This is the clubs first walk and when planned was to be shared with the BT Engage IT Summer Get-together but as this event was cancelled the walk was attended only by club members or should that be... member.  A grand total of 1( !) turned out.  But this is nothing new for a new club.  you know what they say from little acorns grow  mighty oaks.  So well see.

Well having waited for  the prerequisite 15 mins  and with no-one else arriving the walk started in earnest. Well it would have if the first part of the ascent was not covered in a loose shale.  Not great  for a fast ascent up to the top of Crook Hill.  ( Note to self:   must remember to warm up the old muscle more....)

Once Crook Hill's summit had been attained it was a short stroll along to the start of the first descent down to Haggs Farm.  Haggs Farm used to be a youth Hostel but is now Nottinghamshire Outdoor activities centre in the peak district.

From Haggs Farm we continued  down to the A57 and crossed  with care(!)  and completed the descent to the river below at   with views  up and down the river  that is Ladybower.   Time for a short stop  to admire the view  and then is was time for the second ascent.   This walk has been usually walked in the opposite direction and this bit has usually been and entertaining descent to the almost always damp and mossy stone and rocks that litter the path but going up was a doddle.

However I did frighten some horses ( by this stage i was in my shorts )  we there was this party of riders and as they saw we coming up the path turned around a went back up !!!

Now we are just coming up to Hope Cross the weather was starting to deteriorate.   Although we were well sheltered from the wind the speed was increasing  and the cloud was starting to build up.......

As we rose up on to the  ridge the wind increase the trees started to sway -  the metcheck.com weather forecast was looking very accurate wind speeds were reaching 20+ mph  as shown on this little  video   The shaking to due to being buffeting  by the winds !!!.

With Win Hill was in sight,  it rugged peaks illuminated by the red of the the heather below  we lost all shelter from the wind and with that started the rain.  Most of the time it was horizontal  and stinging the side of my face.  Eventually we came to a wall.  Time for lunch.

Sat in the Leah of the wall with the wind and rain whistling overhead watch  people coming towards me through the wind  was entertaining to say the least   but when they as you if they are going in the right direction and their map is slowly disintegrating in the rain you really worry.  

With the rain stopping it was time to move on  but the wind was still there  from time to time the path dipped out of the wind but as we rapidly approached the peak of Win Hill  I was contemplating not going to the trig point as the wind was way to strong and gusty.  However as I approached,  stood at the very edge of the sharp descent from the trig point where dad and young daughter ( about 5 years old was his daughter)  She looked terrified and he was wearing trainers....  Now most people would turn round and come down an easier way but not him.  Whilst trying to balance in the wind on slippery rocks he decided to lift his daughter up and tucked her under  his arm and tried to carry her down the sleep scramble.

Following them was another group  I offered assistance over the rocks as they were all in trainers.  The two girls where followed by a "youth"  whose main concern was that everyone could see the label on his 'knock off'  boxers. so is track bottoms  where down around his knees.....

now I'm all for being spontaneous and stopping the car and just climbing a hill but I always have a set of boots in the car as well a suitable clothing but nothing get me more annoyed than people out on the hill inappropriately dressed for the conditions...

Any way the last descent is rushing toward us. The last time I did the descent down to Yorkshire bridge straight down Parkin Clough  it was during the Derbyshire Hills and Dales Walk ( 43miles in one day )  ( We will dig out the route and post it on the site as it would make a god charity event. ED).  And I have always said I would never repeat it  so took a slight diversion on the path that brought me down to Ladybower just before the dam all. 

The rain had finally lifted the winds has dropped to a light breeze in the valley  and the sun was coming  out to play  just a short walk back to the car park  and the completion of the FIRST club walk.