Windy running
As part of my drive to bring over old blog posts from WordPress the following was originally written in 2017, still in the early days of running for me.
I decided I need some hilly privacy for my weekend run, a time to reset and think over recent events, I must admit in my yearning for adventure I feel myself being drawn more into the isolative side of exploring, with only adventure pup to keep me company I set fourth into the might Peak district, just outside of Buxton.
I headed up towards a very popular tourist spot of Stanage Edge, with a short drive from Hathersgate my thought that heading out early may avoid the worse of the crowds. I had roughly planned a route the evening before which would see me follow Stanage Edge for some distance.
I had originally planed to arrive at Burbage Edge car park but as I arrived at the car park I realised I had actually parked at Hooks car park, but with only a short distance between the two, I sorted my gear, tethered adventure pup to my body and set off on an upward route towards the long running stone escarpment.
On my way up the narrow footpath I noted that the rock face was covered in a large number of rock climbers who now looked like ants scrambling around the vertical wall of stone. The route path continued to climb, but thankfully not for long and I passed only a few people as I began to hit the top.
I hoped from stone to stone, connecting the path like a giant dot to dot and making the running a more technical and fun adventure, I thread my way along, quickly passing along the top of the famous Robins Hood cave, from reading others route blogs, I noted that it would be all but impossible for me to access along with adventure pup. The cave is said to have housed he famous freedom fighter on his many escapades around the country and his most famous companion little John is said to be buried in the local church yard at Hathersage.
I took the moment to have a quick wee in what I thought was a sheltered spot and although out of site of any walkers crossing above me, the wind whipped up a gully suddenly mid stream and yes it never went where it was supposed to, at this point my hat also blew off and rolled in said wee!!!
I set off hatless, jumping from stone to stone, the wind howling across the ridge blowing both myself and dog to the side and off balance.
I took a video at the spot above somewhere before High Neb, the wind here was so intense that I was unable to speak or catch my breath, Millie looked on, trying to shelter her ears from the ferocious onslaught of mother nature we carried on and just before High Neb I came off to explore a little stone structure which turned out to be nothing more than a grouse butt.
Stepping down into protected depression It brought a brief and welcome respite from the wind, I sat and looked at my map trying to decide where I wanted to head next and decided to carry along the same route, I hit the trig at High Neb which is the highest point at 1503 ft, from the OS map I could see that there were a number of cairns dotted just off the path which shows its long use and reverence through human history.
I soon reached a point where I was able to see the A57 and here I about turned and followed a path that ran below Stanage Edge, the path having been churned by sheep was nothing more than a skating rink of mud and water, I slipped and slid as I struggled to keep my balance climbing a gully just after High Neb before descending around Buck Stone, as I struggled to stay upright I tripped turning my ankle, I sat momentarily as I stretched my sore foot and massaged its tender sides and off I set slipping only a few meters along on a stone this time and bruised my bum.
I ducked into Dennis Knoll and followed paths dodging fields and sheep.
I soon came upon the ruins of an old chapel dedicated to the holy trinity in 1685 in the time of James the II, but a few years later when William III came to power a mob of protestants set fire and destroyed this once holy place in 1688. Not far from here lay the cottage once used by none other than Charlotte Bronte herself and 2 years later Jayne Eyre was published.
I rejoined the road as an easy and less tasking option than attempting to navigate the wet and tricky terrain below the edge and was soon back at my car having covered just under 6miles.
It was a short day, but one that helped to reset the mind and body for a time being, the Peak district is becoming my go to area for running, with many paths, history and geography to keep anyone interested.
