UNCHARTED TERRITORY

Today I decided to do something I have been wanting to do for a long time - walk over Ravenstor crags. The thing is, I HAD contemplated doing it before, but a friend I had with me at the time was reticent to 'break the law' and trespass. Now, however, we have the 'right to roam'. I KNOW it's controversial, BUT I am really happy about it. You see, I AM a good walker, I don't drop litter, or fag ends (don't smoke) or anything else, especially not remains of fruit - banana skins etc (no mate - they don't look good, whether they bio-degrade or NOT - take them HOME with you).
I knew that across the dale, on the other side, they had opened up the top ridge and put in new stiles. To my amazement, and joy, there was a new stile here on this side too, so off I set.
I had to 'bushwhack' a bit, as it was VERY overgrown, but I was well rewarded with what I saw and the walk I got. It's amazing, but very precarious. The path is tummy-churningly close to the sheer drop in some places.
Anyway, first off, I got a whole new perspective on the viaduct at Monsal head, and here's a the first picture I got looking back to it. You can double click on ANY pictures in my blogs to see a bigger version.

Of course, there were some very nice rocks to stand on, and me being me - I just HAD to go and stand on one!

This is the view coming to above Water cum Jolly dale. If you look, you can see the 'alpine path' halfway up the dale on the opposite side. The top ridge is where I walked a few weeks ago, after it was opened up, as I said before.


I just took this one because I thought it looked nice with these berries for foreground. It's Water cum Jolly dale village.

So - here was where I wanted to get - and GOT! This is looking down to the Ravenstor cottages (all but ONE are holiday lets!!!!). Many a climber has stood here after the arduous climb up, so I felt I was cheating walking there, but it sure felt great to BE there after longing all these years.


There is also Wardlow Hay Cop nearby, and as it was never 'permitted' (although locals have been going there for YEARS) to visit it before, it now was, so I thought I ought to go there, just to say I had.

Now I was coming back to ordinary public footpaths, and I dropped towards Cressbrook dale. I got a short shower here, but nothing of substance. I sat in the dale in the warm sun, and ate my lunch beneath Peter Stone (pic later). This is a really beautiful dale, either looking from above or in it, and in the spring, it's filled with cowslips and early purple orchids.

As Blogger doesn't seem to like too many pictures in one post, I have had to split this, so you will just have to scroll down to read the second part. Enjoy!
Les.

UNCHARTED TERRITORY 2

.....continued - I don't think Blogger likes TOO many pics, so I have to split this post into two!
Anyway, after leaving 'uncharted territory', I dropped into Cressbrook dale. I had read on a notice at Wardlow Hay Cop that there were Exmoor ponies in the dale - six of them, but I only saw these three. I was befriended after giving them the remains of my fruit cores from lunchtime. That's Peter Stone (the limestone lump) in the background.

A short walk up the dale brings you to another world - the Three Stags heads public house. Two other walkers asked me if I knew the pub, and I said yes; "What's it like", one asked. Well, the only word I could come up with was 'unique'. As far as I'm concerned, it's a MUST on this walk, but some people don't like it. You see, at the Stags, the dog is king! The floor is often teeming with up to eight dogs. They serve food too, so you really have to have your wits about you if you order when there are a few dogs in - especially Jeff, the landlords, as he has them on a diet at the moment, and they are out for every extra scrap they can get - by fair means or foul! It's like stepping back in time, with the stone floors, old black lead fireplace and scrubbed wooden tables. The sign above the bar sums it up; 'PLEASE don't ask the landlord for draught lager, as a smack in the gob often offends'. He MEANS it too! Here you see the lovely fireplace (complete with ubiquitous dog). I think this one is called 'Hussy' - you'll have to go and ask Jeff why - but DON'T sit in that chair on the right of the fire - that's JEFFS, and he will turf you out if you dare to sit there. Also, see the frying pan on the left with holes in the bottom? that's for cooking chestnuts! One of the guys in the pub had a LOVELY old Porche parked across the road.

After whetting my whistle in the Stags, I passed through Wardlow village. By now, the day had turned to perfection. Just LOOK at this sky, and it really compliments the limestone when the sun is on it like this. have you ever seen a more perfect setting? No wonder these village houses are so sought after - and expensive £££££££££££!


After the village, Longstone moor comes into play. At this time of the year, the moor is purple with the heather, oh - and the SMELL!!! I was climbing up towards it on the tops, but I could already get the scent in my nostrils.


Here I am on the top of the moor, and you can see the heather now. I also had a feast of lovely ripe blackberries, hardly browsed at all. It was about 22C with a nice, cooling breeze. A walker couldn't ask for conditions better than today.

I dropped off the moors and into Little Longstone. This cottage; 'stocks cottage', has the old stocks frame outside, and a feature has been made of it. I love the way they have curled the wall around it - maybe it was in the garden of the cottage originally? They have a very good pub at Little Longstone too.

A nice end to the walk, and one of my favourite photographs - Little Longstone chapel. When I first started walking, this was the first photo I had blown up to frame. I still love it now. It used to have telegraph wires running behind it, which spoilt the pictures somewhat, but now they are hidden, so it is perfect.