Posted:  Friday 16 October 2009

South East Associates
Derbyshire Dales Break

- 20th to 24th September, 2009 -

We were originally destined for four nights in the Yorkshire Dales (a repeat of a 2006 break) but thanks to a slight altercation with the new owner of the intended hostelry we had to rearrange things . . . . . and what a blessing it turned out to be.

Better accommodation at the
Manifold Inn, Hulme End, Derbyshire (sorry -  Staffordshire),
better food, and of course the usual good company.

Dovedale - ready for the hike!

Despite some rather underhanded accusations of misrepresentation
- the Manifold Inn being 'just' in Staffordshire, not Derbyshire -
we got in some good walks including Dovedale,
a beautiful limestone valley and river,
reputedly fished by Izaac Walton (author of the Compleat Angler),
the Roaches, a fascinating ridge of windswept red sandstone rocks
with fabulous views to the west
and the Manifold Valley,
once home to the Manifold narrow gauge railway
(1904-1934 and shown in the header picture)
and containing the impressive natural limestone Thor's Cave.

On top of The Roaches

The Roaches - Weird rocks

The Roaches and Hen Cloud

Hen Cloud

The mixture of organised walks and free time to visit local towns and historic houses etc. seemed to work well.
Chatsworth, Haddon Hall and Kedleston Hall were amongst the houses visited along with the towns of Ashbourne, Buxton and Bakewell.

Manifold Valley Walk

Swainley Tunnel, on the trackbed of the Leek & Manifold Valley Light Railway

The Roaches, rock climbers paradise

View from Thor's Cave, Manifold Valley

Walking in Wolfscote Dale

Much excellent food, beer and wine was consumed at the Manifold Inn and the George, Alstonefield - wow those steak & ale pies!
Some breakfast hiccups were eventually ironed out via some significant logistical input - true P&G style!!

And of course there was the usual good natured banter and an abundance of jokes from Messrs. Bell & Nel!

Ian Stoner

(ph  16/10/2009)

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