Youlgreave 10 - 12 October 2014

A Friday evening departure this time and what with the traffic and diversions it took 3 hours to travel from Bradford to Youlgreave. Most of the group stayed in the YHA which used to be a Co-op. The rooms are named after the various departments and I was in Savings and Dividends. Some were dropped off in Bakewell and some stayed in B&Bs in the village.

Sheila's group photo

Dining Room

Member's Kitchen

It was situated in the middle of the village opposite the well. There is quite an interesting website by the Youlgrave Well Dressers that explains all about the origins of well dressing. Follow this link to explore it.

There are two alternative spellings of Youlgreave or Youlgrave but local people use Youlgrave and this is how it is pronounced.

Saturday

We awoke to a misty morning and after breakfast set off on three different circular walks around the village. Before we left the electricity went off. Luckily breakfast was over but there was some concern as if it wasn't fixed we would have to find alternative accommodation for the night. Health and Safety wouldn't let us stay there without electricity even though the hostel had emergency lighting in the main areas and bedrooms. However you did have to take a torch to the toilet!

The 'A' party left first as their walk was the longest. Val was leading the 'C' party and was delayed due the road closure between Bakewell and Youlgreave so Frank started off the walk and she caught up later.

I did the 'B' walk led by Brian and it was a very interesting walk.

It was very atmospheric as we descended into Bradford Dale and made our way to Robin Hood's Stride.

A short distance from here we left the path to explore the Hermit's cave.

There are some more interesting details about the hermit if you follow this link.

After exploring this area we emerged into the sunshine and apart from a short shower after lunch the sun shone for the rest of the day. The downside of the shower was that we were rewarded with a view of a beautiful double rainbow.

Brian's rainbow photo

You can read more about double rainbows here. Apparently this was a very spiritual moment!

We also experienced quite a lot of mud in Gratton Dale which we haven't had to contend with very much this year. A timely reminder of what might be in store over the winter. 

'B' Party

Fortunately as we returned to Youlgreave via Bradford Dale we were able to clean our boots in the stream before ending the walk back at the hostel. The electricity was back on and all was well.

Sunday

Sunday started off misty as well. We loaded our luggage on to the coach and set off for Bakewell to pick up Val's group before heading for the Monsal Trail.

Our View from Monsal Head

What we should have seen

A pity we missed the great view but at least it wasn't raining. This time the 'A' party was led by Margaret, the 'B' by Keith and the 'C' by Frank. I opted for the 'B' again and first of all we explored the Headstone Tunnel on the Monsal Trail that is now open to the public.

The views from the trail were a bit muted because of the mist but by the time we stopped for lunch the sun had come out again. 

We had lunch at Millers Dale station which once saw hundreds of visitors arriving by train. Dr Beeching soon put paid to that and you can read more about it here. The 'A' party were lunching here too. They had walked along the trail and then taken a diversion via Cressbrook Mill.

Lime Kilns

Abseiling

 We saw a group of people abseiling off the bridge. Here is a link to a Youtube video giving you an idea of what it feels like. Health warning, don't watch this if you suffer from vertigo!

 After this we left the trail for a while and headed uphill

 And then downhill very steeply

before joining the trail again just before it ends and descending to the Wye Valley..

I couldn't resist a selfie!

A final tea stop before the last section over the fields and into Buxton and a welcome break at Wetherspoons while we waited for all the walks to finish.

'C'  Party

We were a few minutes late setting off for home but we made good time on the journey back and were back in Bradford in under two hours.

All it remains to say is a big thank you to Frank and the committee for organising the weekend and all the walks leaders who volunteered to lead the walks. Also thanks to Sheila and Brian for some of the photos. I think everyone enjoyed it very much and will be sending in their booking for Coniston in March. See you there hopefully!