We drove into the Bull’s Head car park at 9.30am. Today’s walk was only 6 miles but involved some fairly steep climbing and would probably take us over 3 hours.  Leaving the car park at 9.45am we crossed over the road and walked down the lane by the church passing the Castle and George Pubs and then the youth hostel as we made our way in the direction of Peveril Castle.  Built in 1080 by William Peveril, son of the Conqueror, it was originally a wooden stockade but this was replaced in 1176 by the present stone structure.  The keep looked a bit strange as it was being renovated and was surrounded by scaffolding and green canvas. We decided not to visit the castle as it involved a steep ascent followed by a return along the same route and would have probably taken too long. Instead we walked past the signpost to the castle and into the square.  A quick photograph by the memorial cross and then we were off again and after passing Cosy Cottage we entered a narrow opening between two cottages and into Cave Dale.  Though now going uphill the path was good and gave us time to look at the wild flowers as we walked.  As we were walking to the south with the sun in the south eastthe steep sides of the dale meant the right slope was in full sun and the left was in shadow which was probably why most of the flowers were on the right slope.  Near the top of the dale we met an old chap rebuilding one of the stone walls.  Stopping for a chat he told us that he was 74 years old, still completed 5 metres of stone walling each day,  and had never seen the sea as the furthest he had ever been was Doncaster.  He looked very fit for his age and completely at ease as he puffed on his pipe while we talked.  Wishing him well we continued up the dale, now far less steep, and after a few hundred yards we reached the top. The fairly flat countryside was dotted by the odd farm and some very clean looking cattle grazed the fields.  After passing Rowter Farm we reached Windy Knoll where the shallow depression has yielded some fascinating relics including in 1870 the remains of a Sabre Toothed Tiger and Grisly Bear in Bone Cave.  We were now at the foot of Mam Tor where the massive earthworks of the Iron Age Fort can still be traced.  Being so popular the footpath up Mam Tor has been paved to prevent erosion but the steps and paving certainly helped us on our ascent.  Near the top as we looked northwards down into the Eden Valley we spied a lone hang glider using the upsweep of wind on the north face of Mam Tor to stay in the air as he swept  back and to.  To the south west we looked down into the Hope Valley to Castleton with the Hope Cement Works clearly visible in the far distance.  Also to the south was the now closed A625 road which had been completely destroyed by a huge land slip at the foot of Mam tor.  As we moved along the ridge the hang glider landed to our left and then after waiting for the right wind he ran forward for only a few steps and was swept into the sky again.  Reaching Hollins Cross we took the path which led off the ridge down towards Castleton.  This path, unlike the ascent path, was not paved and showed signs of considerable erosion.  Near the bottom we came upon a plaque which described how years ago the people from Edale would carry the coffins of their dead to the church at Castleton as they then had no church of their own.  The plaque also told of the women and children from Castleton having to cross over the ridge to work at the water-powered cotton mill in Edale which was built in 1792 by Richard Arkwright.  This trip took an hour each way in good weather and was often un-passable in winter.  Entering Castleton we passed the school house and made or way along the colourful main street, bedecked with flags and flowers, to our car in the Bull’s Head car park. After lunch and a pint at the Bull’s Head we walked along the main street, purchased Bradwell’s ice creams, and then visited the church where inside amongst a host of displays the local women were giving demonstrations including embroidery and spinning wool.  Our walk had taken us about 3¼ hours and, despite a shortage of wildlife, had provided us with many fascinating sights.

INDEX PAGE for the THURSDAY GROUP WALKS