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I woke quite early and was off by 6:30 on another sunny morning. My plan was to follow the end to end trail route as far as Thorpe. Then I’d plotted my own route to Youlgrave, a more direct way to catch up some time. I wanted to be in Edale by the following evening. I knew tomorrow’s walk would be excellent but hilly and there was more rain about for the next 48 hours.

I walked away from my camping spot through wildflower fields and made quick progress to Rocester which had a shop that opened early. I bought plenty of provisions for breakfast and later in the day as a reward to the early waking shop owner. If only more shops opened by 8 am, my walk would be much more straightforward.

I continued to make good progress to the pretty village of Ellastone which features an impressive stone bridge. I then chatted for 20 minutes or so to a lovely woman called Sue who had two very friendly dogs. Sue was impressed by my walk and the laminated QR code that Helen made for me, which she used to make a donation to Mind.

The end to end trail then took me through Ordley Wood for 2 miles. It was an interesting route but muddy with several fallen trees over the path where I had to remove my pack to make progress. There followed another wood where the track disappeared altogether several times. I enjoyed this part of the walk, but it did slow me down considerably.

At this point, I officially entered the Peak District and walked up the hill towards the pretty village of Thorpe where I visited the Old Dog Inn for an excellent late lunch.

The rain began while I was eating, but I headed out anyway along the Tissington Trail  which soon brought me past the impressive Tissington Hall, which appeared to be a popular spot. That afternoon, however, everything was closing up and day trippers were scurrying off to their cars to escape the weather. 

After Tissington, my route took me up over fields and then onto moorland. There were good views to begin with until the rain arrived with a vengeance, together with its partner in crime, the wind. For the next couple of hours I battled onwards across moors and remote farms and then through a very pretty limestone valley. 

I emerged eventually from the valley at about 7 o’clock about 2 miles from a campsite at Middleton under Youlgrave, a mile or so short of Youlgrave itself. It was a basic campsite with no amenities but I was happy to stop, pitch my tent and get out of the rain.

It had been a good days walking and I’d made good progress. My wet weather gear stood up well to the task as well.

Day Summary:

The Peak District proper. Good food, good progress, good times.