With work getting stressful, my health getting worse and my age passing another milestone (only 23 but it’s the first one to not feel very good), I needed another escape to the countryside. Thankfully my parents thought so too, so as a birthday treat they headed south from Stirlingshire and I headed north from London, meeting in the middle in Derbyshire.

I’ve only visited the area once before but the green hills and tree filled valleys of the Peak District were such a contrast to London that I felt instantly more relaxed. Not that I could see any of it, since I arrived just as the sun was going down.

We were staying in a hotel on the banks of the river Dove and thought it a perfect location to invite all our family from the area over for dinner. Even my old flatmates Adam and Jenny came over, reorganising a trip to Wales just to see me.

The next morning, after a slow start, Mum, Dad and I set off to explore Dovedale, the river Dove’s valley that leads to Milldale. After only a few minutes of walking along the track, we were met by the area’s iconic stepping-stones. Before I continue this post I need to remind you, I hadn’t been in the outdoors for a long time, and the sight of these stepping-stones filled me with some strange child-like excitement.

1 Balancing on rocks

I ran about, jumping from one to the other, balancing on my hands and (once my folks caught up) poking the water with my foot while my mum poked it with a stick.

2 Poking water

I think my energy rubbed off on them a little because my mum started to do things like this.

3 Mum is crazy

After a whole load more silliness we continued along the river and further into the valley. The landscape changes rapidly from smooth green hills to rocky cliff faces. Every so often, out of nowhere, caves and huge rock arches would appear. I loved it!

4 Archway

The centrepiece of this walk was definitely the “Doveholes”. These two huge caves were easily accessible but unbelievably huge.

6 Massive cave

Eventually we reached the village of Milldale, ate a quick lunch from the hole-in-the-wall style café and began our trip back.
7 Village bridgeMum and dad8 Pub sign
With food in my stomach I had a second burst of energy, getting a little bit sillier than before. See exhibit A and B.

10 In a tree

Exhibit A – In a tree

12 tree crossing

Exhibit B – Sitting on a tree.

We finished off the rest of the walk with smiles on our faces and a few days later I returned to busy London, refreshed a bit.

11Walking with mum

Thanks to my amazing dad, Derek Townsend, for taking all these photos.