HIDDEN PEAKS, CAVES, CLOUGHS & CLOUDS

ANGLEMOG AUTUMN WEEKEND! 

by Ian Hunt

Traditionally every Autumn Anglemog members don sheepskins pack their cases & head off for their annual autumn weekend break. Paul - Have I got a deal for you - Downing, has been the driving force for this event for many years, however Cheryl & Dudley Pusey volunteered to give Paul a break this year and agreed to organize the trip.

Dudley having lived in Macclesfield is very familiar with this part of the country & suggested that the weekend of 4th - 7th October would be an ideal time to explore the 'Hidden peaks, caves, cloughs & clouds of the Peak District. It was agreed that the main group would rendezvous at the Little Chef, Buntingford, whilst other members opted either to go directly to the hotel or meet at the lunch stop in The Castle Barge, Newark.

Barge

Barge
The weather was fine & roads dry as we arrived at Hollins Hall Country Hotel, Kerridge late that afternoon following a drive through some spectacular scenery.

Saturday was not kind, the cloud was very low & rain looked imminent, undaunted we sped off on our first scenic run, the first stop was at Lamaload reservoir where we parked the Morgan's & had a gentle stroll.

 Following the walk we made our way to The Barrel at Bretton for lunch - you can see how the cloud was hugging the land.

Following lunch it was off to the Speedwell Cavern & a subterranean boat trip in very low light through the bowels of the earth. Nigel can be seen sporting the obligatory hard hat, flanked pictures taken inside the cavern. We returned to our hotel slightly damp, definitely muddy but happy.

Speedwell cavern

Nigel

Speedwell cavern

On Sunday there was a complete reversal of weather conditions the sun was shining and it was a very pleasant morning, even I, not being known for my adventurous spirit lowered the hood as we made off for our first stop at Teggs Nose, where we stopped briefly to stretch or legs.

   

Continuing on we enjoyed some really spectacular scenery as we wound or way through the twisting undulating lanes of the Peaks, finally coming to a halt at our appointed stop at Little Acorns Coffee Shop, Hollands Nursery for lunch and the opportunity to view an exhibition of paintings in water colour, the work of a local artist & friend of Dudley & Cheryl's.

Hollands Nursery

Following lunch we returned to the cars intending to set off and visit Quarry Bank Mill via the pretty route, at least that was the plan, but at that moment the battery of my 4/4 decided to depart this life leaving Freda & I to spend the rest of the day in the car park whilst a very nice man called Brian sorted the problem out. On a personal note I owe a debt of gratitude to Lisa for her assistance in summoning the AA & to Paul Downing who drove me back to the hotel to retrieve the spare set of keys in case the fault was connected to the engine immobilizer. I must also thank the young couple who own the nursery for their hospitality and forbearance whist we used the premises to repair the car. Incidentally the offending vehicle may be seen centre in the photograph above.

I understand that the rest of the party thoroughly enjoyed the rest of the day, perhaps with the exception of Rob who had the bonnet of his 4/4 remodeled by an earthbound conker.

Alas Monday came all too quickly, and southwards we all trudged - except that is Jeff & Sue who went west to extend their break in Wales.

The thanks of the whole group go to Cheryl & Dudley for organizing a splendid weekend away & also to the Family Bull for setting the quiz.

Lets do it all again soon please.