18/02/18
The cave and walk leaders joined forces, the cave leader confident that the younger cavers would be able to cope without him. So the party started off with a devious route up the Dale via Stoney crags, past Carlswark and along the narrow climbers traverse to the Eyam road, all of which some members had not yet seen. Then immediately on entering Cucklet Delph, we followed an indistinct and slippery track up to the base of Stoney West Crags – which most members had not seen. Then a scramble up the steep path to arrive on the traversing path to Horseshoe Quarry – which some of the members had also not seen. An impressive path took us round the right edge, then we followed the green fields to Foolow, and a lunch break and a cup of tea, courtesy of the Foolow church. Passing the now filled in site of the massive sink hole that appeared a few years ago, we stopped for a beer at the Barrel. Time was getting on, so we headed down to Stoke Ford, then the very muddy traversing path to the lane above Leadmill Bridge. Here the party split – three went off to sample the even muddier delights of the river path, whilst the others took the little lane up and along. Later the party split again, most up onto Eyam Moor, then down to Eyam and back, whilst the principle Walk Leader and a faithful companion, took what they thought would be a quicker route (conscious of the urgency to cook) by sticking to the lanes, but as it turned out they arrived back only minutes before the Eyam group, but satisfied they weren’t as muddy as the later riverside trio.
The cavers had a lie in and headed over to Knotlow at midday. They entered Hillocks and using Meccano Passage, squeezed into Knotlow. They then exited by the pre rigged Engine Shaft.
Dinner was at the hut, with a good group of 17.
Geoff P
Derbyshire Pennine Club 