Peak District - Loose Hill - 12th June 2010
Location: Peak district, Hope
Route: Hope, Loose hill farm, Loose hill, Back tor, Only grange farm, Castleton
Map: The Peak District Dark Peak Area - OL1
Route distance: 3.8 miles
Route time: 2 hours
Walk description: I originally planned to walk the whole of the Great ridge starting off in Hope villiage, making my way up to Loose hill on the east side of the ridge and walking over to Mam tor via Back tor and hollins cross. There should have been a group of four of us but due to unforseen circumstances the other three people pulled out at the last minute. Not minding walking on my own, I decided to go for it anyway, despite the weather forecast of thunder storms and heavy rain and cloud. I arrived in Hope at 7am and set off for the ascent of Loose hill only to be greeted by rain after 5 minutes of walking. Hoping that the thunder storms would hold out until later in the day I popped on the waterproofs and continued. Half way up Loose hill there was a rumble of thunder in the distance and not actually knowing exactly how long it would take to get to Mam tor on the other side of the ridge, I convinced myself that i would make it before the thunder and lightning reached the area (slightly optimistic me thinks). After conquering Loose hill and Back tor, being absolutely drenched, sweating like a pig and watching the low clouds roll in over the tops of the hills, the thunder returned. This time it was a lot closer and due to the fact that I didn't really fancy being stood on top of a big hill while the lightning was around, I decided to take the path down towards Castleton to find a source of hot food and a cup of tea. Fed up of being rained on and feeling rather wet and cold due to the lack of waterproofness in my waterproofs, I decided I would catch the bus back to hope.
Route: Hope, Loose hill farm, Loose hill, Back tor, Only grange farm, Castleton
Map: The Peak District Dark Peak Area - OL1
Route distance: 3.8 miles
Route time: 2 hours
Walk description: I originally planned to walk the whole of the Great ridge starting off in Hope villiage, making my way up to Loose hill on the east side of the ridge and walking over to Mam tor via Back tor and hollins cross. There should have been a group of four of us but due to unforseen circumstances the other three people pulled out at the last minute. Not minding walking on my own, I decided to go for it anyway, despite the weather forecast of thunder storms and heavy rain and cloud. I arrived in Hope at 7am and set off for the ascent of Loose hill only to be greeted by rain after 5 minutes of walking. Hoping that the thunder storms would hold out until later in the day I popped on the waterproofs and continued. Half way up Loose hill there was a rumble of thunder in the distance and not actually knowing exactly how long it would take to get to Mam tor on the other side of the ridge, I convinced myself that i would make it before the thunder and lightning reached the area (slightly optimistic me thinks). After conquering Loose hill and Back tor, being absolutely drenched, sweating like a pig and watching the low clouds roll in over the tops of the hills, the thunder returned. This time it was a lot closer and due to the fact that I didn't really fancy being stood on top of a big hill while the lightning was around, I decided to take the path down towards Castleton to find a source of hot food and a cup of tea. Fed up of being rained on and feeling rather wet and cold due to the lack of waterproofness in my waterproofs, I decided I would catch the bus back to hope.