Burbage Valley Wild Camp

Six months after my hip replacemant I finally felt fit and confident enough to take on a wild camp. The spot I chose is a small wood in Burbage valley. This is pretty much the only woodland remaining in the area due to some major deforestation last year.

After getting to Lodge Moor by bus I had a great walk around Redmires reservoir and along Stanage Edge to follow Burbage Brook down to the woods near Higgar Tor. As light faded I made camp just inside the woods, out of sight off anyone who may still be passing by.

I awoke bright and early at five a.m. as the valley gradually flooded with sunlight. I had plenty of time to hang out by the brook just enjoying the morning since the cafe I was headed for was only two miles away and doesn't open until nine. 

All packed up and leaving no trace I continued down the valley to cross the road into the Longshaw Estate and make my way down Padley Gorge to Grindleford Station Cafe for a brew and a sausage butty before the train home.

Cabin in Cumbria

For our annual anniversary holiday we returned to one of my favourite locations, Fisherground Lodges at Eskdale in Cumbria. This time round we chose the largest of the four cabins available as the kids and their partners were joining us for the first weekend. Unfortunately the bad weather meant there wasn't much chance for them to appreciate the stunning countryside but it was still great for them to join us for a couple of days.

As the week went on the weather calmed a little and there were enough gaps between rainstorms to get out on the bike and do some walking. A left turn from the site immediately takes you up and over the challenging Hardknott Pass, becoming Wry Nose Pass then on to Windermere.

A right turn will first take you along the road to the excellent local pub, the King George IV. A left here goes over the wild and desolate Birker Fell. Taking the right turn through the village of Eskdale green sets you on the road to Wasdale Head passing Wast Water and finishing at the Wasdale Head Inn in the shadow of Scafell Pike. Awesome riding in any direction.

Some great walking right from the doorstep as well. We had a particularly good day following the woodland path to Gill Force then doubling back to ascend the hill to the impressive Stanley Force waterfall.

As for Fisherground Lodges, I can't recommend them enough. Great location and good quality accomodation at a very reasonable price. Just four cabins well spaced apart, not jammed right next to each other as is common on the holiday parks. There is also a campsite in a separate area if you'd rather go under canvas. More info and booking details at www.fisherground.co.uk

The King George IV is a short walk along the road. Belly busting portions of food, good local beers, a welcoming open fire and friendly down to earth staff. Accommodation is also available here www.kinggeorge-eskdale.co.uk

Middle Black Clough Wild Camp

Access to the bottom of the Three Black Cloughs is easy enough. Starting from the carpark just off the A628 Woodhead Pass go over the stile to the left of the bridge and follow the path with the river Etherow on your left. This path soon bears right, away from the river, up through a pleasant picnic area with the stream from the Cloughs now on your left as it flows into the Etherow.

After little more than a quarter of a mile from the bridge things become more challenging. The path runs out with a small weir ahead where the stream bears left. At this point you need to cross the stream and continue the rest of the way with the stream on your right. You are now heading up Middle Black Clough, you will soon pass Near Black Clough and Far Black Clough to the left and right as you head up the steepest and most picturesque of these three ravines.

Good footwear is essential. From this point on you can't walk more than a few steps without having to scramble over or between rocks, as you go beyond the first waterfall the drop to the stream or onto piles of boulders is thirty feet or more in places. Go careful, go slow and be sure of every footstep. Negotiating these hazards makes it all worthwhile as you stop to take in the beauty of the two waterfalls and the views up and down the ravine.

Finding a spot to camp for the night wasn't as simple as I'd anticipated. I wanted to camp by the waters edge but any flat areas were covered with tightly packed heather and blueberry bushes but I eventually spotted a small grassy area with a couple of trees to hang my tarp from, a big flat topped rock to set up my cooking gear on and a pool fed by a mini waterfall to get scrubbed up in. Home sweet home!

The sense of achievement from getting to this spot combined with the isolation and tranquility I felt is like nothing else I can imagine. After a wander around with the camera I just sat for a couple of hours watching the water and for that time nothing else in the world mattered.

Up at dawn after a great nights sleep I was able to strike camp in just a few minutes thanks to the minimal amount of kit involved. The tarp proved to be a good shelter, standing up just fine to an unexpected shower and wind in the night. Progress back down was even more slow and careful than the journey up thanks to the rain making everything a lot more dangerous due to slippery rocks and soft ground. I arrived at the bike wet, dirty and knackered but still had a grin on my face.