Exploring The Peaks With 20 Strangers - Day Two
Day two in the Peaks started early, on the Saturday morning we woke up at 7am so that we could hike up Mam Tor for sunrise. After a quick bit of breakfast, we all bundled into a few cars and headed on out. Some of us parked along the roads, while others used the National Trust parking lot which can be found using postcode S33 8WA.
No matter where you park, you can clearly see where the start of the hike is. The bit that makes this one of the top walks in the Peak District is that most of the route is paved with stone steps, great for families. You can expect it to take you 20-30 minutes to get to the top. While Mam Tor is only 517 metres high, the views over Edale Valley and Castleton are incredible, and when matched with a sunrise, you just can’t beat it.
We sat for some time watching the sunrise, the cloud cover was low which created this intense orange glow as the sun came above the horizon. We weren’t alone, this spot is a favourite for so many, so if you are wanting to watch sunrise here, then I recommend getting here early to get a good spot.
Mam Tor Landscape
I had been to Mam Tor before, but with Craig here, we had ourselves a very knowledgable teacher. When you look down from the top of Mam Tor, you see these baby hills, and sheer cliff faces. The reason for this is also why it is called the Shivering Mountain, & that is due to the landslides that it experiences from the unstable lower levels of shale.
A Morning Cavern Tour
The great bit about starting your day off at Mam Tor is that Blue John Caverns is right next door. I had been a couple months before with Joe, however, places like this fascinate me, so when the group decided to go, I was down for it.
Tickets are bought on the door (£18 for adults, £11 for children), so in the busy summer months, it’s wise to get here early. The tour lasts 50 minutes to an hour, with 245 steps into and out of the cavern being the hardest part of it.
On both my visits, we have been lucky to have George guide us and he is amazing. A proper Yorkshire man, with so much knowledge waiting to be shared with you. Our group had quite a few questions, and he definitely taught us all a thing or two.
A break for lunch
For lunch, some decided to stay out to find a pub, while a few of us decided to head back to the Airbnb to make some lunch. With Castleton right there, you have a few choices for lunch, and in nicer weather, there are plenty of spots nearby where you could make a picnic.
Hiking on the edge
Our goal for the afternoon was to watch the sunset from Stanage Edge, so after we refuelled, we headed over to Hooks Carr Car Park which is at the base. You do have to pay for parking, the machine is at the top of the car park.
From there, it is pretty much a straight walk up the hill, not far at all. You’ll often see lots of rock climbers here too. Once we reached the top, we walked along the edge until we came across a trail on the right which led us to Stanage Pole. It is a wooden pole that has been there for hundreds of years, on the ancient packhorse route known as the Long Causeway. After a quick stop here, it was time to go find Robin Hoods Cave.
A mysterious cave
Robin Hoods Cave is a hidden gem that many walk by without realising. Carved into the cliff face, there is a small walkway down from the top of the edge, and hidden is the cave. To get to it, you’ll need to climb through into the sheltered cave. But once inside, the views are spectacular. We spent a good amount of time here, just sat chatting and looking over the horizon. It is a great spot for sunset, & it did not disappoint.
A Peak Christmas
Our second day was finished with a Christmas meal. Great food & great company, you can’t get much better than that. When I say I have never laughed so hard in my life, I’m probably under-exaggerating.
