A big finish in the Peak District

Derby left behind us, we headed for the final engagement of the trip, an informal dinner organised by the High Peak Local Party in Whaley Bridge. Our journey took us back through Chesterfield before connecting to the Hope Valley line for New Mills Central. It was a typical day for hiking, sunny in the morning, wet in the afternoon, as our train picked up some sodden, but clearly prescient, hikers at Edale.

Fortunately, the rain had stopped by the time we reached New Mills, where we were picked up by our Group Leader on Derbyshire County Council, Barrie Taylor. He kindly dropped us off at our rather unusual venue, the Spire House, home of David and Hillary Lomax.

David was Leader of High Peak District Council under somewhat unusual circumstances, in that he led the smallest of the three groups on the council. Sometimes it works our like that... Anyway, he and Hilary had bought and converted an old chapel, half of which is now a bed and breakfast. Guess where we were spending the night...

They had produced an amazing buffet dinner, with a European theme, and I was able to talk to a number of local activists before Ros spoke to the gathering. Hilary made sure that I got some of the rhubarb and orange crumble though.

A welcome night's sleep followed by a full English breakfast, courtesy of David and Hilary, before some photo shoots in Whaley Bridge and New Mills and a dash to the train...