Day 1, 24th June. To celebrate 5 years since we first met myself and Mrs. M decided to return to the Peak District, the scene of our first trip away together. We are staying for 2 days at the Travelodge in Glossop.
Given the hot weather we are travelling in Ziggy the Z4 and expect to be in “top down” mode for most of the trip.
Obviously first stop is Donnington Services for a Greggs breakfast from where we head to Dovedale. In typical English fashion the brown road signs seem to disappear and we make a slight detour before arriving at the National Trust car park. We wander along the river to the famous stepping stones, which, despite a sign to the contrary, are in perfect working order but Mrs. M’s sense of balance isn’t so after I have crossed over and then crossed back we return to the car. We would normally have walked further but the heat is becoming oppressive.
Given that I haven’t devised a proper plan we decide to head to Buxton where we visited a couple of charity shops before calling into The Old Clubhouse, a hostelry opposite The Opera House which we had frequented on a previous visit. We then drove on to Glossop and parked up, popping into the Travelodge to register for free parking. A wander round the town sampling some of the (quite plentiful) hostelries, the charity shops and the indoor market (which we hadn’t noticed on previous visits) before getting some essential supplies and checking into our room. Dinner in the Pico Lounge and a quick one in the ‘Spoons before turning in but not really sleeping as the absence of aircon means that it is slightly warm in our room despite the continual running of the solitary fan.
Day 2, 25th June. Breakfast in the spoons and we set off on a scenic route towards Holmfirth, home of Last of The Summer Wine (which Mrs. M didn’t watch and knows nothing about). A few miles out of Glossop and we encounter a pall of smoke…there is a wildfire. In reality it didn’t interfere with our day but it did continue to burn for several weeks and was the subject of reports on the national news. We stopped briefly at Holme Moss where there is a glorious view over Holmfirth and where a fellow traveller kindly took our photograph (see The Peak District Gallery). Moving on to Holmfirth we parked up and enquired at the library (which doubled up as the Tourist Information Centre, the dedicated building having closed in a sure sign of the diminishing appeal of Last Of The Summer Wine) as to the main filming locations; the Norah Batty Steps and Syd’s Cafe. Having visited both locations, and on the recommendation of the library, we drive a couple of miles along some extremely steep and narrow roads to a pub which was a regular location in the series….it is closed! Undeterred we set off back towards Glossop on a slightly circuitous route as the Snake Pass is closed for repairs and make a lunch stop at Ye Olde Mustard Pot at Midhopestones. Returning to Glossop we try one in The Bank Bar and Brasserie before moving onto The Norfolk Arms. Sandwiches from M&S followed by another fitful nights sleep in the Travelodge sauna.
Day 3, 26th June. We purposefully travel home via the M1 (rather than the suggested route via the M6) stopping at McDonald’s in Chesterfield for breakfast. A reasonable break but a bit too hot. There are some images in The Peak District Gallery.