For the 2nd year running we are arranging a short walk at Castleton to be followed by a trip round the shops and lights, and possibly an hour in a hostelry :). With the emphasis this week on it being a social visit, we have decided that if the weather is really bad that the walk will not take place, because as we decided last week, there aint much fun in sightseeing/shopping/sitting in a pub when you're soaking wet through.
The walk is about 4-5 miles long and is quite a testing one, so I think we ought to allow 3 hours for the walk, including stoppages. This means the walk possibly starting at 12.00, so we can get back before it gets dark. Maybe if anybody has any different thoughts on this they could air their views here, we can always change things.
The walk goes up Cave Dale, across to Winnats Pass which we then descend back in to Castleton.
If anybody wants to meet us after the walk, we can arrange a time and place in advance. Possibly the George pub, where we enjoyed a really nice atmosphere last year.
Finally, some of us have obtained tickets for a Carol concert that evening at Peak Cavern, to which anybody else is welcome to come should they wish. See a previous thread for details of this.

Oops managed to miss out the meeting point from the above post!
It's outside the new visitors centre which is situated in the main car park down at the bottom of the village. Please pm me if you're not sure where I mean.

Is that where the handy little bus exchange is?

I seem to remember meeting there on last year's festive wander. The walking group took advantage of the ice creams and bacon butties for sale in the shop. Prepared for all seasons! :hihi:

Is that where the handy little bus exchange is?

I seem to remember meeting there on last year's festive wander. The walking group took advantage of the ice creams and bacon butties for sale in the shop. Prepared for all seasons! :hihi:

No Feargal, the handy little bus exchange is as you're coming into the village. The meeting point is further on past the shops and down the little hill.
Fancy, your memory of last year is all about food, whilst mine is all about being wet and miserable. Mind you, the pub part was pretty good wasn't it? Btw, did you really have a bacon buttie?????
Anyway, don't worry about where we're meeting cos Billysmum was going to contact you about you coming with us :) Sherwood1 too!
Get ready for a call/txt............

Btw, did you really have a bacon buttie?????
Nope, I had an ice cream. In the rain. In Castleton.

What was I thinking?! :hihi:

You were thinking "I wonder if they make these beer flavoured"

I shall be there for the walk and the carols. I am now back online at home! YaY! :bigsmile:

Hmmm, this is a short thread? Surely we're expecting a lot more people? I will be there but Cookman74 has thrown his back out so unlikely to be there. But I will bring those outstanding orders.
Am giving neoteric a lift if anyone else needs one from Heeley?

Hmmm, this is a short thread? Surely we're expecting a lot more people? I will be there but Cookman74 has thrown his back out so unlikely to be there. But I will bring those outstanding orders.
Am giving neoteric a lift if anyone else needs one from Heeley?

Short thread CG cos there's another one running for the carol singing bit. See "Carols in the Devils Arse"

Short thread CG cos there's another one running for the carol singing bit. See "Carols in the Devils Arse"

Oh yes of course. . . silly me :roll:

Great walk today despite the challenging trip back down from Mam Tor! Hope the carols were good and sorry I had to dash off early. I am interested in another walk before Christmas if you decide to do one - I am really hooked now. If not have a good christmas everyone and I will see you next year.

Glad you enjoyed the day Lizzie, and sorry about the dash for the top that we made as we ascended Mam Tor...........some of us get sooooo excited when we see a summit in sight!
It was really enjoyable today on a particularly cold day, but we didn't seem to notice the cold while we were walking for some reason. Even so, it was nice to get into the warmth and atmosphere of the George Hotel, and what a lovely couple of hours we spent in there. It was especially nice to get all the input from everybody as to what and where people want to go next year. Please keep your ideas coming folks, anything and everything anybody wants to do will be considered. Very democratic aren't we!
Now for a lie down........

Hi!
Thanks for the wonderful day everyone & waiting for me to tke one or two photos. Enjoyed the pub & the carols even though it was freezing.
Here are some photos
http://picasaweb.google.com/paulinezel/SFWalkCastleton16122007
I have taken some videos of the carols but not uploaded them yet - its too late. I'll post them when I have, so everyone can enjoy - without the cold!!

A great day out walking, very cold and some difficult icy, slippery paths to navigate. Really enjoyed the pub and the nice open fire when we got back.
Put my pictures here (http://picasaweb.google.com/neotericwalks/Castleton16Dec2007).
plenty of icy landscapes and lots of para-gliders around Mam Tor, also managed to get one of scoobz "bird on a wall" but still not sure what this was?
Thanks to canada_girl for the lift.

Some really nice pics from Hemlock and Neoteric, ,enjoyed looking at them:D

That was such a lovely day out! A great walk, even the wheezing trek up Cave Dale was worth it for the lovely crisp scenery. :love:

My singing was as bad as ever - I blame the accoustics in the cave ;) The pub was very nice and festive too with the real fire going and some nice ales and mulled wine on the go.

I do have to mention to others to avoid the rubbish tea room "Dollys". The service was rubbish, it was expensive (with hardly any veggie options) - and they weren't letting people in unless they were eating as well as drinking! It's not as if it was really busy :confused: Glad the George was so nice to make up for it! :D

dolly's is always like that - we went last year and he actually reprimanded a couple for just asking for tea.
although is "soup" was rather pleasant.

Not if you are a vegetarian, it was turkey broth. Most places do veggie soup so it suits more people. I think it's the owner that's a bit customer-unfocussed. He wouldn't let you sit just anywhere either. :confused:

He was telling the waitress how to put the change on a saucer when someone paid, then they're likely to leave a tip. This is with the customer standing right there! Needless to say, she scooped up all her change and walked off, no tip!

Not if you are a vegetarian, it was turkey broth. Most places do veggie soup so it suits more people. I think it's the owner that's a bit customer-unfocussed. He wouldn't let you sit just anywhere either. :confused:

He was telling the waitress how to put the change on a saucer when someone paid, then they're likely to leave a tip. This is with the customer standing right there! Needless to say, she scooped up all her change and walked off, no tip!


yep you're right Turkey Broth i remember now. i have to admit we haven't revisited him.

Lovely wintery Derbyshire weather, I love the horizontal ice on the fences.

Still havn't managed to upload the carol videos - it keeps failing for some reason :mad: I'll keep trying though.

Great photos, as usual neoteric :D - love the sheep! - I still can't do animals - at least ice on fences keeps still :hihi:

Would like to second what feargal said about Dolly's.
I wanted a toasted tea cake 'haven't got any' was the reply :mad:
I then wanted some soup - turkey broth - no good as I'm a veggie :mad:
Then fancied a bowl of custard (Scoobz's influence!) - nope - no custard - so I broke the rules & only had a drink :o

Still havn't managed to upload the carol videos - it keeps failing for some reason :mad: I'll keep trying though.

Great photos, as usual neoteric :D - love the sheep! - I still can't do animals - at least ice on fences keeps still :hihi:

Would like to second what feargal said about Dolly's.
I wanted a toasted tea cake 'haven't got any' was the reply :mad:
I then wanted some soup - turkey broth - no good as I'm a veggie :mad:
Then fancied a bowl of custard (Scoobz's influence!) - nope - no custard - so I broke the rules & only had a drink :o

Clear your pm box Hemlock please!

Smashing pics as usual guys, I promise I'll definitely get me brownie 127 out one day and show you all up!

Wow, what fascinating ice patterns, Neo & Hemlock! I've never seen horizontal ice like that!

Fantastic photos from both Neo and Hemlock, some of them would make great christmas cards! The ice patterns on the grass and walls were fascinating, really enjoyed the walk and glad i decided to climb Mam Tor even though the journey down was very tricky! Cant believe i didnt slip! The meal and the mulled wine in The George was excellent and the company was great as always! By the time we got to the Carol Concert i was very tired as you can see from Hemlocks photo of me falling asleep! :rolleyes: Thanks to Mr Hemlock for dropping me safely back at home! :)

Good to see you all & glad we chose to meet up with you for the warm part of the day in The George! Great choice of pub again, Scoobz.
Missed Linchpinlulu though.........where were you? Also please tell Mr. L. that I searched in every corner of the 2nd hand book shop but couldn't find him!
Neilly - you missed a lovely atmosphere but I didn't spot any special cake shops for you.
Nice to meet Feargal at last.
:love:

Clear your pm box Hemlock please!

Ooops! Sorry Scoobz - I'll do it now!