The Roaches & Ramshaw rocks.

A 'fine day' was what they said, so we decided to go to the Roaches and Ramshaw rocks. Well, THIS was what greeted us when we parked up!

So, best foot forward, we made the decision to reverse the walk, doing the low stuff first and saving the high ridges until later, giving it a chance to clear.

WHAT a good decision! As you can see, the blue sky started to peep through, and the jackets came off.

A nice example of a five step stone stile next to Black brook.

Looking up the East flank of the Roaches, it looks like things might improve by the time we get up there.

Shutlingsloe, or 'the Cheshire Matterhorn', as it is romantically known was catching some rays as we looked over to it. That had been a consideration for today's walk. I'll save that one for another day.

Huge cumulus clouds over Shutlingsloe.

We climbed higher to gain the end of the Roaches. Looking back, we could see the mast on Croker hill on the horizon, plus hangingstone rock to the right.

Sue, at Roaches end.

Piercing rays cut through the clouds to illuminate Tittesworth reservoir.

We stood in the warm sunshine, admiring the views, when we heard a young girl singing. Turning round, we spotted her, sitting on the trig' point.

How happy is she?

But then, with these sort of views, what's not to be happy about?

I decided to stop at Doxey pool for some lunch.

I unpacked the sandwiches, while Sue kept an eye out for malignant spirits.

You can read all about THOSE click HERE

The dark waters of the pool, softened by the blue skies above.

Lunched up, it was time to press on.

Here's Sue, with Hen Cloud behind, and

Tittesworth reservoir glimpsing on the right.

Hen Cloud juts upwards.

We made our way off the Roaches, and headed for Ramshaw rocks.

We were grateful not to be wearing shorts today, as the gorse was vicious and thick on the path.

The view across the valley to the Mermaid Inn, once a pub, now a 'corporate venue'. You can read about it's history; click HERE

You can read about the mermaid and the pond by clicking HERE

Sue poses with the view from the top.

Of course, I had to climb and pose on these rocks!

Only eight miles, but we had to have an early finish as we were going to see 'Everest' at the cinema. The chill of autumn could be felt now, and gloves were needed on the last hour of this walk.

Time to re-pack the rucksack for winter use!

Butterflies and five wells

Today's walk would see some beautiful butterflies to kick us off.

We parked up in Wye dale, and set off up the river.

How beautiful and delicate is this?

(Click on any picture for a larger view, or slideshow).

Down the steps cut into the footpath.

Under one of the many impressive stone bridges carrying the Monsal trail.

Bright, clear skies made for good photo's.

We entered Deep dale beyond Topley Pike quarry.

Steep, rocky sides are a feature of this dale.

The huge mouth of a cave appears on the left, and we can't resist stopping to investigate.

Shelter from the heat of the day - caves are always nice and cool.

A video from inside the cave (which, as far as I know, has no name).

Tender flowers cling to the limestone wall at the edge of the cave.

Time to move on, we made our way to the upper reaches of the dale, flanked by steep, stony sides.

Looking back down the dale.

 Looking forward to a 'softer' dale.

These are man-made 'adits' - or mine entrances in

 tiny Bullhay dale..

A gate stile at the top of the dale, where we crossed old coalpit lane to make

our way to the village of Chelmorton.

I added on a small detour over the fileds to take in this sign of late summer - a cropped field.

I was once asked what those big black things in the fields are at this time of the year. I whispered; 

"they're tractor eggs"

Tractor eggs being 'laid'.

As we walked over the field stubble, the crunching was hypnotic - a bit like walking on squeaky  fresh snow.

The 'ENGLAND' sign 'written' in stone on the side of Chelmorton low.

This innocuous little hill is the equal of Uluru, or Ayres rock, when the sunset is right.

Beautiful skies.

What's all this 'ear?

A dark, sheltered stile.

Netherlow, before the short descent into Chelmorton.

A sculpture in a village garden.

The beautiful old phone box in the village.

The quintessential village pub (and a good one), the Church Inn, Chelmorton.

Anyone not from Derbyshire would think this a strange name!

Chelmorton church,........

.....with it's very unusual wind vane.

Can you make it out? A golden grasshopper!

We left Chelmorton by the green lane that leads to Pillwell lane.

Another butterfly fest awaited us on the high meadows.

At Pillwell gate, we made a right turn, over a stile, to visit the 'five wells',

a chambered tomb, supposedly the highest in England. You can read about it 

by clicking HERE

We continued on along the track, bordered with pink.

We crossed the A6 road and made towards Blackwell village, where we turned right.

Through the fabulous meadows.

I'll let you into a secret - we 'lost' about an hour here, as we just relaxed back into the bed of grass - and both dozed off!

 Fanned by a gentle breeze, it was hard to stir from our totally relaxed state, but press on we must (sighh)

Through meadow after meadow of summer loveliness, it seemed a crime to tread amongst all this natural beauty.

We had gained a lot of height, here we are, looking down on 

Blackwell cottages, in Wye dale.

We dropped steeply down to re-join the river, before enjoying a stroll along the banks, and back to the car.