Outdoor Adventures in the Peak District

Last weekend Colin and I went to Manchester Punk Festival. We had an absolutely awesome time; seeing over 30 bands – some we knew and some we didn’t, making new friends, singing, shouting, dancing and staying up late. You’ll soon be able to read the proper review over on Colin’s Punk Rock World (I’ve personally reviewed 11 of the acts we saw!), though for now you’ll have to take my word for it. But before all of music, we had a flying visit to the Peak District…

We were blessed with the most glorious weather, with pure sunshine and warm temperatures – I even put suncream on. Unfortunately we only had Wednesday afternoon and evening, plus Thursday morning before heading to Manchester. We made good use of the time we had and had a great time exploring and generally being outdoors. Colin and I have both agreed that the Peak District is wonderful and we’d like to go again for a longer period of time. Maybe with an OS map next time!

After stopping at services near Nottingham briefly on the journey, we arrived in time for a picnic lunch. I’d looked up the coordinates of a car park with a walking route nearby. The idea was that we would be walking to Three Shires Head – where Staffordshire, Derbyshire and Cheshire meet, with a bridge, all picturesque and stuff… but we didn’t have a detailed map and didn’t have any phone signal to use the Internet. So, we just ended up wandering. Beautiful weather and scenery all the same.

Nothing but rolling hills and sheep for miles.

Colin did good exploring.

There were lots of sheep.

We stayed one night in Buxton which was a lovely town itself but also home to the spectacular Buxton Country Park with stunning views. We took a walk around the park and up to the iconic Solomon’s Temple on Thursday morning, before leaving for Manchester later in the afternoon.

Explorer Colin is off again!

King of the world / castle / hill.

Solomon’s Temple.

The views from the top were breathtaking.

Too perfect a view not to take a selfie.

Time to go be punks…

Walking

I’m trying to make sure that, as well as going to the gym, yoga classes and swimming, I fit a decent amount of walking into my week – with or without walking companions.

I have my new iPhone 5S and the pedometer feature (plus this pedometer app) to blame/thank for enlightening me as to just how little I walk on weekdays – due to spending most of the day sat at a desk! Anyway, it’s also been quite nice and sunny these last few days so I ought to make the most of it. The sun is setting later so who’s to say that I can’t go for a post-work, post-gym, post-dinner stroll along the Embankment?! Which is what I did last night…

Today I popped out for a brief explorative walk in Oakley – the Bedfordshire village where I work – on my lunch break. Since we moved offices from Stevington, a year ago, I confess I haven’t been on many lunchtime wanders. I miss the windmill! I will try to get out more. Today I discovered a public footpath/bridleway which lead me here…

Went for lunchtime countryside ramble. Took first panorama photo on my new phone. #Oakley #Bedfordshire pic.twitter.com/AhxoO5Ow3D

— Emma Prew (@emmaprew) May 12, 2015

I really do live and work in lovely places. Bedfordshire is lovely.

Canalside walk: Wolverton to Cosgrove

This morning, well late-morning/almost afternoon, I took a walk from Wolverton to Cosgrove along the Grand Union Canal with my parents and some of their friends. It was about a 4 or 5 mile round trip with a lovely pub lunch at the Barley Mow, in Cosgrove (I had beer-battered fish and chips and half a pint of English ale – see photo below). I was planning on joining them on the walk anyway but was all the more encouraged when I woke up this morning, opened the curtains and saw how sunny it was. It’s about time too!

The only really sunny, warm and Spring-like day I can recall this year so far is when Steve and I went to the Battersea Park peace pagoda, in London, at the beginning of March. No doubt there have been some sunny days whilst I’ve been at work as well, but I don’t get to enjoy the sunshine so much inside the office! However, now that the clocks have gone forward and Spring is well and truly here, it is nice to leave work in daylight. If it remains warmer and sunnier, I may even start venturing outdoors after work!

That bridge with the cyclists on it is in fact the Grand Union canal that crosses over this other river. If you look closely, you can see a canal boat crossing over. Seems strange that boats go over a bridge to cross another body of water.

I probably shouldn’t have found this sign so amusing… but I did.

Here’s the canal going over the river!

Cosgrove church between the trees.

We had to walk through this old horse tunnel to get to the pub. Not sure how big the horses were as my dad had to duck a little!

Nice pint of English ale at the Barley Mow in Cosgrove… well, this is dad’s pint as I only had half. But he got the proper relevant beer glass.

The old railway works in Wolverton, alongside the canal.

My first photograph of daffodils this Spring.

I really liked this huge old railway bridge, so I went back to take a photo before we went home.

Knebworth House

On Sunday, I ventured into Bedfordshire’s neighbouring county – Hertfordshire. There I met my boyfriend, Steve, and we had a lovely day exploring Knebworth House and gardens. Including, but not limited to: trees, sculptures – recycled metal animals and impressive carvings from trees, gargoyles, pre-Sonisphere festival tents, [Bruce/Batman] Wayne Manor and DINOSAURS.

It was awesome.