From the Mam Tor car park eight of us set out in the rain and mist for what turned out to be a cracking day. Kev C had a fall on the rocky descent from Mam Tor and smashed his brake lever. Unwilling to continue without a rear brake, our resident engineers Matthew, Kev U and Richard (I think) tested the theory that you can repair anything with cable ties – and yes you can, even the pivot bolt of a hydraulic brake lever. So we continued over Jagger’s Clough and the rocky descent to the Snake Pass. Here’s Derek making the most of it.
- Enjoying the descent
Straight across the Snake to climb up again and then another rocky descent to Derwent Reservoir. Along the road, past the information board explaining that this is where the Dambusters trained for the bombing of the German dams in WW2, to the visitor’s centre as the sun came out for bacon baps and coffee from the kiosk – delicious.
Under the Derwent dam to the east side of Ladybower resevoir and the very steep climb up the hillside before picking up the traverse to Whinstone Lee Tor.
Here’s Eleanor with Ladybower in the background.
Smashing viewpoint this and then a long, flowing descent across the moor before a rockier section down to the pub on the A57 where we had a quick shandy in the sunshine. On over the Ladybower dam and up and over Wooler Knowl to descend into Hope. From here we climbed up the lane to Dirtlow Rake watching Tim disappear into the distance. This track eventually took us round to drop us out on the road a mile or so from the car park. Thanks for navigating Kev (and carrying Richard’s enormous jacket).