Well it has been a few weeks since I've ventured into the Peak District, what with our trip to Snowdon and then myself Donna being away in Northumberland. Although there hadn't really been any plans to head out, Donna suggested that I should ask to see if any of my mates were free, so a WhatsApp was sent out trying to check for availability.
Unfortunately there was only two of us available, myself and Darrell, but it would be good to get out whoever had been free. Now the forecast to be honest wasn't the best, yes I left home at 7:30am in lovely weather but it wasn't expected to be that way an hour away!
We arrived around 8:20am, no traffic on the road, and boy was it hammering down. The Fairholmes car-park at the top of Ladybower was looking a tad dreary in the dim and wet conditions, but after paying our money to park we were off on our way. We passed the front of the overflowing Derwent Dam which was looking as impressive as it always does, particularly with the water funnelling over the top, and then headed up the eastern side of Derwent Reservoir.
The walk is a steady one, not a great amount of ascent, just a slight slope as Derwent Reservoir joins up with Howden Reservoir but there's always plenty to see; even in these conditions!
We stopped for a mid morning snack under the bridge at Slippery Stones just beyond the far end of Howden, where normally in dry conditions you can take a seat under the bridge. However given how wet it was today, it was very slippery (no pun intended) getting down there and no chance of sitting down.
On the way back down the western edge of the reservoirs the rain did tail off a little, yes it did still keep raining but it was on and off with the odd glint of sunshine bringing out fleeting views of multiple rainbows. Of course it was much busier now, so a significant increase in the number of people both walking, and cycling along the side of the water.
By the time was arrived back at the cars, we had been walking for three and a half hours, three of which it had been raining. That said, still an enjoyable 10.5+ mile walk with plenty of banter with a very good friend.
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