Carder Low

I soon diverted off the Tissington Trail and headed off across some fields in the direction of my first Ethel, Carder Low. There would be a lot of field hopping throughout the day and negotiating the stiles provided a good workout for my legs. Although I could see the top of Carder Low from the Tissington Trail, actually gaining access to its summit wasn't that straight forward. As I climbed to its top on a public footpath, a barbed stone wall prevented me from getting to the summit itself. This was a bit frustrating since the OS map indicated that the summit area was all open access land. Maybe you were supposed to parachute in or hire a helicopter. There was nothing for it but to continue along the public footpath. This took me over the ridge and down into the next valley. It was only when I headed northwards up the valley that I could see that I could get to Carder Low's summit from this side. As its name implies, it is a pretty low hill, and so it wasn't really that much effort to descend down into the valley, and then climb back up again. Within ten minutes I stood on the top and admired the view. Looking northwards, I could see right along the edge I'd be walking along today. I say 'edge', but it was more like undulating humps. Most of the 'edge' was Open Access land on the OS map but given my recent 'access' experience on Carder Low I wondered whether I'd be able to maintain height over to the other two Ethels, Pilsbury Hill and High Wheeldon. Carder Low ticked, I field hopped northwards towards Pilsbury Hill.

Pilsbury Hill

There were some really nice views down into the valley to my left and over to the distinctive peak of Sheen Hill. There were also plenty of signs to keep me on the footpath and the route was obvious up to the road that leads to Pilsbury Lodge. On the other side of the road, a stile took me on to the Open Access land that contained Pilsbury Hill. There was one of those White Peak round water reservoirs on the other side of the stone wall.

A few minutes' walk from the water reservoir and I stood near the small cairn on Pilsbury Hill. Again, looking along the 'edge', there seemed to be plenty of fields, and I wondered whether I'd be forced down to the footpath that runs along the valley bottom. I shouldn't have worried though since there were stiles and gates that allowed you to field hop right up to the next Ethel, High Wheeldon. Some of the stiles were in a state of disrepair though, and I nearly came a cropper on one that had a missing step.

High Wheeldon Hill

High Wheeldon was the most defined of today's Ethels. It did actually seem like a peak as I climbed up to its top from the south. The views northwards to Parkhouse Hill and Chrome Hill were superb. The summit had a trig and a greeting committee of about thirty sheep. I had intended having my lunch up here but given the sheep's sudden interest at my appearance, I decided to delay it until later. I looked southwards, back towards Carder Low. The high-level path had been quite enjoyable and a lot better than I'd expected. The east flank of High Wheeldon was fairly steep, but the descent didn't present any problems, and I soon reached the road. I followed the single track road eastward towards the Tissington Trail. At one point a field to my left had been excavated down to the limestone. It seemed so bare and ugly compared to the surrounding landscape. Looking at the OS map, this was an extension to the massive Dowlow limestone works. I could hear the heavy machinery operating just beyond the ridge of the hill. It is hard to comprehend such massive works being so close to the natural beauty I'd walked along this morning. Maybe one day the machines will gobble up High Wheeldon too. That would be a loss.

Tissington Trail

I re-joined the Tissington Trail and started heading southwards. There were plenty of walkers, cyclists and even a horse rider making use of the trail. At one point a light rain started. The curious thing is there wasn't a cloud in the sky and the sun was out. I thought the drops might be blowing off the trees, but closer investigation revealed them to be coming from the sky. It lasted a good five minutes too.

After a while I remembered that I'd not had lunch and so I stopped at a picnic table at Hurdlow Carpark. My lunch wasn't that appetising: a small jam bap and two satsumas. My appetite partially satiated I continued southwards towards Parsley How.

Back at the Kazun, a cyclist had stopped to read the information board. I thought about interrupting him and telling him all about it, but I didn't in the end. I did step into the shelter again though and marvelled at its warmth. Maybe I could build one in my back garden; I could live in it over winter and save on my heating bills.

It had been an excellent day, made even better by the superb weather (despite the 5 minute surprise shower). The high-level walk from Carder Low to High Wheeldon had been a lot better than I'd expected.