Up and Down Winnats Pass

We set out along the pavemented walk towards the entrance to Winnats Pass. The day was warm and clear; it was early so there weren't too many people around but we knew that it would get much busier, it is after all, one of Derbyshire's 'honeypots'.

As we passed the entrance to Speedwell Cavern the car park opposite was beginning to fill as families arrived to take one of the boats through the cavern. I remember a school trip here - too many years ago now to mention - part of a geography lesson, I think.

We carried on walking, by the footpath leading to Treak Cliff Cavern and into the pass. There is a road through it now as the old road towards Mam Tor was closed, due to a land slide, in 1974.

The atmosphere changed as soon as we entered; it seemed darker and cooler with the wind gusting towards us trying to push us back but we persevered.

The crows were 'cawing' to each other as they swooped and dived high up above our heads, the hardy hillside sheep bleating occasionally as they chewed at the sparse grass, sometimes standing almost vertically on the hillside and way up above a buzzard thermalling high in the sky. I have to confess that I didn't realise I had managed to catch the buzzard on the photo until I saw it later.

About halfway along the Pass we turned to take in the view behind us. How much further to go?

At the top now! So this is where the sheep gather! Behind us is Mam Tor, also known as the 'shivering mountain'. There were lots of walkers and climbers up there already. Little dots to the naked eye.

After taking in the views whilst having a rest and consuming our coffee and flapjacks it was time to return the way we had come. So much easier to walk now with the wind behind us and downhill all the way.

The craggy limestone rocks above are full of little cave like mine entrances and mining addits. The rocks are still rich with the famous Blue John and fossils like trilobites and brachiopods.

We stopped off at the Speedwell Cavern and went into the little shop to look at the Blue John and the fossils and found also a 'cabinet of curios' from a bygone age when the mines were still worked. The side-saddle in the middle case is said to have belonged to the ill-fated Clara who had run away to be married with her suitor Allan. The couple are said to have stopped at the village of Castleton for refreshment and directions to the 'runnaway church' at Peak Forest where they could be married without parental consent. They were attacked, robbed and murdered on their way through Winnats Pass - here is a link to the full, and very sad story.

Then it was time to head back towards Castleton where Peveril Castle nestles on the hill up above the pretty village.