I felt like I was on a journey with Paul Besley, author of Dark Peak Walks, as I followed route 5 from his book. I took the time to stop and look at the historical sites he points out along the way. I imagined his delight at the scenes in the winter sunshine, how he would coo if I were to tell him. And with every few steps I marvelled at the amazing route he produced. Absolute perfection.
I needed a day to myself, to slow down after the fast pace of January. I was in recovery from delivering a presentation to professional people in Sheffield the night before. I’d been feeling nervous in the build up to standing in front of 70+ people to talk about the mentoring scheme that I manage for Sheffield Digital. This was very different to my usual day-to-day working from home and in the hills. I was also recovering from a race just a few days before, which had involved nine steep hills over a 12 mile course.
While I like to challenge myself, it does come at a cost to my energy resources. Luckily I’d left my diary empty for the day after my presentation. There was frost on the ground but the sun was shining and I felt an urge to lie down in the woods. I travelled to Grindleford with the intention to rest. I had packed my sleeping mat so that I could lie down beneath the trees. After putting it on the ground and taking my boots off I felt the sun warming me and laid back straight away. In that moment I felt a beautiful sense of relief.
After a while I sat up to pour coffee from my flask. I watched a dog appear from the quarry, frantically searching for its owner. It wasn’t in the slightest bit bothered about me. Once they were reunited I listened to birdsong echoing through treetops, the cracking of twigs through undergrowth, and occasional sounds of footsteps and voices in the distance. A crow landed in a nearby branch for a while. I observed it closely as it looked around, cawed, and ruffled itself. “What are you going to do next?”, I whispered, and I waited.
It fascinates me that when I am still, there is so much happening around me at micro and macro levels. I think it’s really important to sit and observe nature, in order to get a sense of perspective on things. It reminds me to pause and notice how I’m feeling, or how I’ve been feeling, as a way of checking in with myself. We all get caught up in our own little worlds, wildlife included, but sometimes we miss the beauty and curiosity of life outside of that.
The sun was so warm I felt no rush to get along with my walk. I used my backpack as a pillow, laid myself back again, and closed my eyes. I didn’t fall asleep but the rest felt deeply nourishing and peaceful.
After snacking on cheese and nuts I eventually put my boots back on. I continued walking through the birch trees, carefully following Paul’s directions. I used the Merlin app to identify birds that I could hear and recorded a Great Spotted Woodpecker and a Pink-Footed Goose.
After a while the route took me up high into the dark peak moors via Surprise View, a magnificent contrast to the quarried landscape below. Far-reaching views opened up as I passed giant boulders at Mother Cap and Owler Tor, leading me towards Higger Tor and Carl Wark. It really is a route that takes you back in time and Paul tells you exactly what to look out for.
I decided to take a detour to Longshaw Cafe as they have a scone of the month theme that is always a treat and I love to sit at the window to watch the world go by. I lingered over a brew and a chocolate and cherry scone until it was time to catch my train home. The winter light was beautiful as the sun began to go down.
Like many people, I often forget how important it is to rest. I feel it best surrounded by trees, listening to a river, or upon a quiet moorland. It’s the only way that I can truly restore myself. There is so much to do and people to spend quality time with, but this is a very important reminder to take time for yourself, your playfulness and your curiosity. You don’t have to earn it or wait for permission to take a day off. It’s there for you now. Will you accept the invitation?
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