Because
of my seemingly never-ending ticklist, any chance that presents itself is
seized with the goal of reducing the list.
But a club day out on a September Sunday had some relatively unknown but
shapely peaks as the summits of the day.
My
breakfast of a cream tea at the Longnor coffee shop was an indulgence but I
felt I could justify it ahead of the day’s exertions. A leisurely start had us following quiet
country lanes to a path traversing slowly up to the ridge of High
Wheeldon. The ascent gives the
impression that the skyline will be met by a defined ridge but at the top there
is a gently sloping plateau of farmland which gives no impression that you are on
high ground.
A
descent to the BMC managed Aldery Cliff was followed by a stroll along the lane
to Earl Sterndale where a welcoming road sign states that “Peas drive
carefully”! We had heard a rumour about
“The Quiet Woman” without elaboration but the mystery was soon solved!
 |
| And so should you! |
 |
| Mystery solved! |
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| Parkhouse Hill and Chrome Hill |
After
crossing some fields we found ourselves at the bottom of the most challenging
of the day’s ascents – Parkhouse Hill.
It didn’t take long to reach the summit but the choice of descent
required some thought before our lunch stop at the bottom of Chrome Hill.
Instead
of a direct ascent we followed the road through Dowal Dale before turning south
to walk up the north-west ridge of Chrome Hill.
Some of us took the opportunities for scrambling when the terrain
allowed before walking down the south-east ridge back to our lunch spot. The last couple of miles to Longnor took us
across farmland and when we reached the coffee shop our persuasion kept it open
long enough for my second cream tea of the day – and I wasn’t the only one!
