21st September 2009: Hartington Circular Web page by Bryan Benn and Sunnydale
Start/Finish: Hartington
HIghest Point: circa 280m
Distance: circa 10 kms
Weather: mainly fine and warm
Vertical altitude gain: circa 120 m
Time: 3 hrs 10 mins
An early arrival in the Peak District proved a very small challenge for Sunnydale! A route was decided quickly and in no time at all, we were on our way to Hartington to enjoy an afternoon walk. After lunch in a very pleasant tea shop, we headed out of the village towards Berresford Dale...on a warm, albeit sometimes cloudy afternoon.
It wasn't too long before we were walking alongside the river in the fairly short - but very pretty Berresford Dale.
The overgrown Summer vegetation almost hid a tower of rock that rose up from the river bed.
I had left behind the arid SE of England, where rainfall has been low for a few months now. Here, I could enjoy the fast flow of water over one of the Dales weirs.
The first sign of Autumn colours! Quite appropriate considering today's date: 21st September, the "official" start of Autumn!
An unusual bridge over the river required an 'elementary' understanding of the rules of balancing!
Even from this view on the East bank of the river, the bridge still looks rather unconventional!
Leaving Berresford Dale, we passed through a short stretch of meadow land, with the next Dale already in view a little way ahead.
Almost like a boundary marker, we first had to pass through a typical Derbyshire stone wall before "formally" leaving Berresford Dale!
Beyond the wall we found Wolfscote Dale, with it's National Trust sign clearly stating some "do's" and "don'ts" for this lovely area. No worries there for me, as Sunnydale always makes sure I "Be'ave" on our walks!
A very slight diversion took us up the rocky side of the Dale, where we were met with this dark and gloomy cave entrance.
As we stood at the cave entrance, a good view of the route ahead could be seen below us.
A last look back at the boundary wall between Berresford and Wolfescote Dales.
A very unconcerned heron (I'm sure it was Sunnydales pet!) posed for us for quite a while, giving us the opportunity to take a few photo's.
He then began to 'stalk' his prey in the water, allowing me an even closer shot of him!
With a final look back up Wolfescote Dale, I was impressed by yet another lovely stretch of our afternoon walk. To think I had only been shown what a 'Dale' was about one year ago!
Not all Dales have a river running through them, as I soon discovered when we headed almost North into Biggin Dale.
A short way into Biggin Dale, a look back at the point where it joins Wolfsecote Dale. The limestone cliffs are certainly an impressive sight from this view point.
Scars from the past are apparent in this limestone rich area, with this smaller cave clearly visible in Biggin Dale.
Some interesting fungi (possibly an immature trametes versicolour) gave us the opportunity for a brief photo stop.
Nearing the end of our walk, a brief steeper uphill stretch as we left Biggin Dale.
Back in Hartington we paused near the church that is the focal point of this lovely Peak District village.