Peak District: The Tissington Trail

Date: Bank Holiday Monday, 5th May 2014
Route: Tissington Circular
Distance: 4.5 miles

If I'm honest, this 4.5 mile walk from Tissington from the AA's 1001 Walks isn't one of the most spectacular walks in the Peak District, but it did meet all of our criteria for today - short, achievable, nice scenery, at the southern end of the Peak District (so easy to get home afterwards).

There are two stretches of the walk on the Tissington Trail - a disused railway track now colonised by walkers and cyclists - plus some open countryside up and down the hillsides to and from the village of Parwich, then a final wander through Tissington, home to a pretty Hall, multiple wells and the types of shop that play well to coach trips.

Lots of pretty scenery, some surprisingly taxing climbs and quite a lot of sheep to avoid - not highly recommended but a good way to spend a couple of hours in a beautiful part of the countryside.
  

Peak District - Edale Circular

Date: Sunday 4th May 2014
Route: Edale Circular via Ringing Rover, Crowden Brook and the Pennine Way
Distance: 7 miles

OK, so 7 miles might not sound like a lot, but coming hot on the heels of a strenuous 8.5 mile walk around Dove Dale, we chose to go with the Edale walk from the AA's 1001 Walks guide, rather than the 9.7 mile option from the Day Walks in the Peak District book. Frankly, another 3 miles might just have tipped us over the edge.

This is a great walk in the High Peak - and as such, is very popular, so don't do this if you are looking for solitude. The walk begins and ends in the village of Edale. After a short walk through the village and across fields, the climb up the hillside begins - whilst this takes a bit of effort, it doesn't take an excessive amount of time to reach the skyline and the crinkly rocks of Ringing Roger (yep!).

Once you have reached this level there isn't a huge amount of extra climbing, as the walk continues along a very easy-to-follow path along the hilltops, with ever-changing views back over heather-strewn hillsides and rocky outcrops. After joining up with the old Pennine Way, the path drops slightly below the imposing rocks of Crowden Tower, then turns into a steep downhill clamber, crossing and re-crossing Crowden Brook before eventually getting somewhere close to level in the woodland of Upper Booth.

The final section of walking follows the Pennine Way back to Edale, large servings of tea and cake and a welcome sit down. Anyone who completes this walk will go away with a sense of achievement and some memories of fantastic views (although you might also have huge admiration for the various people pushing dogs and small children up the hillsides before them).

Peak District - Dove Dale & Bunster Hill

Date: 3rd May 2014
Route: Dove Dale Circular via Milldale, Hall Dale and Bunster Hill
Distance: 8.5 miles

A beautiful Bank Holiday weekend seems like the perfect opportunity to head off to the Peak District and try out some more classic walks.

Our first choice is a circular walk starting in Dove Dale - so iconic that its photo graces the cover of the Day Walks in the Peak District guidebook (and so popular that an early start is advised, if you want to get a space in the car park).

The easy riverside stroll down to the stepping stones at the start of the walk proper, the well-maintained path to the pretty village of Milldale and the irresistible combination of fast-flowing river, steep, green valley sides and erratically placed huge rocks by the wayside lull you into a false sense of security, that this is going to be a very flat, very easy wander. It isn't!.

Once out of Milldale, the crowds and the flatness both disappear rapidly, with a steady climb along a country lane to the village of Alstonefield, accompanied by dry stone walls and fields filled with  cows, sheep and dandelions. From Alstonefield the path continues to Stanshope (lots of teenagers on outward bound weekends with over-sized rucksacks) then down back to the river Dove through Hall Dale (yet more teenagers with rucksacks and some pained-looking and very patient teachers).

After a short stretch along the river, the route heads steeply and exhaustingly back up the hillside, through bluebell-heavy woodlands, the neighbouring hilltops visible on the opposite bank of the river. The final sections of the walk are across open countryside - rolling hillsides with views over the green surrounding countryside in every direction, a climb up Bunster Hill to join the para-gliders at the summit then a steep descent around the hillside and back to Dove Dale.

This is not an easy walk but even though there are less taxing ways to see Dove Dale, I would still recommend it, as a fantastic introduction to the Peak District. Immeasurably improved by not being on a school trip, though!