Local Customs and Folklore, The Peak DistrictLeave a comment

Well Dressings

May 31, 2010August 31, 2011 richardpeakwalkingadventures

View Full Album During the summer months, many Derbyshire villages produce well dressings. This centuries old tradition involves making colourful plaques decorated with flower petals and other items from nature to make pictures. They are placed at the sources of fresh water such as wells and springs throughout the village. These pictures are a selection of well dressings in Ashford-in-the-Water and in Wirksworth and were taken on our guided walks on 30th and 31st May. Continue reading Well Dressings

The Peak District, Wild Flowers and TreesLeave a comment

Bluebells

May 29, 2010August 31, 2011 richardpeakwalkingadventures

View Full Album Bluebells along with other spring flowers have been late this year, however during May we have enjoyed walking through bluebell woods on several of our guided walks both in the Hope Valley area, and in the Derbyshire Dales. Even yesterday almost into June, Bow Wood near Lea Bridge was still carpeted with these beautiful blue flowers, and on Thursday, we strolled through meadows containing bluebells near to Bretton Clough. They usually prefer shady areas such as woodland but do occasionally grow in sunlit areas. In England, wild bluebells are protected by law and it … Continue reading Bluebells

The Peak District, Wild Flowers and TreesLeave a comment

Spring Flowers

May 2, 2010August 31, 2011 richardpeakwalkingadventures

View Full Album Here are a small selection of the beautiful spring flowers that we have seen on our walks in the Peak District over the last few weeks. They have all been late this year due to the exceptionally cold winter, but bluebells are now just starting to come out, and pretty white flowers such as Wood Sorrel, and Wood Anemones are carpeting the floors of shady woodland areas. There should be more to follow as we move into May! Continue reading Spring Flowers

The Dark Peak, The Peak District, Wild Animals, WildlifeLeave a comment

Mountain hares getting their summer coats

April 25, 2010August 31, 2011 richardpeakwalkingadventures

We saw a group of five mountain hares on our walk today on the northern edge of Kinder Scout. They are starting to lose their white winter coats now and returning to their summer brown colour which will make them a little more difficult to spot in future. Continue reading Mountain hares getting their summer coats

Birds, The Dark Peak, The Peak District, WildlifeLeave a comment

Ring Ouzels have arrived

April 9, 2010August 31, 2011 richardpeakwalkingadventures

We were lucky enough to see Ring Ouzels on our walk today on Derwent Edge. These birds which look a bit like a blackbird with a white ring around the front of their neck, spend the winter in Spain or North Africa and migrate north each year in April to nest. Their numbers have declined substantially over recent years and there are now believed to be only around 7,000 breeding pairs returning to the UK each year. They favour rocky hillsides for their nesting grounds, and in the Peak District as we usually get a few nesting pairs on the … Continue reading Ring Ouzels have arrived

Birds, The Peak District, WildlifeLeave a comment

Spring must be here!

March 17, 2010August 31, 2011 richardpeakwalkingadventures

We saw our first lapwings and curlew of the year today on our walk starting in the Vale of Edale. These beautiful birds tend to spend the winter in coastal areas, moving inland to breed in the spring. We also saw our first lambs of the year – only a few days old I would guess! Continue reading Spring must be here!

The Peak District, Wild Animals, WildlifeLeave a comment

White Stoat on Beeley Moor

February 13, 2010August 31, 2011 richardpeakwalkingadventures

Stoats are widely distributed throughout rural Derbyshire. They are a small mammal with a sausage-shaped body and short legs, and are usually coloured gingery brown. On our walk today the stoat we saw moving amongst the heather on the edge of the moorland was pure white with just a black tip to its tail. Stoats in upland areas do sometimes turn white during the winter to camouflage themselves against the snow. This little creature had been left highly conspicuous as the moorland snow in this area has now melted. Unfortunately it was camera shy so we didn’t manage to get … Continue reading White Stoat on Beeley Moor

Birds, The Dark Peak, The Peak District, WildlifeLeave a comment

Grouse about the snow

February 6, 2010August 31, 2011 richardpeakwalkingadventures

View Full Album While many people have been grousing about the snow which has lingered for many weeks in the Peak District, last Sunday we were up on Derwent Edge watching the grouse make their way about in the snow! (Red Grouse to be precise) There are estimated to be over 5,000 breading pairs of Red Grouse in the Peak District, so it is not unusual see see them on our moorland walks. The males can be instantly recognised by their distinctive red ‘eyebrows’. It really was a great day to be out walking, with brilliant sunshine, fantastic … Continue reading Grouse about the snow

Peak Walking Adventures Blog

Amazing things seen and enjoyed on our guided hill and moorland walks.

Category: The Peak District