The combination of exploring new ground, avoiding the rigours of paving stones and having a shorter run, the latter to ensure that Chris could reach the ferry in time for his trip to Portugal, determined our route from a warm and sunny Doctor’s Gate. The planning of the outing had started almost a week before with Andy suggesting the possibility of exploring the peaks of Harry Hut, Mill Hill, Burnt Hill and The Knott. Pete had warned that this may be a bit ambitious for we seven Slow Warts but the aerial view of the area seemed to be encouragingly largely bracken free, a particular bonus after our recent expeditions. The final part-decision was to head initially to Feather Bed Top and then review our states of mind and body before continuing.
The wall between the car park and Thomason’s Hollow is low on the road side but surprisingly high on the other side so we dithered on route choice even from the start. Pete however had explored the opportunities and was seen dangling his long legs over the parapet before dropping into the abyss. He survived, but the rest of us were not so daring and took to the A57 to enjoy some road running (!) to a stile for our, let’s face it, dull moor crossing to the top. Of all the hills, pikes and tops in the Dark Peak. Featherbed Top is the least defined summit and so hardly deserves being called a “top”. Could it be the winner of the prize for the most boring hill, as named on a map? Any other suggestions?
Our review of bodily state concluded we’d go to the next top, Glead Hill, which was marginally less boring because the PW went straight across it. Here, we decided, we’d exhausted our tolerance of ennui and abandoned any thought of reaching Harry Hut, Mill Hill etc. and turned north towards the more exciting Shelf Moor area. But we had to cross the A57, again, via a pile of discarded rubbish and a distinctly sharp-edged steel barrier followed, across the road, by another one plus a barbed wire fence, all whilst traffic was flying by. Slow Warts live dangerously!
We continued northward, descending over some deep spongy feeling vegetation to Urchin Clough and the Doctor’s Gate path for some running on ground normally considered rocky and difficult, up to the PW. Surprisingly, we were very much on schedule for a short run because our tedious experience had made the outing feel a long time. Our sprint down Doctor’s Gate involved soft and deep mud into which Chris threw himself for the sake of warning us not to go there, and hard ancient paving stones which the original “doctor” may have walked on.
Still, it had been a satisfactory outing without torn and bleeding legs, and no tics which are, according to the orienteering fraternity, attracted by electrical charge so from our poorly informed group, it suggests the necessity for us and Andy particularly, to be (electrically) grounded before entering a tic zone. Such concern we have for our leader. The YBI discussion group continued, on our concern for Chris who had suffered a cat scratch (his own cat) and needed treatment. We wished him well for his trip to Portugal.
Graham
