The Fink's weekend away started with a long drive North, we arrived at a proper English pub with oak beams, roaring fire, lovely food (See Sunday's Observer if you don't believe me), lots of laughter and loads and loads of hikers, bikers and locals. The Cheshire Cheese Inn at Hope in Derbyshire was a delight, the publicans were friendly and accomodating, the room (had it's own sitting room) was charming and had old fashioned uneven floors. We loved it.
After dumping our gear and having a couple of drinks, he went to explore, there was a river running the other side of the road from the pub which was also over looked by Lose Hill and Win Hill, we walked into the village of Hope and had a drink at the Old Hall pub. It was big and modern and had little soul so we headed back to the charismatic 'Cheese'. As we were heading back up the road, 2 people in a car stopped and asked us for directions! We must have looked like locals rather than the very prevalent hikers! We enjoyed a smashing meal and another few drinks and headed off to bed.
After a huge breakfast the next day we headed off on our travels up to Lady Bower Resevoir and Snake Pass, up to Glossop and down to Chapel En Le Frith (how did the French get up here?), back across to Hathersage and up to Mam Tor. I was quite happy with the view from the car park but Mr Fink, having been couped up in the car all day was like and excitable spaniel and was dying to climb the hill. I KNOW I can do with the exercise so off we went. This was my kind of mountain climbing, large flagstones all the way up. I was still huffing and puffing though when I got to the top. The views were fantastic and I felt a real sense of achievement. All thanks to Mr Fink for being patient with me! On the way back we dropped into the village of Castleton which is overlooked by Peverill Castle, had a mooch round, there is also a pub called Ye Olde Cheshire Cheese!! We headed back to our Cheese had a fab dinner and bed.
On Sunday we headed off to Surprise View just outside Hathersage. We set off walking to the viewpoint which was beautiful, then headed across the moor towards some massive boulders that stood out against the skyline. We made it to them and Mr Fink had a climb! Reminded him of Pulpit Rock on Portland. We made our way down across the moors and rocks back to the car, another mountain conquered! Later on that day, while i was having an afternoon siesta, Mr fink went for a walk into Castleton, apparently as he was crossing a field full of ewes and their new lambs, they started to gang up on him and tried to chase him out of the field!
On our last morning, after another enormous breakfast, we thanked our hosts and made our way to Lady Bower, Derwent and Howden Reservoirs. Derwent Reservoir was used by pilots of 617 Dambuster Squadron as practice with their Barnes Wallace bouncing bombs as the dams closely resembled the targets in Germany. The area is beautiful and breathtaking, my advice, if you choose to visit, go early and beat the rush! We left Derbyshire via some of the villages that have cropped up in my family history research of Mr Fink's paternal line. Riber = only saw the outskirts but very quiet and tucked away. Holloway = Beautiful, scenic, pictuesque, small, old. Tansley - old, quiet, only saw the outskirts and Crich = not as pretty as the others but set in beautiful countryside. All in all a lovely trip and great to spend some time alone with Mr Fink. (Little Fink is on adventures with Nanny and Shouty Grandad at the moment, somewhere between Ironbridge and Tewkesbury! More of that later, when she returns!)
