12th September 2020

Following a positive coronavirus test, eight people have died in the UK. There are currently 67 active cases in the Harborough area.

13th September 2020: A further five people in the UK have died after testing positive for coronavirus. In Harborough, the number of active cases has risen to 78.

The Rothwells hosted a family Sunday lunch today. Charlotte prepared the main course, the Newbold Verdons brought dessert, and the Desboroughs supplied the refreshments. Being cautious, Sue and I chose not to attend such a large family gathering. However, Sarah, Lee, and Alice stopped by on their way home, bringing us a slice of the delicious cake.

14th September 2020: Today, nine people in the UK died after testing positive for coronavirus. The number of active cases in Harborough has risen to 89. From today, social gatherings of more than six people are banned in England under the new “Rule of Six.”

Here in the Midlands, we awoke to a very chilly morning. Charlotte captured a beautiful photo of the early mist from her bedroom window before heading to Newbold Verdon to visit her sister, Sarah, and niece, Alice.

The day turned out to be hot, and, foolishly, I decided to carry on painting the balcony in the full glare of the sun. Irritatingly, I discovered that the top of the balustrade needs replacing, another task added to the ever-growing list.

Later in the afternoon, I made a long phone call with an old work friend, Roger Woolnough, followed by another extended chat with my college friend, Chris Tippets. Both are well, though struggling with the boredom of COVID restrictions, as they live alone. Coincidentally, both had also spent their day painting! Their calls provided a welcome respite from the sun and made for a far more pleasant couple of hours on an otherwise gruelling DIY day.

15th September 2020: A further 27 people in the UK have died after testing positive for coronavirus. Harborough still reports 89 active cases.

The morning was busy. I started with a run to the recycling centre to dispose of last week’s hedge clippings, then had my six-month dental check-up. Despite the fierce heat in the afternoon, I continued with painting duties, treating a set of wooden garden chairs with Danish oil before beginning the task of repainting the shed a darker grey.

Sue made a delicious butternut squash and chilli soup for lunch, then ventured out into the sun herself to tidy up leaves and evict the usual seasonal spiders. We’ll soon be into cranefly (Daddy-long-legs) season, which always sends Sue into a frenzy, given how many sneak indoors!

Charlotte dropped in briefly for a chat on her way home from work.

16th September 2020: Twenty people in the UK have died after testing positive for coronavirus. Harborough now has 96 active cases.

Sue and Doreen spent the day shopping at a new retail park in Rushden. Meanwhile, I finished painting the shed and plotted some walking routes in preparation for an upcoming trip to the Peak District to explore waterfalls.

17th September 2020: Today, 21 people in the UK died after testing positive for coronavirus. The number of active cases in Harborough has risen to 108.

Sue took Doreen to Desborough to visit the lady who used to clean her flat. Sadly, she’s been diagnosed with cancer, and Doreen wanted to give her a reflexology session. While they were there, Sue fitted in some extra shopping in Desborough and Rothwell.

After my morning exercises and bike ride, I applied a second coat of paint to the shed and repaired one of the roof aerials, which had lost a couple of rods, likely due to an overweight pigeon using it as a perch.

Later, I saw the doctor about a persistent pain in my right upper arm that’s been disturbing my sleep. An X-ray and scan have been arranged.

Millie, the neighbour’s three-legged cat, spent the day basking beneath a grapevine before sneaking into the house and curling up on my lap as I watched TV. I suspect Mia, Harry, Rocky, and Nala won’t be thrilled to hear about it!

18th September 2020: Another 27 people in the UK have died after testing positive for coronavirus. Harborough now reports 120 active cases.

I met John Lee at 8:45 am in the car park of the Willow and Brook pub in Apethorpe for a walk through the lovely Northamptonshire countryside, followed by lunch. The early chill got the blood flowing as we set off down the lane to begin our off-road ramble.

We had plenty to catch up on and, unusually, avoided both politics and rugby. Some lovely news: his daughter, Kate, is expecting a baby in March.

Due to the new restrictions, we had to pre-book lunch, so it was important to get back on time. Apethorpe, once home to Rowan Atkinson, provided the perfect setting. Unlike Blackadder and Baldrick, our outing went without mishap and we arrived bang on time! A lunch of minute steak and fish and chips was enjoyed with a fine local ale in the sunlit courtyard.

It proved an excellent trial run for next week’s walk in the Peaks with Sue. Though my feet were sore, they coped well with the seven-mile route.

19th September 2020: A further 27 people have died in the UK after testing positive. Active cases in Harborough have reached 128. Globally, more than 30.5 million people have been infected, and over 950,000 have died.

20th September 2020: Twelve more deaths have been reported in the UK. Harborough’s active cases now stand at 144.

Jamie and Ruth visited a car boot sale near Newark and had a relaxed wander around the castle before enjoying a home-cooked lunch courtesy of Ruth.

As usual, Sue was up early for her regular Sunday car boot trip in Saddington.

The Rothwells decided it was too nice a day to be indoors and spent it in Irchester Park with a roast chicken picnic. I remained in Harborough, making progress on preparing the balcony railing for its upcoming renovation.

21st September 2020: Eleven more people in the UK have died after testing positive for coronavirus.

Today, the Newbold Verdons collected Lee’s parents, Ian and Diane, from Cotgrave and drove them to Rhyl in North Wales for a week’s holiday in this popular seaside resort.

Meanwhile, Sue and I headed to the Peak District for a four-day trip to discover some of Derbyshire’s waterfalls. We were inspired by an article listing the six best waterfall walks in the county and decided to follow the circular routes using GPS-mapped trails I had prepared over the past week.

We selected two locations for our base: Bradwell and Hayfield, booking two nights at Ye Old Bowling Green in Bradwell and one night at The George in Hayfield.

After breakfast, we set off for our first walk, beginning from the National Stone Centre near Middleton Top. Unfortunately, the outing started with two navigational blunders in the first half mile, both caused by chatting and not checking the GPS. After that, we vowed to be more attentive and consulted the device more frequently. The route wound through a maze of unmarked paths that would have been nightmarish to navigate without modern technology. Thankfully, no more ‘about-turns’ were needed.

It was a perfect day for hillwalking, clear skies offering stunning views, and dry conditions underfoot. However, despite the article’s promises, the only watercourse we followed, Burbage Brook, featured for just half a mile of the six-mile route and consisted mainly of weirs rather than natural waterfalls.

Nevertheless, views across the vast limestone quarry above Middleton and wandering through the historic buildings of Compton made up for the lack of waterfalls. The walk was strenuous and, though just over six miles, the steep elevations meant it took us more than three hours.

We had planned to complete two waterfall walks each day, but after a picnic lunch outside the Eco Centre, we admitted defeat to our weary limbs and decided instead to scout the starting point of the next route, Padley Gorge.

Once there, we opted to relax in the sunshine outside the Norfolk Arms Hotel rather than don our walking boots again. Feeling revived but still achy, we keyed Ye Old Bowling Green into the satnav and drove to our charming inn.

After checking in and feeling mildly guilty for skipping Padley Gorge, we went for a gentle stroll around Bradwell before returning for dinner in the pub restaurant.

22nd September 2020: Twenty-eight more people in the UK have died after testing positive for coronavirus.

After a hearty breakfast, we headed to Over Haddon for our next waterfall walk along Lathkill Dale and the River Lathkill. From the village, we walked down into the Dale, passing a few scattered old farm buildings at its entrance.

By now, we were beginning to realise that hunting for waterfalls after a prolonged dry spell may not have been the wisest plan. The river was little more than a trickle. The trail was popular today. Clear skies and warm temperatures encouraged people to enjoy what might be the last fine day before the newly announced restrictions and approaching cold weather took hold.

We followed the river for around three miles. The dramatic limestone cliffs and tree-clad slopes on either side often forced the water underground via sinkholes, rendering large stretches of the river invisible. In wetter seasons, these features may form a chain of waterfalls, but today, we spotted only one, with a modest one-metre drop.

As we passed beneath a cliff section, a Peregrine Falcon hovered above, using an updraft to stay aloft. From the unseen heights above, it had caught a rabbit, which then fell, either intentionally or by accident, down the rock face. The stunned but still-living rabbit landed against a wall just ahead of us. With dogs from other walkers close by, I carefully picked it up and moved it into a patch of nettles off the trail. Its back legs were clearly damaged. Perhaps I should have left it for the falcon or the dogs, but I couldn’t bring myself to do that. I gave it a chance at life.

Shortly after, our GPS led us up a steep cliff route out of the dale, directly beneath the still-circling falcon. The climb involved scrambling up rock-cut steps, reminiscent of an ascent we once tackled in Norway. One wrong step and we’d have been in real trouble.

At the top, we crossed grassy pastures and met a Muslim family hoping to walk the Dale; the wife was inappropriately dressed in a burka for scrambling down a rock face. They had been warned by a local farmer that the route was too hazardous for their young children. After hearing about our challenging exit, they wisely chose to return to their car.

Eventually, we reached our little Fiesta, tired but pleased. We drove to the Lathkill Hotel, perched high above the Dale, for a well-earned drink. It was a popular spot, with a bustling beer garden and glorious views.

Refreshed, we stopped briefly to admire the picturesque bridge at Ashford-in-the-Water, then treated ourselves to ice creams overlooking Monsal Dale, watching hikers far below along the Monsal Trail.

Back at Ye Old Bowling Green, we enjoyed another excellent evening meal. The pub has been a true gem.

23rd September 2020: Thirty-seven more people in the UK have died after testing positive for coronavirus. There are now 147 active cases in the Harborough area.

After breakfast, as we set off for Hayfield, the rain arrived in Bradwell and a persistent drizzle set in for the day.

We parked in the centre of the village by 10 am, donned our waterproofs, and headed onto the moor. A low cloud base obscured the views, and our trousers were soon soaked from brushing against heather along the narrow, winding trail.

We passed through swathes of cloudberries, sadly without fruit, depriving us of one of the trail’s potential delights. Unsurprisingly, we met no one, except for a lone sheep who seemed unimpressed by our appearance.

At the summit of Kinder, we were rewarded with a dramatic view of the reservoir below. Our descent followed a treacherously wet, zigzag path down to the dam, where we encountered a group of walkers heading up. One of them mentioned the word “Geocache,” sparking a brief, enthusiastic exchange about apps and “muggles.”

We then followed the River Sett back into town, pausing to read a plaque outside a terrace row, revealing it was the birthplace of Arthur Lowe (1915–1982), of Dad’s Army fame.

After changing boots at the car, we checked into The George, a 16th-century inn with exposed beams and great charm. Our room was at the very top of the building. Once dry, we explored the surprisingly large village. Ironically, it was here in the centre that we found the tallest waterfall of our trip, though, admittedly, one built into a culvert!

The drizzle relented as we wandered passed stone cottages, a picturesque cricket ground, and even found a delicious apple tree in a children’s play park. We returned to The George for a restful evening and a warming meal.

24th September 2020: Forty more people have died in the UK after testing positive for coronavirus. Harborough now has 180 active cases.

We awoke to a dull but dry morning. Another full English breakfast was served, this time by a friendly and chatty waitress, who claimed to be related to the explorer and privateer Martin Frobisher.

Our final walk began in Ashford-in-the-Water. The skies soon brightened into a pleasant autumn day. After sorting a couple of battery issues with the GPS, we ascended through lush fields above the village, the air fresh from yesterday’s rain.

Passing through Monsal Dale, we skirted paddocks filled with an astonishing variety of cattle. Sitting high above the dale, we took in the views and chatted about cows and the relative solitude of the trail.

Still deep in conversation, we lost track of our route and ended up at the same ice cream stall we’d visited the day before. Realising our mistake, we descended steeply into the dale, rejoining our intended path beside Headstone Tunnel and the viaduct.

We crossed the impressive Headstone Viaduct, enjoying magnificent views over the River Wye. Turning back, we passed through the well-lit tunnel, carefully dodging enthusiastic cyclists, before veering off the main Monsal Trail and heading back to Ashford through gently rolling fields.

Though only just over four miles, the final stretch was not only easy but idyllic. By 1:45 pm, we were back at the car, changing shoes and in search of refreshment.

The Bull in Ashford was open, adjusting to the latest COVID rules, the landlord gave us the choice of standing at the bar wearing masks or sitting down without. We chose a table.

And so, our four-day adventure came to an end. Back home in Harborough, we enjoyed a pizza fresh from the freezer for dinner.

We had planned six waterfall walks but managed four. Each outing was enjoyable, but describing them as “waterfall walks” was misleading. From day one, when we followed a watercourse for just half a mile, it became clear this was more of a quarry and limestone trail. Lathkill Dale promised more, but its subterranean river meant we barely saw a drop. Did we find waterfalls? Not really, certainly not ones to rival Niagara, Victoria, or even High Force. But we were in the UK, after all. Perhaps on this occasion our expectations were a touch ambitious!