Seriously Sunny in Snowdonia

After an excellent meal at the Leather's Smithy pub by Macclesfield Forest, where we also overnighted, we briefly visited Buxton before turning up at the Royal Oak pub with its small camp site alongside the Tissington Trail north of Parsley Hay.

 The two Petes arrived and we had an evening catching up outside despite the unseasonal chill.

They walked locally the following day as I ran Mandy home and returned later with another walk up to Tideswell the following day using part of the Monsal Trail and dropping down Monk's Dale in torrential rain on a very slippery and uneven path.

After our group had departed I met Mandy and her Dad at Parsley Hay where he hired a Tramper scooter enabling us to enjoy the trail as far as the restored signal box at Hartington with extensive views across the limestone scenery.

I then spent a couple of quiet nights at Dethick before stopping in Sheffield for a few days to prepare for a fortnight in Wales.

A couple of hours via the Woodhead Pass put me over in the Conwy Valley where the first group of bothy work party volunteers had arranged to meet at Surf Snowdonia in Dolgarrog. I was early and had plenty of time to watch the remarkable wave created by a powered blade that gave all grades of surfers an exciting experience. 

 

 

Unfortunately a phone call confirmed that one of our MBA stalwarts had vehicle trouble and would not be able to provide a UTV and trailer for moving supplies. An urgent email was sent out and very kindly the previous MO (Maintenance Organiser) for Dulyn bothy was able to assist with a Land Rover and trailer. Phil the current MO arrived from Brighton with Hannah and Martin turned up from Swansea so we all retired to the pub in Rowen to plan the logistics. Later Martin and I set off for the quiet car park that would be my base for the fortnight leaving the others to a last night of comfort in a bunkhouse. 

On the Friday morning we met at the RWE compound where a couple of pallets of sand, cement, fixings, paint and other necessities sat alongside a large amount of timber. Martin's LWB van swallowed up most of this and Penny turned up with the Land Rover to tow a trailer up with the rest. A gate key was signed out to us and we began the steep twisty ascent through three gates up to the car park grateful not to meet any oncoming vehicles. Martin had left the new heavy duty Dowling Stove up there and this was used to weigh down the timbers that were almost twice the length of the trailer before Penny and I set off - however it soon became apparent that further ballast was needed so I jumped in to the trailer for the slow and bumpy two mile trip up to the off loading point half a mile and 100m above the bothy. We unloaded everything, turned round and returned to the car park for a second load which included a substantial number of power tools, a genny and personal and camping kit for those present - Covid rules meant that overnight stays in bothies were still not allowed. However there is a perfect spot below the bothy alongside the river with room for half a dozen tents.

 

With almost everything now stashed by the track we again turned the Land Rover and disconnected trailer round and then took what we could down to the bothy prioritising the camping and personal kit as everything else could wait.

 

 

Penny, Martin and I returned to the car park from where she headed home and we enjoyed a peaceful night in a very quiet place. Saturday saw Penny return and we began the hard work of shifting the sand, cement and timbers down to the stream and then the last hard slog up to the bothy door. The skirting and other timbers made useful temporary sledges for the downhill section and despite the hot sun we made good progress particularly as a guy called Pete out walking pitched in. We had been considering the thorny issue of moving the heavy but robust stove only to find Pete had lassoed it with a strop and was hauling it down single handedly - awesome. Several bodies were needed for the final stage uphill but by then others had been arriving including Jane from Bognor and Paul and Mike who live more locally.

By late afternoon a lot had been achieved so many went up to the small reservoir for a swim - the dry spell had revealed the poignant lone propellor of a war time Dakota that had crashed in to the steep cliffs.

Martin and I hitched a lift with Penny again after carrying out the various sacks of rubbish left by recent visitors - always an issue and perhaps worse during the pandemic as those who ignored restrictions on bothy use were no doubt less inclined to contribute in any meaningful way - and later that evening went to inspect the dam that had failed in 1925 killing several villagers in Dolgarrog and resulting in new dam standards being introduced world wide. Limited signal allowed me to catch up with other volunteers' intentions and speak with loved ones before a sweltering night even at well over a thousand feet up. I spoke to the local farmer next morning who had lost a sheep dog and said we would keep an eye out for 'Lad' and then cycled up the track to continue moving materials down and in to position on another scorching day.

Having the bike meant heading home was a freewheel down to a busier car park as many people had come up to escape the heat and swim in the depleted reservoir and it is also a popular spot to leave vehicles if planning a few days on the hills. We had taken 6 spaces anyway so left explanatory signs on the vehicles and gates and parked a couple of our cars on the other side of the locked gate.

So began a few days of washing mould off internal walls, disguising a block built fire escape with stone, removing the old woodworm infested skirting, removing the old stove and adapting the flue as well as dropping down to the stream regularly to fetch, boil and then cool water for the thirsty team.

A pallet was adapted as a stretcher bearer to bring the genny down so that the doors could be sanded and prepared for painting, a new chimney cowl was fitted followed by the stove and various passers by were greeted. With a range of tasks and three rooms to work in we all kept our distance despite almost everyone being double jabbed and enjoyed the usual banter and micky taking that work parties demand. 

As the week progressed the walls began to gleam with fresh paint, the ceilings were also enhanced and Phil began replacing the skirting with new 7x2 lengths of treated wood that he ran a chamfer on to further improve the new look. Each evening I headed out with cordless batteries to charge them down at my van as my 800w genny has a smoother output than the heavy duty one. It also meant my water and fridge were heated and cooled without using gas which as last year has proved difficult to get thanks to the huge numbers of camper vans in circulation and the trend to holidaying in the UK.

Mid week the local farmers arrived at 5am for a couple of mornings to gather and then shear the sheep in cooler conditions but the errant 'Lad' had not yet returned. One evening as I returned a forlorn group were sat on the wrong side of the other locked gate as they had driven off the tarmac whilst it was open and a mile up the rough track for a swim. There wasn't much I could do so having ensured they had plenty of water left them to kip in the car until released early the following morning.

 

By Friday we needed more paint, sand and cement so I dropped down in to Llandudno Junction sourced the necessary and topped up my fresh food at Tescos. The kindly manager also allowed me to fill up with water which solved a nagging issue and I returned that evening to the quiet car park.

The enthusiastic Pete of day one had become a real convert and was more than happy to bring his Land Rover along to move things up, being a soft top it was like being on safari but the big game were absent. Near the car park a rotund wild pony had produced a skinny legged foal and others were seen around the valley. 

I had bought a small solar powered power bank and left it up there with a number of leads so helpers were able to recharge phones etc - it worked very well and an intermittent signal allowed us to keep an eye on the forecast change in the weather which dictated the order in which we completed jobs. 

An army helicopter appeared overhead one day and clattered around above the reservoir practising load drops before roaring off with a flourish and later a police chopper also came over for a nose round.

On the second Saturday the non arrival of a volunteer from the south east caused us some concern given the hot conditions for walking in over rough terrain but he arrived the following day having had a tyre blow out and needing to get a replacement sorted on a Saturday afternoon - not so easy in North Wales.

 

 

Other volunteers arrived to fill the gaps as others departed so great progress was made although by mid week the weather was changing and we concentrated on finishing the external paintwork.

As the rains came in a much reduced crew took to internal work - Pete's wife Pat was a dab hand at lime pointing the gaps behind the new skirting, the final walls and a ceiling were painted as well as internal doors, windows and other woodwork. I began the careful undercoating and glossing of many metres of new skirting board and wondered if the painting of the Cistine skirting should have received as high an accolade as the ceiling.

With everything almost done and whilst waiting for lime or paint to dry we began carrying out those tools and equipment that were no longer required and using a pallet as a bearer four of us got the genny back up to the top track. Shortly after a Chinook appeared to practice up at the dam - if only we could have given them a real life task....

 

So as a busy and productive fortnight drew to a close we were almost done and on a rain soaked Saturday morning I walked in for a final time to help Phil with a tidy up and final removal of equipment - the slow drying paint and lime would require a solo visit on the Monday to finish off but Phil had a couple of nights in a hotel to look forward to whilst I departed for a small and simple camp site near Mold that provided only a tap and waste point and was despite the talk of overcrowded campsites completely empty - perfect.

The success of this hugely enjoyable fortnight was largely due to Phil's enthusiasm and skills but pivoted on the many hours put in by contacts old and new : thank you all for such a memorable experience.

I caught up on much needed sleep and then headed over to Sheffield as I was getting a set of tyres fitted before the MOT. It is always useful and much appreciated to be able to tidy up, vacumn, and clean the van interior, put some power in to the leisure battery and sort out maps etc. for the next trip.

Wednesday saw me dropping the van off at the excellent Autohaus Dolby garage where I had the timing belts done which also requires a new water pump and tensioners, plus an oil and filter change and MOT which was passed with no issues. I spent the day in the vast Meadowhall shopping complex tucked away with a coffee and pastry whilst setting up a new 10'' tablet that will be a huge improvement when planning trips compared to squinting at a phone screen. I started planning my intended exploration of the Pennine Bridleway before returning to find the van not quite ready so passed a reflective hour in the adjacent Tinsley cemetery where the deceased of many faiths are buried - this segregation even at the end of life seems rather dispiriting.

Finally on Thursday after a good walk with Penny out near Penistone I set off to York to vist relatives and was well fed and watered before sleeping out on the drive.

Poor weather has delayed my start on the Pennine Bridle way so I parked up at Dufton and walked down to the Stag Inn for one of their excellent pies but unfortunately tables had to be pre booked as the lifting of Covid restrictions had finally enticed people out and about.

A walk round the back of Dufton Pike and up the valley to Threlkeld Side took me past old mine workings and on the track up to the shooting hut I picked up some fine examples of galena crystals. A slog across the boggy flanks of High Scald Fell took me past some lonely aircraft wreckage before I reached the standing stones on Knock Old Man. As the rain was now torrential I abandoned plans to continue over Great Dun Fell to Cross Fell and Greg's Hut and dropped in to Dufton for a welcome hot shower whilst the Eberspacher warmed up the van and dried my wet gear.

Last night I saw friends near Penrith who have transformed a barn in to a superb kitchen and dining room with a sewing room for her and upstairs a room to accommodate an extensive hand built model railway layout - hours of fun for this fat controller.

A night on a small site tonight at Dent will enable me to re energise the van's utilities before starting the PB - I  think my leisure battery is getting rather tired but after four years solid use I can't complain and will replace it in due course.

These pics cover the recent events but finally here is a return to 2004, the last time I was active on the renovation front at Dulyn bothy....

 

 

An interesting postscript...

https://www.peakdistrictaircrashes.co.uk/crash_sites/wales/douglas-c-47b-43-48473-craig-y-dulyn/