By Debjani Basu
Peak District! A unique place of stunning landscapes and an abundance of wildlife. A tour was conducted by our university and nearly 50 students cheered their way to the beautiful countryside. The area is of great diversity and is thought to be the second most visited National Park in the whole world. Despite its name the landscape lacks sharp peaks and gorges and is mainly strewn with rounded hills and grit stone escarpments.
We boarded the train at 10.15 am and within a very short span of time reached Grindleford. I couldn’t imagine also that a simple walk along the beautiful countryside can be so exciting and breathtaking. There is so much to recommend. Not only are the views magnificent throughout, but the ups and downs are a bit difficult along the uneven steps. Along the route we encountered a number of charming fountains and small cascades. There was a nice spot for a break before we tackled the final part of our ascent. Many of us were having problems while trekking upwards because we were not equipped with the proper shoes. The weather was gloomy and very windy. The land was slippery due to heavy rain but the thick sheet of dry leaves saved us from falling down.
Another thing which grabbed my attention was the condition of the trail. It was nice and wide and lined with a continuous row of rocks on both sides, so I had no fear of falling off or getting lost. However, the entire trail is littered with rocks anywhere in size from pebbles to some a little larger than a softball. Some were embedded in the trail with their tops sticking out like icebergs. I was forced to focus on the trail directly ahead pretty much anytime I was moving. Most of the time, any sightseeing required stopping. I had not expected this, and was a bit disappointed this was the case.
The trail descends much more steeply once dropping below the resting point, and I was very much alone once on this section of the trail. It was during this section that I felt my only pang of anxiety about the safety of the trail. For a short way, the trail appears to actually be cut into a sheer cliff and to make it even more interesting, the trail was curved so that I could not see much of the trail ahead. As I ventured on I had no idea how long it would last, or if a mule train might suddenly appear from the other direction. Fortunately, it only lasted for a little ways, maybe 20-30 yards, as best I remember.
After the hectic tour, we treated ourselves to a good pub-meal, and then we headed back to our home. One great day came to an end.
We boarded the train at 10.15 am and within a very short span of time reached Grindleford. I couldn’t imagine also that a simple walk along the beautiful countryside can be so exciting and breathtaking. There is so much to recommend. Not only are the views magnificent throughout, but the ups and downs are a bit difficult along the uneven steps. Along the route we encountered a number of charming fountains and small cascades. There was a nice spot for a break before we tackled the final part of our ascent. Many of us were having problems while trekking upwards because we were not equipped with the proper shoes. The weather was gloomy and very windy. The land was slippery due to heavy rain but the thick sheet of dry leaves saved us from falling down.
Another thing which grabbed my attention was the condition of the trail. It was nice and wide and lined with a continuous row of rocks on both sides, so I had no fear of falling off or getting lost. However, the entire trail is littered with rocks anywhere in size from pebbles to some a little larger than a softball. Some were embedded in the trail with their tops sticking out like icebergs. I was forced to focus on the trail directly ahead pretty much anytime I was moving. Most of the time, any sightseeing required stopping. I had not expected this, and was a bit disappointed this was the case.
The trail descends much more steeply once dropping below the resting point, and I was very much alone once on this section of the trail. It was during this section that I felt my only pang of anxiety about the safety of the trail. For a short way, the trail appears to actually be cut into a sheer cliff and to make it even more interesting, the trail was curved so that I could not see much of the trail ahead. As I ventured on I had no idea how long it would last, or if a mule train might suddenly appear from the other direction. Fortunately, it only lasted for a little ways, maybe 20-30 yards, as best I remember.
After the hectic tour, we treated ourselves to a good pub-meal, and then we headed back to our home. One great day came to an end.
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