Every new year, well I say every, I actually mean for the last few years, we have made a point of getting up early and going for a walk before the hordes of people head out to walk off their alcoholic excess. And for the last couple of years we have done the same walk; 11.5 miles around Derwent and Howden Reservoirs.
This time around we were a little wary as the walk is on the border of tier 3 Yorkshire and tier 4 Derbyshire, so we would be crossing between both, if only never more than a mile or so from the border.
We arrived at the top of Ladybower Reservoir, paid the £5 parking and by 8:40am we had set off. The forecast was a little mixed so we were both prepared for any attack from the weather gods, Donna was wearing waterproofs head to tail as they say. What we weren't really prepared for, was how icy the paths would be. About half of the total walk saw us 'pussy footing' around the dangerous stretches of the path, often having to go 'off piste' as it was the only way we would be able to keep on our feet.
After about 3hrs we reached the bridge at Slippery Stones where we took cover from the rain, we nested under the bridge, to enjoy our homemade leek and potato soup. A very welcome break. Donna had also packed a couple of breadcakes so that we could treat the ducks in the stream to a snack; which of course was welcomed by the pair who were loitering around the bridge like a couple of trolls.
I had hoped that the path back down the eastern side of the reservoirs would be much easier to traverse, in fact the first mile or two was the worst we had experienced, but thankfully for the next few miles the path was relatively clear, or ice that is, definitely not of people.
It was 2pm when we arrived back at the car, the whole area was now packed to the rafters with walkers and cyclists and we remembered why we much prefer to walk earlier in the day. .
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