Dovedale - Practice Walk 1

*Above: Steve Lightfoot; Steve Lenton; Mick Shaw; Lucy Holmes; Dawn Carlisle; Becky Trower; Leigh Clarke; Ann Horsley (From left to right back to front)

On Saturday, we attended our first group practice walk at the lovely location of Dovedale, Derbyshire.

The sun was shining when we awoke in the early hours. The forecast was heavy rain though so we were hoping to rise early and miss it. Most of us met at work at 7am (me at 7.15am thanks to a dumper truck doing 15mph!) where we grouped together in a few cars and headed to Dovedale car park for an 8am start.

The chosen walk was taken from a Peak District Walk's book and lasted 8 1/2 miles starting and finishing in the main Dovedale car park. The first stint was a nice steady opening across a few fields and into the village of Ilam passing the church, memorial cross and the lovely Ilam Hall. A nice, flat wooded walk followed although the fresh air was disturbed by a few at the back with wind problems! Before we knew it, we hit a long winding road that took us up into the hills. This incline really took it out of us so early on but once we made the top it flattened out and we all had a chance to recover. Another steady stint across fields and over stiles led us down towards Stanshope. A sharp steep descent took us down through the valleys into Milldale where we began to come across signs of life other than sheep and lambs! Then we entered the final stint of the walk alongside the River Dove. From here it was a long but pretty flat walk back to the Stepping Stones at the bottom of Thorpe Cloud.

Feeling refreshed, we decided to attempt Thorpe Cloud which stood before us. As we began, the heavens opened making the climb more difficult under foot. However, we all clambered to the top and were rewarded with some stunning views. There was enough time for a few photo's and Leigh to sort out a breakdown now he had a mobile reception, before beginning the descent back down the way we came.

A short walk took us back to the car park where we began and then we headed to the pub for a beverage and reflected on our first group walk. A pint later, we headed back off home and looked forward to the next meeting.