Residential trip with a difference - Gradbach September 2008

This was a new venture for OFS - to take over part of a Youth Hostel for a weekend walking.

Last September 15 of us took over the farm part of Gradbach Youth Hostel which is in a beautiful part of the Peak District, though access is along a narrow and winding road with a sharp hairpin bend on the final turn into towards the hostel.

For some of us it was a trip down memory lane youth hosteling - sharing a dormitory, mucking in with cooking breakfast and clearing up before we left.

Gwyneth's plans were comprehensive - a computer programme calculated how much food would be consumed by the group even allowing extra for the number of men in the group! Consequently we were extremely well catered for breakfasts and packed lunches.

Saturday morning dawned fine and sunny and we set off for Three Shires Head, disaster nearly struck as Michael and I were so busy talking we turned left instead of right as we came down to the stream and would have ended walking in the wrong direction, however Gwyneth put us on the right track and it was a lovely walk to the bridge that marks the junction of three counties Cheshire, Staffordshire and Derbyshire.

It was far too early to turn back to the hostel so we walked on to the Cat and Fiddle Pub - the highest pub in England which is on the A537 a winding road between Macclesfield and Buxton, much loved by motorbike enthusiasts.

Large mugs of tea and coffee seemed to be the beverages of choice! The journey back to the hostel took us through Wildboarclough village. After showers and a change of clothes it was off to the local pub for a really good meal, and we all slept well despite the bunk beds.

On Sunday we walked from the hostel to the Roaches a gritstone outcrop overlooking the Cheshire plain, first following Black Brook through Gradbach Wood and then a steady upward climb to get to the ridge itself. The views from the ridge were lovely - lush farm land, plenty of cows and the huge expanse of water that is Tittesworth Reservoir.

The Trig point marked that we were 505m above sea level.

We stopped for a break by a pool and then started the progressive descent back through mostly farm land, though I have to say that some of the paths were not well marked. I had tried the walk out earlier in the summer as my sister lives in the area, so even having walked it before there were still points where the path was not obvious.

Time for a cup of tea, and for me a complete surprise, a cake in celebration (a week in advance) for my birthday. Sadly for some of us it was the drive home back to Oxford but the lucky ones went to Buxton for a night out at the Opera House and a more leisurely journey back. In all it was a great success - good company, walking, food and drink, so on behalf of all of us, thank you Gwyneth for organising the trip and a personal thanks to Emerita for the surprise birthday cake, I can't believe I didn't see it in the boot of my car!

Elizabeth Adams