Chrome Hill Revisited

Last Saturday I returned to Chrome Hill for the second time this year. I was determined to do a walk because I haven't done one since September; I have been prevented by a busy time at work and a lack of walking boots. My pair of less than a year had to go back to the manufacturer after the sole cracked on them. With many options for a walk available to me I got up too late for most of them and eventually decided to head back to Hollinsclough for the great walk that had started this year's walking (this is the walk report). I have done some great walking this year all around the British Isles and the first walk of the year had been no exception. It was certainly worth re-walking especially now that I have a camera to record the event pictorially.

I'd forgotten to bring a map for the walk but as I was following January's route exactly I didn't need it, the route was easy to remember. I had planned on wearing my old worn out boots for the walk but in the event I forgot them as well. However I was wearing my trail shoes so these did fine, unfortunately they aren't waterproof,but it wasn't too much of a problem. Parking in Hollinsclough again I headed up the road and took this picture of Chrome Hill. It already looked a fabulous hill; I have a lot of affection for this hill

Following January's route I crossed the River Dove and headed up onto the backbone of Hollins Hill. The picture below was taken while walking on top of the ridge leading to the summit. Hollins Hill is not a particularly picturesque hill even though it is the highest of the three visited.Once at the top I had clear views of Chrome Hill and took this picture that clearly shows the limestone rock on the hill that makes it so much fun to walk over.Descending Hollins Hill I swung around the top of the valley and began that interesting ascent over the limestone ridge onto the summit. On the other side of Chrome Hill is another limestone ridge, smaller but narrower. This picture was taken from the summit of Chrome Hill and shows Parkhouse hill as its best.Parkhouse Hill is just as much fun as Chrome Hill itself and I had a great time going up it again. In front of Parkhouse is a big pillar of rock, as can be seen. In January I went around it, but now after a year of challenging scrambles I felt like attempting it. Circling around I ascended from the back and quite easily managed to get to the top. Getting down was a little more difficult but I survived to climb up to the top of the hill. Descending I headed off back to Hollinsclough.

The walk still didn't take me much longer than three hours but I still enjoyed it as I rarely do in the Peak District these days. Now I really need to buy some replacement walking boots so I can do some more challenging walking again.

Slea Head & Blasket Islands pics

To conclude the pictures from my holiday in Ireland in September I want to show you some of my pictures of Slea Head and the Blasket Islands, which are a group of islands that lie off the Irish coast just beyond the Dingle Peninsula. I never actually went across to them but the youth hostel I was staying at was situated directly opposite them so I was able to get a few pictures of them without going very far from the hostel. The first picture below is of Slea Head, taken from the top of the cliff overlooking Coumeenoole Bay. This scene will be well-known to film-lovers as it was featured in the film "Ryan's Daughter" and in fact near to where this picture was taken is a commemerative stone. Unfortunately I have never seen the film so the reference is completely lost on me. It's merely a spectacular coastal scene to me. If you turn towards the sea from this point you get the scene depicted in the next picture.Beyond the cliffs of Dunmore Head is Great Blasket Island and my final picture shows the islands with the setting sun behind them.This picture was taken on the final day of my holiday as I was heading back to the youth hostel after the day spent walking up Brandon Mountain. I was just driving past when I happened to notice this spectacular sunset and immediately stopped the car to take a picture. And that concludes my pictures from Ireland.