People, the Peak District is so amazing. And it's so close, a 40 minute train ride and I'm there, and I only just discovered how easy it is. I thought I needed Liam's car (and well, Liam to drive it for me) to get there. And while it's certainly necessary to have a car if you want to go to very specific remote places, there are also plenty of beautiful sights and hills close enough to train stations. And just the other week, I took the train and went for a walk.
I had decided on a circular walk and followed a plan that was said to take 4 hours. "Cool", I thought, "it's going to take me 5 hours and 20 minutes then". (I always add a third of the calculated time, partly because I'm hilariously unfit, but also because I stop all the time to take photos, and look at the view and sit down to think about something, and things like that. I'm a very slow walker.) I started at noon and got back to the train station at 17:23, so I'll say my calculations were precise enough.
Summer landed on us unexpectedly, and the weather was absolutely beautiful all day. Once I had climbed up the hill to Hollins Cross, it was windy enough to not be uncomfortably sweaty, either.
I stopped for my ridiculously British lunch: egg and cress sandwich - in triangles of course - and a bag of crisps. This British thing that people eat a small bag of crisps with lunch or as a snack is something I really need to let go of when I move back home. I have thoroughly enjoyed it, though.
For the next little while I walked along Rushup Edge, with stunning views on both sides, until I reached Mam Tor.
After I had left Mam Tor behind me and crossed the road that takes people up to the parking, the path felt almost deserted, which I enjoyed even more. Deserted of humans, I should say. I had several other companions instead.
Turning around just a little while later, this is Mam Tor seen from the west, and all the ant-sized people walking up it.
And I continued east along Rushup Edge for about an hour or so before it was time to walk back down.
The landscape turned into grassy meadows and farm houses, and pretty stiles like this one.
And this one, which isn't really needed anymore ...
After a while of crossing meadows and opening heavy wooden gates (and closing them properly behind me), and taking the wrong path once because the path disappeared every so often, I reached Upper Booth.
From there it was a very easy walk (compared to the fairly steep hills earlier) along the Pennine Way back to Edale.
This is where I ended up, at the very start of the Pennine Way, and realised I have already taken a picture of this sign once. :)
This Twister, while I was waiting for the train, was nothing short of a delicacy. I was so warm and tired and happy and full of views and colours and moving my body. Spending a day outside like this was exactly what I needed. My time in the UK is running out quickly, but if I'm lucky, I have a hill walk or two still in front of me before I leave. I feel like I can live off of a walk like this for days. Maybe weeks.
Peter Gabriel | In Your Eyes
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