Summit of Mam Tor

A grand day out in and around Castleton. I brilliantly sunny day, hot out of the wind but pleasantly cooling when you needed it. Al and Liz went shopping in Castleton while we had a quick trot up Mam Tor with crowds of other people. Superb views throughout the walk of Hope Dale and Edale. They were all out there, walkers, cyclists, mountain bikers and paragliders as you can just make out in the shot if you look carefully.

I hadn't been to Castleton since 1975 when we stayed in the Youth Hostel while on a walking tour of the Peak District. Neither have I been on Mam Tor since then so it was a pleasure to return. And anyway, I think the weather that year was dull, wet and cloudy and I don't recall the walk being especially good. It's all change now with paved steps to the summit and along the ridge. I'll have to get the box of slides out for that time and see what we did.

By the time we returned to Castleton we were ready for some lunch; soup and a scone with coffee afterwards which seems to be our regular fare when out. Time for a brisk stroll around the town looking in a few outdoor shops but resisting the temptation to buy any more gear.

We rounded off the day with a drive to Bakewell where we did not buy a Pudding but did buy some cheese. A very interesting little town in the late afternoon sunshine. The River Wye had many large fish near the bridge, some of which were Brown Trout, grown large on copious quantities of fish food that were being thrown off the bridge.