Welcome to my Great Yarmouth and Peak District Expedition page.
Yes, Great Yarmouth in Norfolk and the Peak District in Derbyshire is an odd combination, but as with previous expeditions, I've combined two centres of activities into one trip.
On the long weekend of 12-15 August 2016, members of the University of Surrey Society of Change Ringers (USSCR) enjoyed a summer tour in Essex, kindly organised by John Harpole.
This tour was of particular interest to me as it was based around Southend, where my family had lived when dad worked at Southend Airport and I was a toddler. I got to see the area through adult eyes, visit where we used to live and ring at the local tower, St. Andrew, Rochford. I also walked along the Southend Pier, and rang in a quarter peal of Grandsire Caters at St Mary the Virgin, Prittlewell.
But before joining the ringers in Essex I headed to Great Yarmouth on a mission.
If you've delved into my family history, you'll have found that my ancestors were fisher folk in the North East of Scotland and that my family owned a number of fishing vessels over the years, including a type of fishing boat called a steam drifter, to fish for herring. Ours was 'Trident' (BF 1049). We even have a photo of 'Trident' at Great Yarmouth with my grandfather, Alexander Pirie, standing at the bow.
That mission was to visit the world's last surviving steam-powered herring drifter, called 'Lydia Eva', which is moored at Hall Quay on the River Yare at Great Yarmouth. I wanted to see experience a real a steam drifter and see what it was like below decks.
Take a look at my photos of the 'Lydia Eva'.
I have visited the Peak District before, including on a DofE Supervisors' Training Expedition in 2013. Our planned route on that expedition took us onto the Kinder Plateau, then across the Vale of Edale and up to Hollins Cross and Lose Hill. We didn't however visit the nearby peak of Mam Tor, so a return trip was always on the cards.
As on my previous visit, I stayed at Hardhurst Farm campsite in the Hope Valley. I'd heard a lot about Stanage Edge, as featured in film Pride & Prejudice starring Keira Knightley, so I thought I'd head for Hathersage first to take a look. (No, I didn't find Miss Knightley!)
I left the car in the parking area near Hook's Car and followed the well-trodden trail up the incline towards the rocky outcrop that is Stanage Edge. The scale of the outcrop is deceptive as it's only as you get close that you can see little figures in their hardhats climbing the rocks, and their supporters and other walkers on the top.
For my trek to Mam Tor, I parked in Edale and followed the bridleway part way up Harden Clough and then up to Hollins Cross. The summit of Mam Tor (517m) is encircled by a late Bronze Age / early Iron Age hill fort including two Bronze Age burial mounds, one just below the summit and the other on the summit itself beneath the paving.
The views from Mam Tor were spectacular in all directions, and included Kinder Scout (636m), the highest point in the Peak District, the Kinder Plateau, the Vale of Edale, Lose Hill (476m), Castleton and the Hope Valley.
I hope you enjoy my photos.
'Lydia Eva' (YH 89) photos
Poster for the Lydia Eva floating museum
Bow of the 'Lydia Eva' (YH 89)
Facing the wheel-house
The shipbuilder's plate on the front of the wheelhouse
Looking down the starboard side
Lydia Eva's triple expansion steam engine
Clock and pressure gauges
The boiler and fire boxes
The telegraph
The cooking range in the galley
The crew cabin: eight bunks and a table
The crew cabin: eight bunks and a table
Inside the wheelhouse
View from the wheelhouse
The 'Lydia Eva'
The 'Lydia Eva' is maintained by the Lydia Eva and Mincarlo Charitable Trust Limited as a floating maritime museum in Great Yarmouth. You can find out more about it at the trust's website.
Peak District: Stanage Edge
Walking towards Stanage Edge from the parking area near Hook's Car
Approaching Stanage Edge and starting to see rock climbers
On top of Stanage Edge, popular with rock climbers
Beautiful views
Looking back along Stanage Edge
Stanage Edge from the distance, near Dennis Knoll
Peak District: Mam Tor
On the way to Hollins Cross: looking back to Edale, Grindsbrook Clough
and Kinder Scout (636m)
Panoramic view from Hollins Cross towards Edale
(Path on left leads to Mam Tor, track on right leads to Lose Hill)
Stanage Edge from the distance, near Dennis Knoll
Mam Tor summit and triangulation station (517m)
(Lose Hill in the background to the right)
Depictions of Bronze Age life and times to be discovered on Mam Tor
Hope Valley from Mam Tor
Panoramic view of Hope Valley from Mam Tor
Paragliders near Mam Tor
Paragliders near Mam Tor
Kinder Plateau from Mam Tor
Lose Hill panorama
Panorama of Mam Tor and Lose Hill from Castleton
The south-east face of Mam Tor and debris of landslides
This page was last updated on 30 January 2020.
