Wednesday, September 02, 2009

Walking the Peaks - 30 August 2009

Whaley Bridge BasinAs you drive around the Peak District, there are groups of walkers everywhere, and as this was our only full day in the Peak District, we felt it only right to joint them, so carefully choose a walk to suit us, rejecting two which had strenuous climbing. The chosen walk started along a canal from Whaley Bridge, but once we left the navigation area, it climbed steeply to 500m, through heather, along Cracken Edge and up to the top. The strenuous walk was worth it, and the views are stunning.
Old milk churns on walkShetland ponies on walk
After the walk we set out on a circular drive in the area. This took in the attractive villages of Prestbury, Astbury and Buxton. A totally different point of interest was Jodrell Bank: the area around the giant telescope is open to the public, with a small visitor centre showing two excellent 3D films. It is always humbling to be reminded of the insignificance of Earth (let alone ourselves) in the enormity of the known universe. It was interesting to see the telescope up close, and see it moving as it tracks objects in space.
Cracken Edge
Jodrell BankThe rain started as we headed to Buxton, and hilltops at a lower elevation than those on our morning walk, were now up in the cloud. The recession did not seem to be effecting the popular Railway Pub in Buxton, probably helped by it's excellent value meals.

No comments: