On Saturday, after 7 months of training, the day finally arrived for the Elior Walking Club to commence our 2 day challenge - The Cloud Seven Circuit - 33 miles, 7 peaks and 7000ft ascent. We started from 'Tegg's Nose' as daylight broke just before 7am - and guess what.... there were seven of us!
Our transport to & from the start & finish, food and support for the day was provided by Ian Lonsdale - who became a very welcome sight between long climbs and descents!
Here we are on the way to our first summit on Tegg's Nose:
Me, Paul Jarrott, Andy Davies, Janet Farrell, Nicola Ward, Christine Smallwood and Iain Williams.
After completing a couple of peaks, it was time for lunch - we got some strange looks from the passing motorists!
Straight after lunch it was a steep half mile climb up the edge of Bosley Cloud...
... but great views from the top! The communications tower on the horizon was our second summit of the day, Croker Hill.
Another 2 climbs later, we were near the top of the 'Roaches', our final peak of a very long day. We had to persuade Paul not to take the quick route down though!
Starting the 3 mile descent, there were some weary legs (plus a few blisters, sore knees and ankles)
As dusk approached, we made our way through 'Lud's Church', a deep chasm penetrating the Millstone Grit bedrock above Gradbach, Staffordshire, (our third County of the day!)
It is believed that the chasm was considered to be a sacred place by early Pagans, most likely due to the phenomenon that occurs on Midsummer Day, where only on this day does the Sun's light penetrate the depths. Robin Hood, Friar Tuck and Bonny Prince Charlie are all reputed to have hidden from the authorities here.
Sunday was a very different day. Not only did we start with aching limbs, but the weather was cold and foul!
Where there should have been fabulous views from the top of 'Shining Tor', it was hard to see through the low cloud and snow showers!!!
The bedraggled team reach the first summit of the day.......
and the snow had just started to stick at this point....
... but the weather miraculously started to clear as we approached our first 'pitstop', just below the Cat & Fiddle pub near Buxton.
Our next 'target' was Shutlinsloe - here looking like a pimple beneath the clouds on the horizon.
As we got nearer, the clouds suddenly dispersed and the heat of the sun caused steam to rise from the forest...
... or maybe it was just the heat from Ian's delicious 'Full English Brunch' that caused it!
A better looking sky for our seventh and final summit on Shutlinsloe (although I forgot to tell the team that there was still another steep climb and 3.5 miles to go to the finish...
.... as well as a steep and rocky descent down into the valley!
At this stage, a few of the team who were nursing injuries chose the longer, but slightly less tricky route down. You can just spot them on the horizon!
We were soon climbing up the other side of the valley, looking back at Shutligsloe bathed in sunshine.
...and a few miles later, we arrived in Gradbach around 3pm, at the end of a tortuous (but most enjoyable) couple of days walking in the Cheshire, Derbyshire and Staffordshire hills. All seven completed the challenge through the pain of sore knees, ankles and feet. We'll all look back with a great sense of achievement, once the aches have died away!
We finished with the award of certificates & champagne (plus a well-deserved couple of glasses of bubbly), including a big 'thank you' to Ian for his support! The sign just behind me says it all!
With many thanks to all of our sponsors (more of that in my next Blog), below is the proof that we completed all seven peaks!
