We started from Moor Lane car park near Youlgrave, which isn’t the easiest place to find. But in spite of several of us having problems (including me and I have been there lots of times). We were all ready to go just after 10.00. But the skies looked very grey and by the time we were descending the very long steep steps into Lathkil Dale it was cold, windy and raining heavily. It didn’t seem like May, but more like March. It didn’t stop for about an hour. After that we had some sunshine and intermittent showers, but it warmed up considerably. However, Lathkil Dale was looking wonderfully green with lots of lovely late spring flowers and only a few of the promised orchids. The river was low. Also, lots of the beautiful ash trees seemed to be suffering from Ash die back, I fear we shall loose them all and the dale will look very different. We met lots of walkers along the way including a couple of rambling groups, like ourselves.
By the time we reached Alport at the mouth of the dale, we had lovely bright sunshine and so into Bradford Dale which was looking it’s best with wonderful water flowers and it seemed, a good flow of water. When we reached Youlgrave the group voted for the longer but pretty way back so we ended doing 8 miles and didn’t get back until after 2.30. The last climb up out of the dale was also strenuous but in all, a good walk, I think. We also found a lovely bank of orchids near the end of the walk. Jane.