rebel sanctuary

Last weekend I journeyed into the Peak District with my father. We stayed for two nights in an extremely attractive apartment opposite Ladybower Reservoir. The apartment is in what used to be the headquarters of reservoir officials, now converted into luxury furnished accommodation available to rent or to buy:

On the Saturday morning we had a guided walk with Peak District park rangers. This lasted from 9.45 am until 2.30 pm and is highly recommended; there was a lot of interesting information given on the maintenance of the moorland, of the farm dwellings, fences, dry-stone walls and on the various fauna growing on the Peaks. For instance, we learnt that heather has a lifespan of around 60 years and that young heather is essential food for many animals, but that older heather is also necessary to provide nesting areas and shelter for grouse. In order to maintain a healthy mix of both young and old heather, patches are periodically marked out and burned allowing the plants to replenish.

Unfortunately it was extremely overcast and hazy for most of the weekend, resulting in bad light for taking photographs. The views, however, were still spectacular.

Starting out on the journey!

Sheep were commonplace throughout the walk. The two here are relaxing amongst the heather.

A tree overhanging the stream which Cut-throat bridge crosses. The bridge is named, logically enough, after a body of a man with his throat cut was found there in the 16th Century.

Views from the Peaks overlooking Ladybower Reservoir and the Derwent Valley.

Pausing for a rest!

Walking down towards Ladybower Reservoir. The three farm barns have been recently restored using traditional, locally-sourced materials.

Various animals and creatures can be seen on the banks of Ladybower Reservoir.

Our walk ended with a very welcome hot roast beef sandwich at Ladybower Inn.

In the afternoon we decided to visit the extremely picturesque village of Castleton. Our first port of call was the cavern named The Devil’s Arse.

The name ‘The Devil’s Arse’ originates from Anglo-Saxon times. Occasionally in wet weather the cavern (which is entirely natural) floods, and as the water recedes the suction through a large hole in the floor creates a loud flatulent noise.

Making our way to The Devil’s Arse.

The rocks around the mouth of the cavern show a great variety in colour.

The first chamber of the cavern housed a large rope-making business in the 17th and 18th Centuries. The equipment still stands today, and a couple of the small cottages that families in the business slept in have been excavated. The guided tour includes a demonstration of how the rope was made, and lengths of rope can be purchased from the shop.

With all the walking that we had done we did not feel like visiting Peveril Castle, which is on the edge of a cliff overlooking Castleton. We made our way back through the village, spying some ducks and stopping for a delicious cream tea.

The next day we took a brief stroll along Ladybower dam:

On the right is one of the reservoir’s giant ‘plugholes’.

Afterwards we took the car and drove back to Sheffield, stopping at Hook’s Car along the way. We were fortunate enough to see some paragliding - it looked to be tremendous fun!

A few of these photos were requested as wallpapers, so here are those larger versions: