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 