Camping in the Peak District
Following my recent camping trip with some work colleagues I've been asked to write an account of the trip for the office mag. This is it:
London Geotechnics Outdoors Camping in the Peak District
15-17th June 2007
A foreboding weather forecast with severe weather warnings did not immediately suggest that camping in the Peak District would be an ideal way to spend a weekend. However, in the true British style of refusing to let the weather ruin things, there was no turning back – and what a decision that proved to be!
Various routes north by car or train all got bucketed on by driving rain and flooding stopped several of us who were caught on the wrong road at the wrong time. Those that arrived early braved the rain to set up most of the tents and by 11.30pm the rain had finally stopped and we were all assembled (except for Duncan and Anne who we didn’t locate until Saturday lunchtime!).
Being one of Arup’s New Zealand imports, this was my first time camping in the UK. Whilst for most points it is a similar experience, the major difference is how incredibly civilised camping is over here. In New Zealand we’re all instilled with a sense of the caution needed when hiking in the bush. If you stray from the path you run a very real risk of getting lost and suffering from exposure. Over here the paths are paved (paved?!) and the greatest risk is that you’re more than an hours walk from a nice warm pub! (To give it its due, this was the Peak District and not the wilds of Scotland. Ed)
So with hindsight I shouldn’t have been the least surprised that dinner for some on that first damp night consisted of duck and prawns. Roughing it indeed!
So our first day involved a wee jaunt up to the top of Mam Tor (the ‘Shivering Mountain’) where we stopped to fly a kite, then down into Speedwell Cavern, and old lead mine for a bit of interest and finally to Castleton where cream teas awaited us - very civilised. Once ensconced (note bakery themed pun) in the tea rooms, motivation to go no further was high. However, the thought of a BBQ in what was proving to be rather good weather motivated us to go, via the Mam Tor Landslide as we’re all geotech and couldn’t resist, back to the campsite.
Since the Kiwi’s and Aussies were outnumbered we lost the inevitable debate about the use of coal BBQs (honestly, gas fired is so much easier) but still enjoyed a spread that would rival many dinners cooked using a full kitchen.
With half a day on Sunday and still improving weather to spend either rock climbing or walking up at Stanage High Neb, or walking around the same area it was another day which left a smile on your face and rounded off an excellent weekend. Camping in the beautiful Peak District with gourmet food, cream tea, BBQs and plenty of beer. You know, I could get used to this.
London Geotechnics Outdoors Camping in the Peak District
15-17th June 2007
A foreboding weather forecast with severe weather warnings did not immediately suggest that camping in the Peak District would be an ideal way to spend a weekend. However, in the true British style of refusing to let the weather ruin things, there was no turning back – and what a decision that proved to be!
Various routes north by car or train all got bucketed on by driving rain and flooding stopped several of us who were caught on the wrong road at the wrong time. Those that arrived early braved the rain to set up most of the tents and by 11.30pm the rain had finally stopped and we were all assembled (except for Duncan and Anne who we didn’t locate until Saturday lunchtime!).
Being one of Arup’s New Zealand imports, this was my first time camping in the UK. Whilst for most points it is a similar experience, the major difference is how incredibly civilised camping is over here. In New Zealand we’re all instilled with a sense of the caution needed when hiking in the bush. If you stray from the path you run a very real risk of getting lost and suffering from exposure. Over here the paths are paved (paved?!) and the greatest risk is that you’re more than an hours walk from a nice warm pub! (To give it its due, this was the Peak District and not the wilds of Scotland. Ed)
So with hindsight I shouldn’t have been the least surprised that dinner for some on that first damp night consisted of duck and prawns. Roughing it indeed!So our first day involved a wee jaunt up to the top of Mam Tor (the ‘Shivering Mountain’) where we stopped to fly a kite, then down into Speedwell Cavern, and old lead mine for a bit of interest and finally to Castleton where cream teas awaited us - very civilised. Once ensconced (note bakery themed pun) in the tea rooms, motivation to go no further was high. However, the thought of a BBQ in what was proving to be rather good weather motivated us to go, via the Mam Tor Landslide as we’re all geotech and couldn’t resist, back to the campsite.
Since the Kiwi’s and Aussies were outnumbered we lost the inevitable debate about the use of coal BBQs (honestly, gas fired is so much easier) but still enjoyed a spread that would rival many dinners cooked using a full kitchen.
With half a day on Sunday and still improving weather to spend either rock climbing or walking up at Stanage High Neb, or walking around the same area it was another day which left a smile on your face and rounded off an excellent weekend. Camping in the beautiful Peak District with gourmet food, cream tea, BBQs and plenty of beer. You know, I could get used to this.
posted by Ricardo at
4:07 pm
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