05.11 Hope to Edale
0500 It’s been a restless night; waking up every couple of hours. Now it’s 0500, I make my coffee and start planning the day. I will try for a major walk today. The weather reports for the rest of the week are downgrading, so today may be my best bet for a wilderness walk. I start by downloading my walking app and maps; let’s get serious this time. Then I check trains.
0600 I get an email that my credit card is still blocked. I ring the bank again and sort it out once and for all.
0700 Time for a big breakfast. I load up. I think I’m going to need it. There’s no-one else at breakfast. I hurry because I have a train to catch.
0740 I leave for the station. It’s cold and slightly misty again this morning. I’m surprised at how instantly and comfortingly familiar it feels.
0756 The train to Manchester. I’ll be getting off at New Mills Newtown.
0826 I arrive at New Mills Newtown. I have to walk 15 min to the New Mills Central station where my next train departs. When I get there I have time to sit. I have to keep reminding myself to not constantly be in a rush. I have learnt from past trips that I must savour the journeys as much as the destinations. It’s very cold while I’m sitting and not moving. Luckily I have enough on and I get out my beanie.
0922 We depart. On the train I realise that I have brought my spare battery but I left both lightning cables in the hotel. I’m concerned that the constant use of GPS may drain my phone and want a back up. I’ll see if I can get one at Hope. The mist is getting heavier again when we get to Edale.
0944 We arrive at Hope. It’s misty here too. I pop into the supermarket for a trail snack and they have a lightning cable too!
I start my walk using the app. The plan is to walk up and along the ridge to Edale. On a clear day the views would be fantastic. Clearly, that’s not going to happen today but it doesn’t dampen my enthusiasm. I warm up quickly and need to remove my jumper before too long. The walk up the side of the hills is relatively gradual but relentless. It’s definitely a work out and I get out of breath. The first half is through fields. Half way up I rest under a big black tree. The mist is settling in all around. As the mist gets heavier I notice more and more water on my beard.
The fields make way to more barren landscape. A path has been made out of rocks to make the climb easier. But it’s not THAT much easier. As I near the top of the ridge I can see the mist of the clouds passing in front of and around me. It’s bitterly cold now. At the first marker at the top of the ridge I notice someone quietly eating their lunch through the mist. Incongruous. I walk along the ridge to the next marker. It’s easier walking now. The cloud is tightly wrapped around me. No chance of any view. At the next marker there are 3 girls sitting on a stone wall eating and chatting. There are a surprising number of people walking along the ridge; emerging out of and disappearing into the clouds. It’s an ethereal experience.
I get to the Edale edge of the ridge and it’s time to make my descent. This side is steeper. I’m glad I’m going down it, but it’s still quiet treacherous with some steep edges. I need to watch my footing carefully. I keep watching down until suddenly, when I look up, I notice the cloud is lifting and I can see fields.
1300 I make it to Edale. The app tells me I walked 7.72 km. The total ascent was 410 m and total descent was 326 m. I think that was my most “hardcore” walk ever. And that’s quite tough enough for me. I won’t be trying anything harder. I feel glad that I invested in proper walking and rain gear. At least I felt prepared and protected. It was a great experience though, even without the view. In the morning I had considered doing two walks in the one day. Bugger that! One is plenty. It’s a long wait until the next train back. I decide to take a small walk to Barber Booth and back.
1416 Back at Edale station I notice all the mud on my boots and trousers. This cross country walking is messy business. Waiting for the train I notice another walker I recognise from the train to Hope. I remembered him because he was fully kitted out and looked like a serious walker. We chat. He’d walked much further than me. Nice chap. He tells me of many plane wrecks in the Peak District. He’s planning to explore some.
1447 On the train back to New Mills Central. Then walk back to New Mills Newtown.
1523 On the train back to Buxton. There’s some nice scenery on the way I hadn’t noticed before. When I arrive at Buxton I pop into the shops to get some supplies, including some Radox and magnesium for my aching muscles.
1630 I’m back in the hotel and straight into a long hot Radox bath.
1745 I hear more fireworks tonight.
1800 I sit in the hotel lounge and sort through my photos with a refreshing beer.
1900 Time for dinner. This time blue cheese mouse followed by pork fillet. I booked dinner a little later to give me plenty of bath soaking time. But I’m feeling tired and struggling to stay awake.
1910 More fireworks!
2000 I doze off in front of the TV.
