Great report Davie, and exciting to actually read about somewhere I vaguely know, having cycled the High Peak Trail from that car park a few times.
I'm on the north-western edge of the Peak District but watching the weather forecast too (and perhaps waiting for busy Easter holidays to end). I don't drive so my locations tend to be a bit more local, but I would recommend Goyt Forest above Fernilee Reservoir for a sheltered amble. There's a good deal of open access land to explore and most walkers only stick to the small number of paths. I've seen online a few hardy folk have made a dawn trek across Cats Tor and Shining Tor, something I'd like to do this year if I can get up and pedaled up there early enough!
Anyone else around this area?
I got up to Three Shires Head last year so Goyt's Valley and two Tors look a viable "must do" walk a little further to the north. I was actually looking at the map of that area a few days ago. I've been up on Shinning Tor many years ago when walking with a party - non-naturist. I like to have an area to visit in mind so if the weather looks OK I can just take off without having to do any planning.
I intend to get up to the Clwydian Range and the Berwyns during the year too.
Davie 8)
I agree with na_ it is good to read about local(ish) places. I'm still in Derbyshire so not too far away.
Be good to know once weather gets warmer.
Send us a message Davie
I';m looking forward to getting my boots back on. At the miment I'm freezing up in Scotland. Top temerature today about five degrees and a wind straight fron the North Pole.We're basically en-route to the Gathering at Dunoon.
Davie 8)
I've got a pass out and hope to be up around Shinning Tor today. Weather is looking good and the car is fueled up.
Davie 8)
Well I went and had a great day out. I started by the southern end of the reservoir and walked up Shining Tor. I went right along the ridge to Pyms Chair, turned left and went along the road for a short distance before I found a path not marked on the map to the remains of Errwood Hall. On the way down I passed a tiny chapel and explored the remains of the once mighty Errwood Hall. All in all I did about six miles. It's not the miles you put into a walk, its what you put into the miles.
I was naked for a good proportion of the time. I was covered up at the trig point on Shining Tor, there were several folk about. I did have one encounter whilst naked. I was sitting munching an apple with the map case on my lap when a runner passed me by. We shouted "hi" at each other and he was gone.
A great day and now I need to look for fresh routes.
Davie 8)
Fantastic to read, glad you made it up there Davie. That's a loop to be proud of, especially in the warm air we had all day yesterday.
I didn't make it quite so far when I went up to Shining Tor for the very first time back during the earlier sunny spell in April. I must have started at a similar place, maybe a bit further up the valley at Goytsclough Quarry, where I found somewhere inconspicuous to hide my bike, before starting the climb up. After the first climb over a stream and up through trees the view opened out and I felt confident enough to lose the shorts. This didn't last long because as the next and hardest climb up began, on big uneven stones, I spotted what looked like a pair of twitchers high up ahead. Back into the shorts I jumped and continued climbing, eventually passing them - they didn't seem the friendliest fellows - not sure how far their binoculars or camera lens reached!
I then managed to stop for a few pictures by a pair of gates with a view across to the Cat and Fiddle, but could see the odd walker ahead descending Shining Tor so had to again don shorts for the final climb. I was a bit luckier when I hit the top though, just timing it with a good 5-10 minutes at least by the trigpoint with no-one in sight for the souvenir pictures.
I really wanted to walk the actual ridge, but doubted I'd make it far alone, and a head bobbing up on the horizon deemed it true. So I decided to save the rest for another, quieter, day and went back down the way I came, suddenly seeming to pass many more folk. One older gentleman stopped to say hello just as I was putting my jersey back on, the strong breeze finally getting to me, and asked if there was anyone up at the trigpoint, before seeing my camera and commenting "it's a good day for pictures up there!". You're not wrong, I thought! Had he guessed?! ;D
Thanks for sharing your story. There's a lot of potential walks in this area. I need to get my maps out to plan another walk.
David 8)
I only found out very late last night that there's a naturist open afternoon at Burrows Gardens near Derby today. £7.50 on the gate if you get there before 1pm. Anyone else going? I wish I'd known about it before, but the location is ideal for our area.
I'll be leaving shortly. This is a women in Naturism event and is open to the public. You'll need to get there before 1.00 pm to pay on the gate. The BN shop is selling tickets and the receipt will get you in.
I just want these pesky clouds to clear away.
Davie 8)
Thanks for sharing your story. There's a lot of potential walks in this area. I need to get my maps out to plan another walk.
Any plans for a group walk in Derbyshire?
David 8)
If you're a couple in the Midlands and are under 50...say hi.
I often pass through the Buxton area (from Sheffield) and had a few impromptu Derbyshire Bridge walks, albeit quite late on and not exactly balmy weather. I'm certainly going to investigate some of the routes mentioned here. The last time I was naked at Three Shires head was probably 1993. Yikes.
I did another walk up in the Peaks today, although it was also in Staffordshire and Cheshire. I started off in England's highest village - Flash, worked my way over paths and tracks to Danebower Quarries and back to Flash by way of Three Shires Head, hence three counties. I saw two other walkers.
I confess to being clothed for most of the walk. A strong biting easterly wind is not condusive to walking without clothes, except in sheltered areas. I did about seven miles and about a mile sans clothes, but a great day out.
Davie 8)
A good "there and back' walk is from Chunal (A624 midway between Hayfield and Glossop at the top of the hill) east towards Kinder Scout. via Burnt Hill and Mill Hill. From there you can continue up Kinder or turn north to follow the Pennine Way for a while before returning along the same route. It is a scenic hike, very exposed and with extensive views in all directions. You also pass a plane crash site but there isn't much left to see now. It is mostly paved so you needn't worry about disappearing into the peat bogs. After an initial climb from the road it is fairly level, so you can stride out or dawdle as you please.
You can park on Monk's Road 100 yards up from the junction with the A624, on a piece of "waste" ground or there is a lay-by further down towards Glossop. From there you climb up to Harry Hut before continuing towards Kinder. Hope you find this useful.