As we were nearing the end of our holiday and the weather looked as though it would stay fine, Richard and I decided it would be a good idea to do another walk while we had the chance. We had made a list of the walks we wanted to do before we came on holiday and we had already walked in Back Forest and up Hen Cloud. Our third choice was a walk we had never tried before – along the top of the Roaches. Our book of local walks suggested a circular walk starting at Tittesworth Water, walking across farmland up to where we usually park our car for our Hen Cloud walk and then up from there to the Roaches. After descending from the rocks at the far end we would be able to follow paths and lanes back to where we left our car at the reservoir. Richard made us some sandwiches, I washed up and packed our rucksacks and we set out about 11 o’clock.
Tittesworth reservoir is a very short drive from our camp. We had been there before but only for a short visit about seven years ago. It has a visitor centre and people are welcome to walk all round the water and watch the many different types of wildfowl that live there. Boating is also a popular activity on the water.
We walked from the car-park to Meerbrook, a village next to the water.
I didn’t take many photos during the first half of the walk as it became quite hard-going shortly after we left the village. The paths were very overgrown or we sunk into deep mud. The local farmer hadn’t kept the ways clear and so it was difficult to follow the directions set out in our guide.
We found a man tying up a gate with binder twine and asked if we could use the gate to get to the path we needed. He said we could use the gate and then commented on the humidity of the day – nothing else. We walked on and found the way blocked by an electric fence which we had to crawl under – not easy for those like us who are past the first flush of youth. Getting up again is much more difficult than getting down on the ground. Why hadn’t the farmer/farm worker said anything about this to us? It amused him, no doubt. We had to pass through a farm yard next.
We then lost the path at the corner of a field and had to scrabble about for a while til we found what we hoped was the right way. We were discussing what our options were when, to our great surprise a man’s head popped over the wall above us and asked if he could help. It is a very strange thing to think that you are in the middle of nowhere and then find that a man is hanging out his washing in his garden right next to you! He was very helpful and we were on our way again. By this time we were very hot and tired as the way had been difficult and uphill all the way. Richard was getting annoyed and I had a great urge to laugh!
We had just entered the bottom of a steep field when we saw a muck spreader arrive and start its smelly work on the opposite side of the same field. It was a race against time for us to get to the top of the field before the tractor had worked its way over to our side. We knew that the driver would not have stopped his work just for us. Fortunately we just managed it in time but we were so tired! The main reason for this walk was to climb the Roaches and we hadn’t reached them yet. We had thought the walk across the fields would have been a pleasant preliminary but we had sadly been mistaken!
We were now at the base of Hen Cloud and decided that we would stop for a short while and have our lunch after which we turned and walked towards the Roaches. They, with Hen Cloud and Ramshaw Rocks, form a gritstone escarpment which marks the south-western edge of the Peaks. The Roaches consist of two edges – a Lower and an Upper Tier.
The views through the trees from the top of the steps looking down and then upwards were very fine.
These edges provide some of the best gritstone climbing in the country with famous classic routes such as ‘Valkyrie’, ‘The Sloth’ and ‘The Swan’.
There was something of interest to look at whichever way we turned. Please click on the images to enlarge them.
Doxey Pool is on the top of the Roaches. According to legend it is inhabited by a water spirit or mermaid known by some as Jenny Greenteeth. The pool is said to be bottomless and connected by an underground passage to another Mere or lake which also contains a water spirit. Doxey Pool is situated many hundreds of feet above any known spring. We didn’t see anything ‘unexplained’ while we were there!
A selection of rocks.
Yet more rocks!
We left the Roaches and started to descend down through moorland and meadows.
I am not sure what this grass is and any suggestions would be much appreciated. It may be False Oat-grass (Arrhenatherum elatius) I apologise for the poor photos.
I don’t know what this plant is either. I tried to take photos of its flowers – pink-tinged white umbellifers – but none of them came out. The stems are purple and hairy and the leaves are quite distinctive. I thought at first it might be Cow Bane but that and Hemlock are hairless.
We soon found our way back to the reservoir and then returned to our caravan. The following day was our last day and we had hoped to spend it sitting, reading and relaxing. Fate and farmers decided otherwise. The muck-spreading fever had taken hold and the field next to us was being fertilized. We couldn’t stay where we were so we returned to Tittesworth Water and walked around there and had some lunch. We amused ourselves for a while by watching some boys being taught how to row. There were about six boys to a boat and the group that we enjoyed watching most consisted of a couple of lads who did all the work and the rest just made a lot of noise. The two who actually did the rowing were on the same side of the boat so they went round in circles. In the end they had to be towed ashore.
The next day we got ready to leave but before returning home we drove to the station to collect Elinor who had been staying with Alice. They both seemed to have had a good time together but both were very tired and needed sleep. Our journey home was fortunately uneventful.
Lavinia Ross said:
That is a beautiful view into your countryside!
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clarepooley33 said:
Thank-you very much, Lavinia.
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Gallivanta said:
What marvellous rock formations. Also lovely to see that the trig stations have been left in place. I admire your stamina. I would have given up at the electric fence.
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clarepooley33 said:
We very nearly did give up – my husband was getting so cross!
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Julie said:
This is a part of the country I haven’t really explored, my husband has cycled here, staying in really basic bunk rooms and loved the cycling, less so the bunk rooms! The scenery looks beautiful Clare, I love the views you have shown us. Umbelifers are infuriating to identify, I’d recommend Harraps Wild Flowers by Simon Harrap, its the size a big paperback book, rather than pocket size but is the most helpful wildflower book I’ve yet read.
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clarepooley33 said:
Thank-you, Julie. I have made a note of the flower ID book and will look out for it. We love this part of the country mainly because it is so different from home.
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Jill Weatherholt said:
Wow, these are fabulous pictures, Clare. What a beautiful place. I love the rock cottage! The cow photo is so cute. 🙂
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clarepooley33 said:
Thank-you, Jill. I knew someone would find the calf adorable too! We return to this place every year. It is wonderful in its own right but it is also an hours drive from where my husband’s mother, brother and nephews live so we get some family visiting done too.
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Aggie said:
Oh, i love the Roaches, the climber’s hut, and the pool at the top. (Used to do some climbing myself.) What a special place, including all the countryside. Thanks for sharing.
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clarepooley33 said:
Thank-you so much Aggie! I am glad you liked it.
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colorpencil2014 said:
Oh such lovely images, thanks for sharing! I get a cozy Jane Austen feeling form those and I would not have been surprised at all if a hobbit would have stepped out of that Stone Cottage!
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clarepooley33 said:
It is hobbit-like! I will have to see if I can have a look inside next time we go there.
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quietsolopursuits said:
I had no idea that there were such places in England! I loved the views and also the stone cottage, what a magical place to live that must be! The wildflowers were also beautiful, in fact, the entire post was. I can see why you would choose this location for your holiday, although more clearly marked trails would be a big help. 😉
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clarepooley33 said:
Thank-you Jerry. I am so pleased you liked it. I believe that all farmers really resent the footpaths that cross their land and would much rather the public kept away. The footpaths near our house get ploughed up and crops grown on them. I can understand how they feel but many of the paths have been there for many hundreds of years – long before they owned the land! I will have to have a look inside the stone cottage next time we visit there if it is possible.
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tootlepedal said:
Great rock shots. I am glad that you escaped being fertilized.
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clarepooley33 said:
So am I!
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New Hampshire Garden Solutions said:
That looks like a great place to explore! I love the rock cottage and the way it’s built right into the rocks like that.
I don’t know much about false oat-grass but I Googled it and your identification is a good one to me.
Water hemlock (Cicuta maculate) has hairy purple stems and is also one of the deadliest plants known. It’s sometimes called spotted cowbane rather than just cowbane.
I think that calf was smiling at you!
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clarepooley33 said:
Thank-you Allen! I am grateful for the ID suggestions and help. The calf was so very sweet and gentle – they aren’t so gentle as adults! I am thinking I ought to have a closer look at that cottage in the rocks next time I go.
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Elizabeth Melton Parsons said:
Those rocks and woods remind me of one of my favorite places, Garden of the Gods in the Shawnee National Forest. Brought back some lovely memories for me. But that cottage built into the rocks–absolutely awesome! Thank you, Clare. ❤
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clarepooley33 said:
Thank-you, Elizabeth! I must google Garden of the Gods and see what it’s like. I will be having a closer look at the rock cottage next time we go. Clare x
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Elizabeth Melton Parsons said:
If you Google it, Clare, it’s the one in Southern Illinois in Shawnee National forest. There’s one in California too, I believe. xo
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clarepooley33 said:
Thank-you Elizabeth! I have just been admiring your Garden of the Gods – I see what you mean. Wonderful natural sculptures!
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Kate Happenence said:
It sounds like a really nice holiday. I love that you labelled the flowers, I never know what it is I’m looking at.
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clarepooley33 said:
Thank-you so much Kate! I always try to label my photos of plants and insects etc. If I mis-identify them there is sure to be someone who points it out and that way I learn something new. I do spend quite a bit of time trying to find out what the plants are before posting them – I really like to know what I’m looking at.
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Cynthia Reyes said:
What a rocky time you had! Lots of beautiful old rock stuff – buildings, walls and paths, etc. I love old rock structures, moss and all.
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clarepooley33 said:
Thank-you! Everywhere we looked there were weathered rocks and cliffs. Why import granite or bricks when there is limestone to hand? I am so pleased to have finished writing about last year’s holiday at last!
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