Sunday 30th June 2013, Midlands Magic

Anyone who enjoys the great outdoors doesn’t need telling of it’s spirit-enhancing powers. Having had a particularly crappy couple of weeks I felt the need to ‘get out there’.
Ideas for a long trip are now being put together, but in the meantime a shorter, single day walk was needed as a matter of urgency.
Today’s little jaunt was c/o Outdoors Magic, a fine bunch of folks who inhabit t’interweb, hilly bits of countryside….and the odd pub. Or two.
Simon was the main instigator, and being as wot he lives in Leek a wander around The Roaches was deemed appropriate. Since the idea was first mooted, the list of those wishing to attend just growed and growed. Eventually eleven bodies (well it was eleven if you include the three doggies) assembled in the car park of the Three Horseshoes pub at Blackshaw Moor. The sun was shining a bit and my choice of shorts had proved to be a good ‘un – although my white and pimply legs stood out against the muscly, tanned legs of the other OMers.
It was good to catch up with Skip, The Teesdale Viking, and Ella – her doggy. The rest of the group were strangers to me – but there did seem to be a lot of Mikes in attendance.

First up of the day

The Roaches, Hen Cloud and Ramshaw Rocks are a rocky escarpment formed from gritstone and their appearance is quite spectacular. The area is very popular with rock-climbers, indeed we saw a goodly number out today.

First stop of the day, Simon (our glorious leader on the Left)

Up and down we went. Then up and down again. To be honest I’m not at all sure where were went. I spent a good half-hour looking at my map this evening, and apart from picking out a few features that I knew we visited I just can’t be sure of the route. What I can say about the route with absolute certainty is that is was a bit good – not the usual trade-route along the Roaches to Lud’s Church and back.

So, anyway, I’ll just write less about the route – and put up some nice photos.

Posing on top of the escarpment

There are plenty of wonderfully-shaped tors and other rock formations in the area, imagination can run riot when looking at some of them:

 A face?

 Reptile Head

 

He’s got more bottle than me!

Crag rats

Even more Crag Rats

 

The Queen’s Chair

Although why the Queen’s Chair is so named is a bit of a mystery – especially as the spot was visited by the Prince and Princess of Teck a bit back:

I tink Teck is German or perhaps has some German connection. I dunno. I shall have to ask 'er indoors – she knows everything.

More views over the surrounding (and some quite distant) countryside:

Alderley Edge

The pimple on the skyline is The Matterhorn Shutlingsloe

After not a lot of time we dropped into Lud’s Church, which isn’t a church – but a cave. and not really a cave because it’s not go a lid on it. It’s really just a deep and rocky gully. Because it’s so deep there are lots of ferns and probably a few rare plants down there, the conditions are moist and quite stable.

 The remains of a very rare money tree

Here’s a map with Lud’s Church on – highlighted with a little red flag:

It’ll give you some idea of the terrain but it won’t show the mud in Lud’s church.

Lud’s Church behind we sort-of turned back, south-eastish through Forest Wood (isn’t that a bit like saying Wood Wood….or Tree Forest?) that followed the valley of Black Brook. A bit of a tug up to Roach End – and an ice-cream van. Well it would have been rude not to. So I wasn’t, and after parting with £2 I was presented with an enormous and delicious ice-cream. And it was none of yer Mr Whipee crap. Oh no, this was REAL ice-cream. Yum!

Some of our party chose to walk along the top of The Roaches, whilst others (me included)followed the very pleasant road back. There was very little difference, timewise – we were all back at the car-park within a few minutes of each other.

‘Twas a good day out, just what the doctor ordered. Thanks to the entire party for letting me come along, for sharing, for putting up with me – especially Meravingian for making it happen.

I think we ended up doing around 13.5 miles and we seemed to visit Hen Cloud, Ramshaw Rocks, Roaches Ridge and Lud’s Church – although we missed out the spectacular Hanging Rock. I’ve been to Hanging Rock loads of times, but it still takes my breath away from the top!  Hopefully some kind soul will tell be where we actually went today so I can put up a route map.

More pics, including some really interesting shots of the rock formations.

Staffordshire stuff

A few pics from today's Outdoors Magic walk around The Roaches. Sorry about the very poor quality, they were taken on my phone and it was set to horribly low resolution so there was half a chance of being able to post using mobile internet..
A fuller report will follow in a bit.

1st – 3rd March, Convivial Coniston Coppermines. Magic!

What’s all that about then?

Milly, who is Gill (it’s a long story) booked Coniston Coppermines Youth Hostel for an Outdoors Magic meet. I think a total of 28 turned out for the meet, 22 cosy hostellers and 6 cool campers.
An mid-afternoon departure from Timperley had me driving through Ambleside at around 5pm. The views across Windermere were stunning enough to make me stop the car for a few minutes to play with the camera:

I arrived at the hostel in good time to find….nobody in. Apart from Owen, Margaret and Jane who were doing their best to demolish the contents of a bottle of wine whilst sat in Jane’s rather nice motor-home. Other OMers had arrived but they’d toddled off for various pre-dinner walks. Within the hour they had all returned to the hostel and I went in to claim my bunk.
Ping pong curries for all had been brought up arranged by Maria – and the lovely lady plonked a huge plateful of the stuff in front of me.
I should point out that Maria is a TGO Challenge Virgin, TGOC2013 will be her first crossing. She’s made of the right stuff and is going to have a ball. Not that I’m jealous. Oh no, not me.
Hrmph.

Milly (L, in green) talking to Elaina a.k.a. Blethering Blonde

An evening of introductions, route planning, beers and perhaps one or two more beers followed. Outside, the sky was crystal-clear = perishing cold, I was glad I chosen not to camp.

 A slightly wobbly moon

I hit the sack at around midnight, leaving revellers downstairs. I wasn’t bothered by the noise from the dining room directly below me – I was too knackered.
Next morning dawned bright, clear & cold, and the plans made the previous evening were put into action – but not before Chewie had provided bacon butties for all who wanted them. That was pretty well everyone!

 A very frosty dawn, looking towards Coniston

 

Coniston Coppermines Youth Hostel

My Plan was to join the small (select!) group who were going up to Dow Crag and then over to Coniston Old Man. Our leader, Skip, had arranged to collect Paddy from Coniston and drive him over to Walna Scar. The rest of the party would walk over to meet them at the small car park. As if by magic, we approached the car park just as Skip’s car rolled up.

  ….and off we trot

This was to be a leisurely stroll – a good job really. Poor Taz was decidedly under-the-weather, but she’s made of stern stuff and a little dose of raging stomach bug and galloping wotsits wasn’t going to rob her of a good walk.

 Pete and a poorly Taz

 Walna Scar, the first ‘top’ of the day

A trundle up Dow Crag followed. I’m not the best on bouldery ascents and I was last to the top. It didn’t matter, the party was in no hurry. The views were good – but it was seriously cold on the tops.

Taz, Pete and Paddy on Dow Crag

Goats Water from the saddle between Dow Crag and Coniston O.M.

Lunch was taken close to the very busy summit of Coniston Old Man. It was a bit worrying to see ill-clad walkers on the top, it was freezing and there were areas of slippy compacted snow. I’m sure they give the local MRT business they’d rather not have.

The top of Coniston Old Man

A party on the top

Dropping off the top, Skip spotted a rather enticing gully – just waiting to be explored. So that’s just what we did. A delightful stream, bordered with juniper bushes – just out of reach of hungry sheep, provided our route down:
 
Somehow we managed to squeeze 5 walkers and a doggy into Skip’s already full car – even so, 15 minutes later we were all back at the hostel – drinking tea and putting the world to rights.

Around 8 miles with 2700’ of up:

Some trolled off to the Black Bull in Coniston for their evening meal and a few beers. Others stayed behind, me included – I’d brought my tea with me.

The common room had a solid-fuel stove, loads of solid fuel – firelighters too. But matches? Kindling? None! My Boy Scout heritage and cunning soon had the fire going. It was a bit rum though, the stove didn’t have any glass in the door. I think the YHA need to get their maintenance schedules up to speed.

 Pete & Milly in relaxation mode 

An evening of Jenga, rehydration, more Jenga, and good conversation followed. The results of the Jenga championships are classified…..all I will say is that I didn’t do too well!

Carrick, Chewie & Jamie 

It was good to meet Jamie for the first time, his Trekking Britain blog is excellent.

Next morning, a breakfast of Chewie’s bacon butties and gallons of tea set the group up for a much shorter walk. The plan was to walk from Yewdale, have a trundle around Tarn Hows and some of the little hills in the area.

Tarn Hows

 Jane, Sladey and Margaret

 

Lunch spot ahoy!

A chilly but sunny lunch spot was found and a pleasant half-hour was spent refuelling on butties, scones and Milly’s rather delicious sweeties. 

Apres lunch snooze 

 Black Crag

Some OMers needed to get off home, so after descending to the road from Black Crag the group split into two – one lot (me included) headed back to the car park at Yewdale, whilst t’others continued a little further.

 The parting of the ways

A pleasant diversion to Booths in Windermere for essential supplies of tea and cake in the company of Jane and Margaret brought my O.M. weekend to a close.

It was a grand do – and I’ll definitely be back.

Thanks to all who made the event so successful and enjoyable – especially Milly for making it happen, and Maria for supplying and making my tea on Friday!

More piccies here.