With differing work patterns making mutual time-off difficult, the wife and I managed to get a brief one-night camp out in the Derbyshire countryside last weekend, but we still managed to pack a bit in.
It was the perfect time to trial our "back-up" tent, the Vango 200+, which we bought around Christmas time but up until now hadn't had the opportunity to erect, let alone spend the night in.
Our pitch for the night was at Swallowholme campsite in Bamford, a nice little campsite predominantly accommodating caravans and motor homes, but with a separate area for tents. Our hosts were very friendly and informative and the facilities were both modern and immaculate.
After pegging out the tarps, an inquisitive duck waddled over, pecked at the tarps, then had a shit on them.
The tent was a swine to put up, helped largely by a knackered pole. An easy fix back at home with some tools, but not so much fun out in the field, so to speak. Our plan had been to pitch up then head off around Howden reservoir, but as it was threatening rain we decided to postpone our walk until the following day and explore some of the local villages instead. Upon advice from our hosts, we headed off to Bradwell for their annual carnival.....
The Bradwell carnival was a nice, low-tech affair. It certainly brought out the crowds and there was a real sense of community spirit that not even the rain could dampen, which has all-but vanished from town-life. We had a pint and a chip butty and watched the floats and brass band go by, after which there was little else to do, so we decided to head round the corner to Castleton.
Castleton looked lovely as we drove through, with plenty of nice looking pubs. We saw the sign for Peveril castle and headed for it. Unfortunately, after a further twenty minutes of driving and still no castle, we started to think we might have made a mistake. We had indeed; the castle was about three yards from the sign, and we were now six-and-a-half miles beyond our campsite in the wrong direction. Ace......
Having decided not to go all the way back around to Castleton, we then had a drive to Hathersage, where we had another pint and a waffle in the Hathersage Social Club, which despite its pub pretensions is actually a cafe with an alcohol licence. But they serve a nice waffle and the service was excellent.
From there we went back to the campsite for a hard-earned nap, then on to a local pub for tea, which I won't name because the food was crap.
Back in the tent, the rain started coming down good and proper. This didn't put off the rowdy sods in the tent next-door, who had either never been camping before or had never been taken-to-task for disturbing others. The tent proved to be waterproof, but unfortunately it wasn't gobsh*te proof.
The next morning we awoke to stiff necks and the tutterings of the bloke in the next tent who apparently also wasn't too thrilled about the inconsiderate novices, who had this stage progressed to letting their kids bounce footballs off neighbouring tents.
I had a campsite coffee before packing up and making our way to Howden reservoir.
Despite being next to Derwent reservoir, Howden res had a more open, country feel to it. Other than the designated paths of Derwent res, much of the adjacent countryside is fenced off, but not so with Howden res where you could take a stroll off the path to one side or the other, and get right down to the banks of the water if you so desired.
We made it a relatively short walk by going as far as the dam then heading back, but dragged it out by taking plenty of photos along the way.
By the return leg the sun had finally come out, a day late. I knew it was worth me packing those zip-off trousers......
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