7 Oct 2023

 Up and packed

Watched some of War of the Worlds with Nancy and boys

Marilla picked me up and we went to the Blue John cave, a mine that is one of the only places in the world that a particular type (colour - blue, yellow which from bastardising the French, is where the name comes from) of fluorspar is found. The caves are mostly limestone but not spectacular like Hastings Caves or anything, and still being worked, so you can touch the walls. I've always wanted to touch the limestone walls, they look slimy and gooey but of course they just feel like wet rock.

It was pretty busy, being a weekend. People climbing hills and rock faces everywhere.

We then drove to Castleton and only just got a park. Weekend busy. Some lovely guy who was leaving gave us his parking ticket cause it's a flat rate all-day fare.

We walked through the lovely picturesque village of Castleton - all cottages and stone, roofs with moss growing on, brooks with ducks, windows that still had the glassblowing 'join' in the middle of them.

On the top of the hill is a castle (surprise!). Well, a ruin of one. It's mostly just one big square tower. A Norman castle, 11th Century - Peveril. The cave nestles underneath and apparently was filled with 8 families of rope makers. They were given the space to live as long as they made rope for the lead mines. It enabled them to make long lengths of rope cause the cave was so big, and keep it dry during the process so that it didn't rot and break and kill miners. They dipped it in pig fat to waterproof it. In Victorian times they made money on the side by giving rich tourists tours into the back of the cave, pushed them through a tiny opening by lying them down in mine carts filled with straw. It's called Devil's Arse mostly cause of the narrow waterways that fill up after a big rain and then slowly empty, making farty noises. I think also partly cause the caves would lead down to the devil, and they liked to scare the tourists into buying candles and throwing money at their children who were hiding in the caverns and making scary noises. Also, it's where all the shit fell down from the garderobes from the castle. Nowdays they hold music concerts and stuff in the entrance cavern - it really is huge.

After that, we walked up the sort of ravine, up around the back of the castle cause the castle itself had closed up for the evening. We basically walked up a trickling riverbed full of rocks with vivid green hills on either side, punctuated with craggy, rocky bits or trees. The area is beautiful and apparently where Sherwood forest came up to, so Robin Hood territory. Apparently, scenes from Princess Bride and Game of Thrones (the new series) were filmed here.

Then we drove round to Marilla's favourite pub and hand a pint of ale and chicken and mushroom pie with chips and peas. It was so good.

There was a bit of a session and Marilla had thoughtfully packed a couple of mandolins so we joined in. Then there was an act - Norfolk Broads - a 4-woman a cappella group who sang acoustically and were interspersed with a singalong. The event had a beautifully printed songbook so everyone knew the words. It was lovely.

Marilla's sharehouse is lovely and her flatmate generously allowed me to use her room while she's away.

13,130 steps

8.83 km