Text contributed by Lisa; pics by Simon, Johnny and Marie.
After looking forward to the White Peak Wandering backpacking trip for so long, there was a sense of foreboding when we woke at the Castleton Losehill Hall Youth Hostel with Storm Lilian making her presence known, rattling the windows and felling trees as we journeyed by taxi to Ilam for the start of our walk.
However, Kate’s impeccable planning meant that, after our coffee stop at the impressive Gothic Revival Ilam Hall, our 10.5ish-mile walk commenced in sunshine.
We followed the River Dove along Dove Dale for the majority of the day, enjoying spectacular scenery, ranging from rugged rock formations to idyllic, almost artificially beautiful, country scenes with herons and livestock.
There were diversions for cave exploration and an appropriate quantity of pretty bridges for obligatory photo opportunities.
The halfway point at Polly’s Cottage at Milldale provided pies and ice cream by the river to sustain us for the final push to the stately Hartington Hall Youth Hostel, our home for the night to look forward to the next day’s adventure.
