Secret Hills Walking Holidays

Location:	Derbyshire Dales
For:	Singles Walking
From:	30th July 2010
Days:	3, 3
Nights:	2, 3
Price:	£195, £265

Your Social Walking for Singles break

Two and half days walking in the dales of Derbyshire, staying at the Charles Cotton Hotel in Hartington. The dales dazzle in the sunlight, clean water running over limestone ground, with trout swimming happily. We use the village of Hartington as our base, with it's lovely village green, cafes, pubs and gift shops. Quiet in the evening, bustling in the day, it provides the ideal back drop to our weekend.

Walking is moderate - few major climbs, and we cover 9/10 miles a day..The walks are chosen from the following keynote walks in the area.

 

We offer two and a half  days of walking, with two nights in the Charles Cotton Hotel in the village of Hartington. We meet on Friday evenings, at 7.00 pm, for a three course dinner and a discussion on what we are doing during the weekend. Each weekend’s walking has a different theme, to fit into the time of year, or events going on in the area.

Accommodation and meals

Accommodation is single en suite rooms - no sharing. All hotels have a bar, and lounge You can see the hotel accommodation by visiting www.charlescotton.co.uk  We have lunch at one of Derbyshire's  lovely country pubs,or tale a packed lunch  and dinner is three course at the hotel. An example of a menu is shown here.  Walking starts at 9.30 am, and we generally finish for that welcome cuppa at 4.30 pm. This will give you plenty of time to get ready for dinner. Dress code is smart casual.

Your walks leaders will make this weekend break relaxing and the wonderful walking will stimulate your enthusiasm for the wide outdoors.

What you get on a Secret Hills break

• Hotel bed and breakfast– en suite two nights
• Three course dinner
• Lunch
• Personal service
• Expert guiding
• Flexibility
• No single supplement
• A social, relaxed approach

Walking - Grades and difficulty
We walk between 8 and 9 miles per day. We walk at a steady pace, we don’t rush. We want you to enjoy our lovely scenery - these hills are a walkers paradise with good paths and an ever changing landscape.

There are hills to ascend  - we go up to a maximum of 350 metres over two miles of walking, but the climbing is gradual and we won’t rush. What’s the point of huffing and puffing, being exhausted then not being able to enjoy this fabulous land. Descending is not precarious, and is gentle in relationship to many walking areas.

Derbyshire's Dales enchant you with silvery streams, rippling rivers and magnificent moors - and is a land of ever changing vista’s - on any walk we get four or five different landscapes to enjoy.  Walking boots or shoes are obligatory, and many walkers find a walking pole useful, especially on the downhills. You will also need wet weather gear—generally we have a mild climate, lovely springs and autumns, and winter walking too is outstanding in theses secret hills.

Just arrive and enjoy.

Food  - all part of relaxing in these hills

All our hotels excel in giving you value for money and very tasty evening meals—they pride themselves on their food, much locally sourced and grown. At our lunch stops, they will make sure you have value for money and tasty baguettes, baked potatoes, sandwiches or salads, with tasty soups in the colder months. We cater for vegetarians and other dietary requirements.

The following menus is a sample. Menus change daily.

• Carrot and Coriander Soup
• Fresh Fruit and melon platter
• Crispy bacon salad with honey and mustard dressing
• Braised beef in Red Wine Gravy
• Grilled Rainbow Trout with Tomato and Citrus salsa
• Spanish Omelette with new potatoes, Peppers and red onions
• Dark Cherry and Chocolate Trifle
• Pear and Almond Tart with Vanilla Sauce
• Teas and Coffees
• Selection of Ice Creams and Sorbets

Walk One

Dovedale and its lovely villages - along the dazzling Dove, Mill dale, Halls Dale, and the villages of Tissington, Thorpe and Alstonfield along the way. Sometimes a short stretch along the old Buxton to Ashbourne railway - the Tissington Trail. 9 miles

Walk Two

Out of Dovedale into Manifold Dale, glorious valleys, Wetton Hill and villages such as Wetton, Alstonfield and Hulme End. This walk provides a rich variety of scenery. Moderate grade, little real climbing, good paths - 10 miles.

Walk Three

Lathkills beauty - from the stone village of Youlgrave, into Bradford Dale and Lathkill Dale to Monyash along the Limestone Way. See the start of the Lathkill as it spots out of a cave, then Over Haddon village before returning along Bradford Dale to Youlgrave. 9 miles

Walk Four

From Chatsworth, along Baslow and Curbur Edges to Froggatt. Lovely afternoon walk along the River Derwent into the Chatsworth estate. 9 miles

Walk Five

From the Chatsworth estate to Stanton Moor and across this qaurry strewn hill with great views of Wye Dale and Haddon Hall through Stanton in the Peak and Birchover back to Rowsley 9 miles