After seeing ShadeWraith's lovely snowy photos of the Great Ridge and Mam Tor, I wasn't gonna post mine.......but then I thought, why not!?....if only to show how quickly things can change in just a couple of days!
Deep fresh snow for Mike on Sunday, while on Tuesday there were only patches of compacted snow and ice to contend with!
Anyway, after a bit of faffing about in Castleton and a visit to the recently refurbished (and very pleasant) 'Three Roof's Cafe', we set off from the village a little later than planned. We decided to take a path between some houses which would eventually take us up and onto the Great Ridge at Hollins Cross.
The path begins by crossing the valley floor, before it sort of zig-zags it's way up to the Ridge. We were expecting the climb to be tricky with all the ice around - but as there seemed to be a bit of a thaw happening in places, it was much easier than we anticipated.
The Ridge itself was very icy at times.....but it wasn't the day for any undignified slips and landing on backsides!
Cute ponies in a field not long after setting off.....
A distant Winnats Pass, which we'd be walking down later.....
Crossing the valley floor towards the Ridge....
Mam Tor, shrouded by low cloud.....
Starting the climb to Hollins Cross....
An icy stretch ahead.....
Another look at Mam Tor, still with it's head in the clouds......
But it
was clearing, slowly.....
Onwards and upwards.....
At Hollins Cross, we got our first glimpse of Kinder Scout across the Vale of Edale. It looked very misty over there too....
But it cleared a little as we walked along the Ridge....
Although this photo doesn't show it very well, there were a couple of patches of bright sunshine lighting up the ground in the far distance....
Looking back along the Ridge.....
The sun attempts to shine over Mam Tor.....
Rushup Edge & Lords Seat from Mam Tor....
A closer view of Rushup Edge, with Kinder Scout in the background....
From the bottom of Mam Tor, we headed South to Windy Knoll Cave.....
And then continued down Winnats Pass; a steep sided Lime Stone ravine with a road running through it.....
Looking back up Winnats Pass....
Near the bottom of the Pass, we took a footpath below Long Cliff that would lead us into the older part of Castleton village....
It was more like a stream in places, due to the thawing snow and ice....
Cottages in the village, with the remains of Pevril Castle as a back drop.....
And finally, the brook that runs through the village.....
Apologies for the quality of the photos - but the light was pretty average and the sun never quite made it through the cloud!
Anyway, hope you enjoyed and thanks for looking,
Tracey