It’s been a real mixed bag of weather for February walks. Only one was an official Rando’ Girls walk with Sarah and her friend Amar in the Roaches: what was was supposed to be a nice easy explore around the fascinating gritstone turned out to be a short, sharp walk in horizontal snow. Keeping it short kept it mostly Fun Type 1 with some Type 2 thrown in to make it worth while! Located in Shropshire on the edge of the Peak District, the Roaches have been loved by climbers since the early 1900’s. On more clement days, its fascinating to watch the climbers as you walk along the foot of the cliffs. Mindful of the snow, we parked at in the valley bottom before following the river Dane and Black Brook steadily climbing through Gradbach wood. Leaving the woods, we walked along open moorland crossing the road to Roach End. The Magic Tent (my orange shelter) was pulled out for lunch and we sat inside munching boiled eggs and drinking hot Ribena, warm and dry out the weather. Fed and watered, we walked up through the snow and wind to the trig point. We called this a success and turn back to retrace our steps to the car. 8km, 3 3/4 hours, 385m ascent/decent.
Just a few weeks before (technically in January, but I’m ignoring that) in Capel Curig, Viv, Nick and I were treated to glorious skies over Snowdonia as we finished a walk that started in snizzle (snowy drizzle). After a slow start in the excellent Moel Siabod cafe, we headed out through forest to avoid the worst of the rain. We lunched on a deserted forest track before finding the lovely isolated Llyn (lake) Bodgynydd before heading back past Crimpiau through hills with a glorious mountain-y feel to them. 16km, 5 1/2 hours, 558m ascent/decent.
The last weekend of February was another non-Rando Girls weekend back in Eskdale in the southern Lake District which has a very special place in my heart. The weather was due to be epically awful, so a short stroll on the Saturday was planned and an anticipated soggy Sunday walk too. Saturday we set out towards the river Esk, which was in spate (sudden flood) and after some changes of route from flooded paths we had a suitably awe-inspiring, but safe walk. Sunday we were up and out to avoid the rain. High winds kept us from the fell tops but Eskdale moor is a beautiful place with great views of Illgill Head, Eskdale Fell and Kirk Fell (if they hadn’t been in the clouds). An unexpected cuppa at Burnmoor followed an invite from the Burnmoor Lodge club, which is undergoing restoration. Having walked past it and wondered who owned it its great to see it is loved and has a great group trying to get it to a basic but usable state. I’ll be adding that to places to stay! Keeping low we followed the river Mite along it’s valley, stopping for lunch before heading up over Brat’s Moss. Site of ancient habitation, there are stone circles and cairns it was especially atmospheric in the strong winds. A steady stomp brought us down to Boot and back to civilisation and a pint at the Woolpack inn. 13km, 6 1/3 hours, 734m ascent/decent.
Rando' Girls 