress uphill.
A Cautionary taleWe all have an image of those who are due a heart attack: overweight, little exercise, smokers, poor diet, same as their parents. But what if none of that applies to you? Don't follow Carl, and assume you can't have an attack.It was the delay in going to hospital that made permanent the damage to Carl's heart. "I had just enjoyed an exceptional lunch when the discomfort started, so I curled up in bed to sleep off the "indigestion". What else could it be for a slim, never smoker, who eats healthily, takes plenty of exercise, and whose parents reached ninety-five? "It is difficult to know the passage of time. Ninety minutes?, two hours?, the phone rang. My wife Catherine, from work. The timing was more than lucky. Half an hour earlier: I would have assured her I was just suffering from indigestion. Half an hour later: I could not have answered the phone, she would have assumed I was out for an afternoon walk. She made a remarkably accurate diagnosis from my incoherent noises, and dialled 999. "I have nothing but praise for the paramedics and ambulance crew who arrived so swiftly, for the skills and professionalism of the people in the Resuscitation Room at Tameside Hospital, the specialists, the staff in the wards I progressed through as things improved, and last, but far from least, for those in the Hospital Gym where an eight week course restored confidence. The National Health Service at its best" Thanks Guys!
AdviceIf you have an unusual feeling in your chest, act immediately! Doctors can swiftly diagnose a heart attack. If indigestion then no harm done, but if a heart attack then minutes count.My heart attack came without any warning. It was a strong discomfort, not a sharp pain. I survived, but it was close. My heart was reduced by the attack to less than a third of its original capacity. Following a period of complete rest, I slowly built up to an hour's stiff exercise each day. After six months excercise the heart had regained just over half of its loss. If you follow my advice you can do better. |
The most photographed rock on Kinder.
Following the Pennine Way north across the moor.
Here it crosses the Snake Path,
with a short-cut to the left for walkers in a hurry to reach the refreshments at Hayfield.
We resisted the temptation.
