Today I had breakfast at the Beehive Inn. I had a shorter day of 8.5 miles to Edale where I was meeting my friend Karen (you may remember her from Day 16 in Bude). I had originally planned a 14 mile route but when I realised I could take a shortcut through town and still walk along a ridge with spectacular views, there was no contest. Take the shorter route every time.
Breakfast done, I packed up and set off along the road to Chapel-en-Le-Frith, home of Ferodo brake linings. It also had several pubs, some fish and chip shops, several hair and beauty salons,a surprising number I thought, and a gold post box (Anthony Kappes cycling, Paralympics). It probably has more but that’s what I saw on my route.
I left the road when the pavement ended and walked along a bridleway enjoying the sunshine but not the flies which surrounded me for quite a while.
The route gradually wound its way up and, I have to admit, I thought the views would be better. A stone wall on one side -just higher than my eyeline – and a rather flat top on the other so there were no views on that side either. I saw a few paragliders so that was fun. Then suddenly, I saw a mound ahead of me with a lot of people on and around it. I though they were just watching the paragliders but no, they were also looking at the most amazing views. The mound was a tumulus known as Lords Seat, and it was perched right where the ground fell away on one side and the stone wall dipped on the other resulting in a spectacular (but not too scarily narrow) ridge. I know I go on about the views but today was the most (running out of adjectives here) amazing so far. The ridge extended for quite a way beyond beyond Mam Tor although was cut by a road just before it. I didn’t go on to Mam Tor (Iron Age hill fort) but cut down the road to follow a bridleway.
The bridleway turned into a wooded road (got to get a woodland photo in) and, unexpectedly I was passed by a vintage Bentley.
With impeccable timing, not to mention route planning, I arrived at Edale station about ten minutes before Karen’s train was due. I waited for her on the platform (I might have had time for an ice cream) and we walked to The Rambler Inn. Not a long walk so for the second night running I’m sleeping next to a railway line.
Karen went to look round Edale while I had a shower and washed some clothes, such is the glamorous life of the long-distance walker. We had dinner (mediocre) outside, ordered our lunches for tomorrow and turned in for the night.
Rose's LEJOG 