Today began with a dead end. I had heard rumour of the car park at Hopes Reservoir being closed but convinced myself (as I usually do) that if I just drove up the road in that direction it would miraculously be open/a nifty little parking space would appear. But closed it was and there must have been around 40 signs asking you ‘not to park on the verges’ so, respect the farmer, I headed back to the nearest village I could safely park in about 2 miles away. It all adds to the walking mileage pot anyway.
Turned out to be the right decision as it was such a beautiful fluffy white cloud of a day and the walk up to my start point warmed me up for the ascent to come. This was a route I’d found on the map rather than any official online service. And much as I’d calculated that it would start with a climb, I hadn’t quite realised how dramatic. It was pretty much vertical. I just started a series of counts in my head and would stop every 50 to catch my breath. A good lesson in just taking it step by step. There were a few blind summits sent to test me but eventually me and my lungs made it to the top.
The route then dipped around to the back of Hope Hills where the wind dropped. As much as the season has definitely moved into spring, there was still snow to be seen. The path meandered back down a more continuous gradient in a loop to the beginning, past the beautifully manicured gardens of Hopes House. And back up the long road where I was rewarded with the sight of a flock of lambs literally gamboling in the sunshine.
Debbie's 500 Miles for Parkinson's UK 