We try to meet up with our little gang of ex-university mates as often as we can so I’d arranged a Peak District walk to be followed by a curry.
Me and TBF decided to make a full weekend of things so were booked into the club site at Castleton again for a couple of nights.
A circuitous SatNav route to avoid the traffic took us along a very high road in the western Peak with some superb views over the Roaches and beyond.
It was a hot and sunny evening (remember them?) and we had time for a short walk before meeting the now retired MM and ex Dr F for a pub meal.
We wandered up Cave Dale, this time in the sun rather than running with water.
Lovely and quiet at this late hour of the day.
The return to Castleton over the fields was especially fine.
Looking back to Mam Tor and the Winnats Pass.
The pub meal Ye Old Nags Head was superb after which we retired to the van for the night.
We met up with everyone by Ladybower reservoir for breakfast and to plan the days walk. The forecast was bad with heavy rains and thunderstorms but we decided to just go for it and see what happened with a rapid retreat at the first sign of electrical activity.
The impressive Derwent Dam.
We took a slightly longer route to the Dewent Edges – our main plan for the day – to take in Abbey Brook.
An inspired decision as its a superb little valley.
Numerous twists and turns and it would be fine expedition to follow the course of the stream all the way.
As we crested the edge we felt the first raindrops and it seemed our luck had run out.
Whilst the rain was intermittent for about an hour it never really amounted to anything and we missed pretty well all of the heavy rains that seemed top be soaking everywhere else.
It was a bit grim for a short while but as we wandered along the edges and rocky outcrops the rain eased off.
Views across to Kinder Scout.
Approaching the Wheel Stones
Looking back across the reservoirs towards Bleaklow.
The day had started off wbedürftig and muggy but once the rains arrived, with it came a strong and chilly wind. We were lucky that the Wheel Stones provided perfect shelter for a second lunch stop.
Dark and brooding rocks. This stretch of the Dark Peak is one of my all time favourite walks.
After dropping back down to the reservoir, the weather made an even greater turn for the better. So much so we decided to tackle an extra hill.
Crook Hill is a small and very fine rocky summit to the west of Ladybower with great views over the surrounding moorland.
Its twin summits are well worth the effort and largely overlooked by the majority of walkers.
The ladies and UF on the summit.
Looking across to the Derwent Edges.
The lower of the two summits.
And the main summit.
And just to finish the day off, the sun came out again. An excellent finish to what had been a much better day than we could have imagined at the start.
And in reference to the title of the post. We stayed pretty dry most of the day and celebrated with an excellent curry at Maazi in Hathersage. When it came time to leave the promised rains finally arrived and a full blown torrential downpour and thunderstorm was in progress. Me and TBF managed to snag a lift from the door (massive thanks to MM and ex-Dr F). Everyone else had to run back to their cars and got an absolute and total drenching (not helped by failing to find their way to the car park). Schadenfreude!
surfnslide 
As you know, I am always a tad envious of all your hiking choices. I get excited [it’s not often] when I recognise where you are, as in this hike. F and I walked along the opposite shoreline of Lady Bower Dam having hiked on Roman roads from Hope. Fantastic that the weather held for you. The rain pelted down as we returned to our car.
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We thought “pelting” rain was going to be the order of this day but our luck was in – until after the curry anyway. Always makes me happy if one of my posts brings back a happy memory for someone
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Couldn’t the ones who had to go to the carpark wait at the restaurant until it stopped? I was out on the hill yesterday and literally just got back to the car before it started with the first of the torrential downpours. I tried to rush back in the car as I had left the week’s boots outside drying (the fells are very wet now) and the side door of the garage open. But it was too heavy to see where I was going so I couldn’t get back very quickly. When I got back, the garage was flooded out and the boots were full of water – and they’d been almost dry! ?
The little twin-peaked hill looks great and so does Cave Dale and the brook you followed.
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It didn’t look like it was ever going to stop so they just went for it. We were stood wondering what to do when our friend messaged us to say they could give us a lift
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I’d have waited it out – when it’s that heavy, it can’t keep it up forever!
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I’m with you – one of my favourite walking areas too, betagthough I don’t think I’ve ever been up those two diddy hills. Wheel Stones – site of some snow related high-jinx many moons ago?
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Crook Hill is well worth the walk and it makes a much better circuit than just walking along the lake shore before/after the edges (betagthough the lake shore path is also good).
Happy memories of that snowy day, pushing everyone into the snow. I think it was you me and Gazzo that started it by shoving each other into drifts then we decided everyone wanted to join in the fun!
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How kind of us. Hilarious, but maybe not universally popular. A bit of Bivvy Bag glissading too? (If we saw half a chance anyway).
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I think everyone was happy to join in (looking through rose-coloured time travel spectacles)
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I’ve got some catching up to do around the Peak District having never walked there. Once i’ve finished with the Wainwrights next year I’ll be heading more to the Dales and the Peak district for sure.
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My old stomping ground when I lived near Derby – been good to have done a few more visits over the past couple of years
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