Landslide
Rare Migrant
- Location
- Called to the bar
I was brought up a republican, and I'm still not convinced of the function of the monarchy. Tourism? Pah! The French don't have a monarchy, yet they still seem to do all right...
But this Monday, I discovered the true value of the Queen
In a move that will no doubt send some members of the forum into apoplexy, as a public servant I get a day off work in celebration of Betty's birthday! In order to make the most of this momentous occasion, I resolved tofly union flags from my house visit some of the Derbyshire Dales' finest country lanes, with a couple of hostelries thrown into the bargain.
Setting off a little after 10:30am, the sun was already high in the sky, and the day promised to be a scorcher! Usual dilemmas regarding mudguards, overshoes and arm-warmers were dispensed with, and it was an unladen Landslide that started off up the hill. Thanks to the Peak National Park, the South-Western side of Sheffield is not open to more housing development, and as a result, within 10 minutes I was greeted with this view over the Mayfield valley:
I continued on my climb, secure in the knowledge of my forthcoming reward - the descent down Froggatt Edge, which provided a top speed of 63km/h
Onwards to Bakewell, where I discovered the reason behind the roads being busier than usual - Monday is market day! Thankfully, I happily filtered past all the traffic (much of which had passed me earlier), and headed out to Youlgreave. I've ridden this road many a time, but always in the other direction. Thankfully the valley 'twixt Bakewell and Youlgreave is a much easier prospect going this way!
Whilst one swallow does not a summer make, as I coasted along the road to Youlgreave, I saw two of them perched on a phoneline, with more flitting about - no denying that summer is here! Through Youlgreave and on towards Monyash, past roadside verges blooming with all manner of wildflowers.
At Monyash I stopped at The Old Smithy for a bite to eat. Clearly friendly towards outdoors-y types, they provided me with a butty and a sneaky half of Bakewell Best Bitter. Forthe Tea? clique those who like a nice cuppa, they provide plenty of choice of receptacle!
Back onto the road, and I headed for Edale via Millers Dale and Peak Forest, the quiet lanes alternately bathed in sunshine or offering some welcome leafy shade.
The local wildlife was well represented right through my ride, and I was alert enough to spy buzzards, kestrels, SBJs, wagtails, a skylark, a swift and a goldcrest.
The road up to Mam Tor provided further avian life in the form of a pair of geese waddling about under the beady eye of a grey heron, but what greeted me a little further up the lane was even better: baby llamas! I don't know what the proper term for a baby llama is, but I really hope it's a cross between lamb and llama - llamba?
The road down from Mam Tor into Edale is a great descent - swooping curves, and quick enough to drop any following cars! I swung into the Ramblers Inn for another pit stop, before continuing on through Edale and back to Hathersage. Up the climb to Surprise View, and then onto the road home through Ringinglow, where the Mayfield Alpacas were being locked up for the evening, whilst across the road a local farmer was making hay whilst the sun shone! From here, the view opens out right the way across Sheffield, and I played the old "I can see the pub" from here game with myself, before swooping down the last couple of hills back to Landslide Towers.
All up, 104km, 2 butties (1 tuna mayo, 1 sage derby cheese), 2 cheeky halves (1 bitter, 1 cider), assorted wildlife, plenty of hills and a whole lot of sun. Banish the monarchy? I think not!!!
But this Monday, I discovered the true value of the Queen
In a move that will no doubt send some members of the forum into apoplexy, as a public servant I get a day off work in celebration of Betty's birthday! In order to make the most of this momentous occasion, I resolved to
Setting off a little after 10:30am, the sun was already high in the sky, and the day promised to be a scorcher! Usual dilemmas regarding mudguards, overshoes and arm-warmers were dispensed with, and it was an unladen Landslide that started off up the hill. Thanks to the Peak National Park, the South-Western side of Sheffield is not open to more housing development, and as a result, within 10 minutes I was greeted with this view over the Mayfield valley:
I continued on my climb, secure in the knowledge of my forthcoming reward - the descent down Froggatt Edge, which provided a top speed of 63km/h
Onwards to Bakewell, where I discovered the reason behind the roads being busier than usual - Monday is market day! Thankfully, I happily filtered past all the traffic (much of which had passed me earlier
), and headed out to Youlgreave. I've ridden this road many a time, but always in the other direction. Thankfully the valley 'twixt Bakewell and Youlgreave is a much easier prospect going this way!Whilst one swallow does not a summer make, as I coasted along the road to Youlgreave, I saw two of them perched on a phoneline, with more flitting about - no denying that summer is here! Through Youlgreave and on towards Monyash, past roadside verges blooming with all manner of wildflowers.
At Monyash I stopped at The Old Smithy for a bite to eat. Clearly friendly towards outdoors-y types, they provided me with a butty and a sneaky half of Bakewell Best Bitter. For
Back onto the road, and I headed for Edale via Millers Dale and Peak Forest, the quiet lanes alternately bathed in sunshine or offering some welcome leafy shade.
The local wildlife was well represented right through my ride, and I was alert enough to spy buzzards, kestrels, SBJs, wagtails, a skylark, a swift and a goldcrest.
The road up to Mam Tor provided further avian life in the form of a pair of geese waddling about under the beady eye of a grey heron, but what greeted me a little further up the lane was even better: baby llamas! I don't know what the proper term for a baby llama is, but I really hope it's a cross between lamb and llama - llamba?The road down from Mam Tor into Edale is a great descent - swooping curves, and quick enough to drop any following cars! I swung into the Ramblers Inn for another pit stop, before continuing on through Edale and back to Hathersage. Up the climb to Surprise View, and then onto the road home through Ringinglow, where the Mayfield Alpacas were being locked up for the evening, whilst across the road a local farmer was making hay whilst the sun shone! From here, the view opens out right the way across Sheffield, and I played the old "I can see the pub" from here game with myself, before swooping down the last couple of hills back to Landslide Towers.
All up, 104km, 2 butties (1 tuna mayo, 1 sage derby cheese), 2 cheeky halves (1 bitter, 1 cider), assorted wildlife, plenty of hills and a whole lot of sun. Banish the monarchy? I think not!!!
