I've just had the most amazing weekend in the Peak District, with lots of cycling, walking and taking in the stunning views.
We set off at 5:00am from the flat lands of Norfolk to get there for around 10:30 so we could get the most out of the first day. Our B&B was in the picturesque little village of Ashford-in-the-water, about a 5 minute drive from Bakewell and close to the Monsal trail, which was our first adventure.
We biked the trail which used to be the Midland railway line which goes through four tunnels and some stunning limestone dales. We stopped halfway to take in the views, have a bite to eat and for me to shoot with the Hasselblad (I'll hopefully have some shots from it, to post soon). After completing the trail we headed back to Monsal head for some dinner and a few beers, with an awesome singer, singing some Bob Dylan, David Bowie to name a few, providing a great soundtrack as we overlooked the Headstone viaduct which is part of the trail.
On the saturday we headed to Castleton to do the 2hr walk to Mam Tor, it was misty and raining off and on all day but it didn't dampen our spirits and it made for some very dramatic views, but at the peak which stands at 1695ft you couldn't see much at all, so we got in the car and set off to Edale.
Edale is where the Pennine way starts, which goes from the Peak district, through the Yorkshire dales, up to Northumberland and finishes at Kirk Yetholm, we didn't have the time but more importantly the legs for this so we walked up to the moorland plateau, Kinder Scout which at 2,087ft is the highest point in the Peak District, Derbyshire and the East Midlands.
The view was incredible! and absolutely worth the sore legs getting there, coming from Norfolk I was just blown away by it all, after taking some shots and just taking a moment to sit and admire the view, the realisation hit that what goes up must come down!
We were tired, hungry and it was getting late, but we just got to the Nags Head in Edale just in time for a well needed carvery and a pint. By the time we got back to the B&B and had a nice hot shower it was getting on for 12 but I still set the alarm for 5 as it was going to be a dry, clear morning and I wanted to get some long exposure shots of the waterfall I'd seen on the first day before we went to Mam Tor again to see the view when it was clear, then it was time to head back home.
