If you see a 6-day old Goat Kid as pretty as this then it lifts your spirits and keeps them high whilst you're fagging around a 13 mile loop of Upper Burbage, taking in Stanedge, Redmires Reservoirs and Higger Tor.
A hilly, trail, half marathon distance lope was the order of the day today in order to provide one of a few outings prior to the Ravenscar Coastal Half Marathon in a couple of weeks time. That event should prove easier than today's crack, if nowt else we should have better weather.
Kicking off at Longshaw, then heading North past Parson House and over HoundKirk Moor ...
(Through Tigger Tor territory), past Lady Cannings Plantation, finally over the Ringinglow Road afforded, for me, new and surprising views of Sheffield. Passing Fulwood Head Farm gave great views across … err Fulwood and the Hills of Sheffield …
Before we turned east and headed down to Redmires Reservoir.
I'm sure the water management has been adequate but Lower Redmires looked a little low, even for up
here!...
Whilst the top one looked full ...
(They'll be coming up from the South East for some of this soon enough...)
Half-way round and a stop for water, protein bars and Simnel Cake: It is Easter Sunday after all? Before girding them ready for the next bit...
The rocky track up to Stanedge Pole was a good test of ones ability to head uphill non-stop – taken by Lady M whilst I bagged the maps as the rest of the round would become familiar ...
And with a flash of Pink and a toss of the Blonde Mane we hit Stanedge Edge and headed back left for Cowper Stone and Upper Burbage and a shelter behind a wall to avoid the impending shower.
Now which way? I reckoned upon a route adding around Higger Tor, Over Owler Tor, crossing the A6187 at the Car Park (not having an Ice Cream) and back via the Fox House would give us the target mileage for the morning but for some reason I ended up guiding us across the south end of HoundKirk Moor, behind the pub and cruelly up the last climb of the day before a sheep trod saved any more frayed laces and nerves:
Where's the car? Oh yes, back down the road passed the pub (again) and an actual distance of 13 miles. Time? Well it was a training day for M's up and coming Off Road Half so we were out firstly for distance and time spent on trails – target well under 3 hours. Result, well under 3 hours … lovely.
Whilst roughly knowing this route, I happened across a handy site for reference and found plenty of trail runs of varying length and difficulty in the Derbyshire area. Good pick for today as an introduction to what's out here. Was it typical Easter Holiday weather i.e rain, low cloud, wind and the remnants of snow? Last week I drove away from a business appointment at 23 degrees and not a cloud in the sky. Sadly, not that sort of day today. Hope you didn't eat too many eggs? Happy Easter!.
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