Lyme Park's Cage

Saturday 5th January 

A short morning stroll in Lyme Park on the very edge of the Peak District

Distance: 2.5km; Ascent: 50m; Overcast but dry; with Lynsey & Isabel

See tracked route in new window

After so much rain last month, it was a pleasant surprise that the first weekend of the year was forecast to be mainly dry!  Therefore Lynsey, Isabel and I headed to Lyme Park for a morning stroll up Cage Hill.

Lyme Hall

It was very busy, probably due to a well attended orienteering event taking place in the park today.  However our route up to the cage was reasonably quiet and Isabel managed to walk all the way!

Heading for The Cage

Soon we reached The Cage, which according to my NT leaflet was originally built as a hunting tower in the 1520s and was rebuilt in its present form in 1725.

The Cage

We descended north from The Cage for a few hundred metres before doubling back on ourselves and following a track across the west side of the hill back towards the car park.  As it was fast approaching lunchtime, we headed into the tearoom for a welcome bowl of soup after a pleasant morning :)

N.B. 13/02/13 - Post date updated to actual date of walk, i.e. 05/01/13 (from 06/01/13) 

A New Year's Day Wander up Shining Tor

Tuesday 1st January 

A windy and wet morning walk in the Peak District 

Distance: 10km; Ascent: 330m; Windy; Solo

See tracked route in new window

As the weather forecast suggested that today might be slightly less wet than recently, I headed out for a New Year's Day morning walk in the Peak District.  It was misty as I set off walking from Pym Chair car park soon after half past ten, but after following the minor road known as "The Street" downhill I soon dropped below the clouds.

Looking along The Street

Heading towards Foxlow Edge

After following the road for several hundred metres, I picked up a small path heading for Foxlow Edge.  It was windy on the open hillside, but there were good views down to Errwood Reservoir, and I was soon in the shelter of a small valley near Errwood Hall.

Burn below Errwood Hall

I followed a path up the rhododendron filled Shooters Clough for a few hundred metres, before ascending in zig-zags up to the ridge above.  Despite the reasonably low cloud, there were good views back towards Foxlow Edge and down to Errwood Reservoir.

Looking back towards Foxlow Edge

Errwood Reservoir

It was windy, with occasional rain and hail as I ascended up to the misty trig point on summit of Shining Tor (Marilyn, Dewey), which I arrived at soon after 12:30pm.  Here I had my first mince pie of the year, whilst sheltering behind the wall!  Due to the cloud, the views actually weren't as good as on my torch lit visit back in November!

Trig point on Shining Tor

After my quick break, I set off along the slabbed path down the north ridge.  Having hardly seen anyone else out walking so far, I now passed lots of others out for a New Year's walk.  As I neared Cats Tor the cloud started to clear, resulting in a view back towards Shining Tor with Shutlingsloe in the distance.

Looking south from near Cats Tor

I returned to the car, in the now much busier car park, at 1:15pm.  It had been a good walk, despite the less than pleasant weather!

N.B. 13/02/13 - Post date updated to actual date of walk, i.e. 01/01/13 (from 04/01/13)