Or Parwich the long way. The route starts at Middleton Top and follows the High Peak Trail to Minninglow Hill. A direct traverse over to Biggin to rejoin the HPT, but now towards Ashbourne. Staying on this section until Tissington, when we break off the trail and take, perhaps the most interesting section, through Parwich, past Rainster Rocks, and ascending back to Harboro Rocks, and finally return to MTop and a cup of cocoa.
Helen and I set off at our usual time at 8am fully expecting a nice warm morning. We had decided to reverse the route to get a feel for the White Peak Marathon. As the clocks had gone forward, it was really 7am, and 3 degrees C – rather chilly! It took a while to get warm, but the stretch to and beyond Parwich is interesting, with quickly changing scenery - past Rainster rocks and over a couple of steeper hils, Ballidon, through and over Parwich to join the High Peak Trail at Tissington. After a brief stop, the HPT is also the route of the White Peak Marathon, and a bit of pre-race rehearsal. Yep, it’s still subtly uphill; enough to make you feel like you are running on a ‘bad day’. Arrive at Biggin and over the Ashbourne Road and the accompanying hill to Minninglow. We managed to get to Minninglow feeling fairly good (15 miles) and after a rather decadent stop for drinks and JBs, my legs obligingly turned to putty. Helen, helpful as ever, looked as fresh as a daisy, and ran like she was easily capable of pushing on. The last 6 miles required a firm effort, but were enlivened by meeting quite a few runners on the way out (hello Martin and friend from Little Eaton!). We were glad to get back to Middleton Top deciding to forgo our customary ‘winner takes all’ sprint. The flapjack and the promised cocoa provided courtesy of Helen. Thank you!
20 milers are never easy!
Thanks for another good run – hard work. I’d forgotten how windy it gets up on the trails paths. I don’t think I could run that far without company, so thank you.