The last ten days Lars Bengtsson has been visiting. We made a whistlestop tour round the south of England and Wales. The first few days were particularly beautiful, if somewhat on the chilly side, but that didn’t stop us. The benefit of having the car was we could go camping, luxury style – duvet included. It’s 4 years since I’ve seen a British winter and I’m enjoying it as much as the Autumn.

We arrived in the Peak District late afternoon, after a detour to Sherwood Forest because we saw the sign and figured why not. After a scenic drive from Bakewell to Edale we chanced upon Mam Tor in a failed attempt to find a campsite and so were greeted to a stunning sunset over the Peaks.

View from Mam Tor, Edale, Peak District
View from Mam Tor, Edale, Peak District

Most campsites were shut over the winter and the hostels were all full, but we found one in the village of Hope. Conveniently there was a pub just a few hundred metres away, where we passed the chilly evening.

A Chilly Start. Someone's still wrapped up under duvet, I wonder who?
A Chilly Start. Someone's still wrapped up under duvet, I wonder who?
Minus Figures First Thing - Frozen Wintry Morning in Hope.
Minus Figures - Frozen Wintry Morning in Hope.

The next morning we drove up to the Ladybower Reservoir and went for a bike ride….

Cold and Blue Ladybower Reservoir
Cold and Blue Ladybower Reservoir
Perfect reflections in the still reservoir water
Perfect reflections in the still reservoir water
Freezing over - Ice crystals on the lake
Freezing over - Ice crystals on the lake
I saw the sign and sped up but the gently undulating track wasn't that steep!
I saw the sign and sped up but the gently undulating track wasn't that steep!
Nice day for a ride round the reservoir
Nice day for a ride round the reservoir

And in the late afternoon we drove up the Snake Pass towards Glossop and got out for a little walk over the Access land. There was just time before it got dark on these short days! That is perhaps the only thing not to like about the winter-time…

Top of Snake Pass on the Pennine Way
Top of Snake Pass on the Pennine Way
Snowy remains on Snake Pass
Snowy remains on Snake Pass
End of the Day - Not going home but going to Snowdonia
End of the Day - Not going home but going to Snowdonia

At the end of the day we drove to Snowdonia as the forecast was for one more good clear day before the temperature started to rise and the rain to fall. Lars wanted to go up Snowdon.

This has definitely whetted my appetite to see more of the Peak District…