Geology, Rivers, The White PeakLeave a comment

The wonders of Lathkill Dale after heavy rain

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Lathkill Dale is a very beautiful and fascinating place for many reasons.  Its geological history is outstanding.  It is home to an abundance of wild flowers.  What interested us the most however on our guided Nature Walk yesterday was the River Lathkill itself. The River Lathkill rises in different places throughout the year depening upon where the water table lies.  After prolonged periods of heavy rain, usually in the winter it flows gently out of a cave called Lathkill Head Cave which is towards the western end of the dale.  In recent years however the point where it has risen has tended to be much further to the … Continue reading The wonders of Lathkill Dale after heavy rain

GeologyLeave a comment

Britain’s biggest natural hole!

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We are just back from our first ever long weekend of guided walks in the Yorkshire Dales.  Our aim was to climb the three highest mountains in Yorkshire over three consecutive days, taking it slowly to allow time to enjoy the views and look at points of interest along the route. Yesterday following our descent from Pen-y-Ghent, we passed Hull Pot.  A collapsed cave which now forms a hole in the ground approx 60 feet wide, 60 feet deep and 300 feet long.  It is rumoured to be Britain’s biggest natural hole.  A stream enters the hole part way down creating a … Continue reading Britain’s biggest natural hole!

Wild Flowers and Trees2 Comments

Bluebells in the Dark Peak

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We saw our first Bluebells of the year on Tuesday in the Dark Peak area of the Peak District, just coming into flower.  They are often a little later here than further south in the country. Native bluebells are protected against sale by law.  That means it is illegal to dig up the bulbs from the wild in order to sell them, and if  you don’t own the land it is illegal to dig them up for any purpose. Some estimates suggest the UK has up to half of the world’s total bluebell population.  They like damp places without too much sunlight, so … Continue reading Bluebells in the Dark Peak

The Dark PeakLeave a comment

Easter Snow in the Peak District

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On our Stanage & Bamford Edges guided walk today we enjoyed some stunning views of Stanage Edge, Bamford Edge, and the surrounding hills and moorlands in the snow.  I don’t think any of us expected to be walking in snow over Easter but we had a really enjoyable day. Our Stanage & Bamford Edges walk is great without snow too!  Why not give it a try?  http://www.peakwalking.com/day-walks/open-group-walks/stanage-and-bamford-edges/ Continue reading Easter Snow in the Peak District

Conservation and Environmental Issues, The White Peak1 Comment

Dew Ponds of the White Peak

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Dew ponds are a familiar sight to anyone who walks regularly in the White Peak area of the Peak District.  They were originally formed to provide a water source to farm animals in areas where water was not present naturally.  It is believed that they took their name, not from the fact that they collected the dew, but from a Victorian pond maker called Mr Dew. During the 70s and early 80s it is possible that as many as 50% of our dew ponds were lost due to infills and neglect.  Dew ponds are important habitats for wildlife.  In particular the great … Continue reading Dew Ponds of the White Peak

Wild Flowers and TreesLeave a comment

Catkins

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We saw our first catkins of the year today. A sure sign that spring is on its way! These are the catkins of the Common Alder Tree. Each tree bears both male and female flowers. The male catkins are dark yellow-brown in colour, and are around 4 cm long when they are fully open. The female flowers are much smaller in size, and cone-like in shape. In this photo you can see the male catkins, and the old woody cones of last years female flowers. Continue reading Catkins

Geology, History, The White PeakLeave a comment

High Tor, Matlock Bath

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High Tor is a great limestone outcrop which towers almost 400 feet about the river Derwent between Matlock and Matlock Bath.  The limestone was formed about 325 – 350 million years ago when the area was at the bottom of a shallow tropical sea. Over millions of years, limey muds and the shells and skeletons of tiny sea creatures settled on the bottom and formed a thick layer of limestone.  Large areas of limestone such as High Tor have been pushed upwards by land movements and further shaped by glacial meltwaters at the end of the last ice age. You can walk up … Continue reading High Tor, Matlock Bath

Geology, The Peak District, The White Peak2 Comments

Caves in the White Peak

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On Friday whilst walking down beautiful Wolfscote Dale and Biggin Dale I couldn’t resist the temptation to explore some caves on the side of the valley that looked rather inviting. The White Peak, limestone area of the Peak District has numerous caves systems, many of which were carved out thousands of years ago by underground rivers forcing their way through, and eroding the soft limestone rock. The first that I explored was at the entrance to Wolfscote Dale.  It was a bit of a scramble to get into it.  The limestone at the entrance was polished to a smooth sheen from the hands and feet … Continue reading Caves in the White Peak