Derwent Valley Heritage Way Day 2

I woke with some minor aches and loosened up with a hot shower. After sampling much of the breakfast buffet I was walking before 8am. Despite the early sun, the air was cool and I was tempted to get gloves from my pack, but instead opted to quicken my pace. The weather was forecast to become cloudy but this didn't happen and so later in the day I was applying sunscreen.

The Cromford Canal is easy rural walking

Today's first section around Cromford was familiar although quieter than when I've visited later in the day. The various attractions were still closed. Walking through industrial Belper and Derbyshire was interesting and looked to be worth a future 'tourist' visit. The DVHW guidebook suggests heritage attractions but I didn't have the time for detours and I don't find it easy to mix stops and hiking in a day.

Historic mill houses on a Belper hillside

South of Derby was a tough 8km for me as the path was clear, level and paved. Great for cycling but tedious for a tired walker. Every hundred metres felt like an eternity.

The River Derwent is regulated by many weirs along its length

After some welcome field paths the way passed through villages on the road, once again a struggle. At Shardlow I was relieved to join a canal again with its colourful boats and portside structures.

The Trent and Mersey Canal was a welcome sight

Derwent Mouth is a picturesque ending defined by an information board. It's worth continuing to the footbridge over the River Trent to see the end the the Derwent more clearly, whatever your destination.

The Derwent Mouth is where the River Derwent flows into the River Trent

However, this bridge was part of my route as I continued a few km into Long Eaton to catch a train home. I was very aware of today's 50km with a mild back ache and the beginning of a rubbed toe.

The DVHW was an enjoyable 90km walk, generally easy underfoot and with only a few minor ascents. To a degree its ease might be seen as a drawback as it didn't provide much variation in pace. 

Derwent Valley Heritage Way Day 1

I walked from home to the Royal Hallamshire Hospital to catch the 257 bus to Yorkshire bridge. Although the bus was a few minutes late it caught up with itself and arrived at the reservoir on time. I know most of the route of the northern half of the Way and readily reached Grindleford Community Cafe for a coffee stop. I dawdled over coffee having unexpectedly met an ex-colleague and this affected my day's average pace!

Near Bamford the river is fairly narrow

The weather was very kind to me, sunny but not hot, and with a light breeze. I wanted to take some exciting photographs but was visually fatigued with green trees, grass and brownish water. I worked to find compositions as I walked but naturally didn't want to explore options.

Watch out for cattle blocking the path in Rowsley

The route passed through, or close to, a range of shops and tearooms so plentiful options to top-up on snacks if they were required. I limited myself, after Grindleford to collecting some items for tomorrow's lunch from Matlock Co-op.

Much of the 'heritage' reflects historic industry and the remnants are widespread

I'd chosen my destination of Matlock Bath as being around halfway and the New Bath Hotel being reasonably priced. It's famous for its spring-fed lido which at 19°C is cool by my standards. I couldn't keep my head in and only managed a 12 minute dip. This was a pleasant chill after a fairly easy-going 40km.

After eating at the hotel I slept soundly, apart from a few minutes when a loud diesel engine was being started in the car park.

Three weeks in Falmouth

After spending a thoroughly enjoyable month in Falmouth last year, we decided to visit a little earlier in the year, for just three weeks. Unfortunately we couldn't stay in the same apartment but found another very comfortable one near Castle Beach. 

ON our drive over Bodmin we stopped off at the Kerdroya labyrinth. It's not much 'exercise' but a very pleasant place to be restful, or, admire the skill of the Cornish hedgers.

The labyrinth isn't fully walled as yet, but enough is to give a clear impression

As before, I ran to Flushing a number of times and we walked towards Helford passage twice and around The Lizard.

The pontoon at Flushing was a popular spot for children to swim

Last year I didn't find a suitable opportunity to visit the Via Ferrata attraction just outside Falmouth. So I made a point of going  there early in the holiday while the weather was favourable.

The site is a reclaimed quarry and offers opportunities for climbing and water activities

I've had an interest in this since 'accidentally' being on an engineered trail in Austria nearly 40 years ago - without a harness. I'd also read about them in Italy when I'd been learning about the mountain forts built in the Alps a hundred years ago. I'd thoroughly recommend this as a half-day activity and was pleasantly surprised how much confidence I had in the engineering, as someone who professes to be afraid of heights!

I also took an evening boat trip which included stories, and history, of the local coastline. The springtide allowed the ferryboat to venture further towards Penrhyn than is usual although it did disrupt some other part of the excursion.

Falmouth harbour was welcome after a few hours exposed to the sea breeze

Once again, I very much enjoyed the extended holiday period and wonder why I never thought it possible whilst working. Conversely, I suspect that I won't want to return to Falmouth next year, mainly because the paths are limited by the many river estuaries and a number of country estates that hinder route planning.

Loosening the legs

I've had a week away from running in preparing for, and then taking, a few days of swimming in the Lake District. With a fair weather forecast, and surprisingly stiff legs I took an indirect loop to Oxstones. I wasn't rushing so took a few pictures along the way.

A wisp of wool was not easy for the camera's autofocus

The Lake District is to my mind more exciting and picturesque than the Peak District but it's good to remember that I can reach the countryside on foot in less than half an hour.

 

Lakes and Tarns

I've just returned from 3 days based in Grasmere for SwimTrek's Lakes and Tarns swim holiday. Across the days I've swum around 4km which is far more than my usual training load, but so far, no harm done.

Grasmere village straddles the River Rothay

The hotel was able to check us in a little early which was convenient although the welcome message was to my mind slightly ambiguous as to how we should prepare. I suspect that I'm a bit pedantic and my questions were seemingly on many participants' minds in the Q&A. Our first swim was a dip in Grasmere from close to the tourist beach. A 150m triangle was laid out for use to circulate around so that we could get a feel for 18°C water and the guides could appraise our swimming abilities informally. The water started clear but became cloudy as we disturbed the sediment.

Day 2 was a walk-swim-walk-swim-walk sequence. I was allocated to a faster swim group than previously which was perhaps a mistake. The whole group would swim from the south of Grasmere, along the River Rothay, into Rydal water and then loop back at various points for the return. The longest route would be 2400m which is a lot for me. Around the time we should turn back I started to feel cold and felt my strength ebbing away. The journey back was slow and done in 100m steps encouraged by one of the local safety guides. I accepted a tow for a 100m or so but determined to complete the swim under my own power. I was distinctly cold when I landed and very glad of a steading hand and a sweet, hot drink. With warm clothes, a walk and lunch I recovered and was happy to do a loop in Grasmere in the afternoon although I was aware of some shoulder soreness. For me it was quite an achievement to manage 3km.

I was vey much looking forwards to the third day where we walked to Easedale Tarn for a brief swim before returning to town for lunch and departure. I've walked and run up to the tarn a few times and been attracted by the clean mountain water but never ventured in.

Thanks to the guide team for this photo in Easedale Tarn

I left the group very much wishing that I was starting the holiday again (after a day's break for a shoulder rest). The other participants were great and helped each other out as needed. The SwimTrek guides (Andy and Orla) and local safety team (Becki and Justin) were absolutely perfect in allowing us to rise to challenges and support where required.

A new (to me) camera

I've used a few cameras on my runs and walks. I started digital photography with a Nikon Coolpix 2500 which was OK for 2002 but in reality generated rather indifferent images. I upgraded to a Lumix LX5 which was a vast improvement apart from not being quite as smooth in a pocket. Its images still look good to me although the rear dial has become faulty which makes it very difficult to alter parameters. I do like to believe that I can make adjustments better than 'iAuto'. With its telescoping lens it isn't especially dust resistant and I've had it cleaned by the Panasonic agent once. As my running became more serious I bought a waterproof Lumix FT25 which I was initially very happy with. Unfortunately the lens is fogged internally making all images misty. I did treat it as if waterproof and I don't believe it really was! I also tried a generic 4k action camera, it was small but the white balance and hence colour was terrible and the buttons almost unusable in the waterproof case. Ultimately its battery swelled which gave me a good excuse to dispose of it into WEEE.

My old iPhone SE that I use for navigation takes pleasant photographs and I use it in a fairly well sealed case so it ticks a few boxes. In use it doesn't feel to be really taking a photograph and the camera unit can't really be controlled.

The LX5 is a great camera but I couldn't bring myself to pay the nearly £200 quoted for a repair. After a lot of YouTube browsing I've bought a lightly used Olympus OM-D E-M5 Mark II. It is 10 years old so there is a risk that switches are worn but in view of its very low shutter count I hope that is unlikely. This model is nominally weather resistant but perhaps 10 year-old gaskets are perished and the cheaper micro four thirds lenses aren't sealed!

I'm hoping that if I look after it I'll be able to sell it on without much of a financial loss if I don't like it as this model is currently sought after. It is larger than the LX5 in every dimension, especially weight and I haven't found a good way of carrying it yet. All of the switches to appear to work and despite its age it is clearly far more advanced than the LX5, with many, perhaps too many, operations.

There is another problem, that opening the Pandora's box of camera reviews and specifications can lead to GAS.

So far most of my pictures have been in the garden or local woods, trying to understand exposure modes, IBIS and custom set-ups. However, today I did do a real trail run which covered some rights-of-way for my mapping project and took me over the lovely Eyam Moor.

There is something, almost romantic, about derelict buildings and the red hose pipe caught my eye.

My search couldn't find a perfect trail running camera but I'll see how well this one serves me over the coming months. I'll probably keep an eye on other options which include:

• Sony RX100 (no attempt to be weather sealed but pocketable)
• Lumix GM1 (too small to be usable) and its cheaper relatives 
• Fuji X100 (too expensive and unobtainable)
• Insta360 Ace Pro (at heart it's an action camera)
• Lumix LX100 (a new weather sealed version would probably be perfect!)
• IP68 sealed mobile phone (I don't like the style of heavily processed images)

 

Kinder reservoir circuit

I had the opportunity to spend a day in Edale and planned a circuit along the edge of the Kinder plateau, past the downfall, to the reservoir, to Hayfield and back on the Pennine Bridle Way via Chapel Gate.

During my ascent of Jacob's ladder it became clear that it would be far colder on the hill than in the village due to a strong northeasterly wind. The past weeks have been dry which was reflected in the minimal flow in the waterfall. However the wind was strong enough to be blowing back uphill most of the water. I thought that it had been around 40 years since I was last on this part of Kinder. I completed the Pennine Way in the early 1980s and walked up past the reservoir with a fellow student one very snowy morning at some point pre-1986. We'd hoped to reach the downfall but stopped as the snow was too deep for reasonable and safe progress. This time I found the path to be dry, well-made and unpopular. The latter was perhaps due to it being a potentially wet Monday morning.

I'm unaccustomed to the steepness of the cloughs and wasn't walking as quickly as hoped. So I chose to turn back after the reservoir rather than go to Hayfield village. This might not have been a wise decision as I had a caffeine-deficiency headache all afternoon.

The route along the bridleway was longer and more undulating than I recalled. Perhaps this is because my last use was on a motorbike while the track still had legal motorised access?

Chapel Gate gave me a great view along the Edale valley with Hollins Cross and Win Hill highlighted.