I used to be a fairly keen but fairly slow runner and liked to do 10ks, especially the Abbey Dash. I also did the Leeds Half twice. Then, in September 2019, I had a serious fall and smashed my arm to pieces. It wasn't a running fall but I lost my nerve and I've never managed to get back into it. My sister is a walk leader with the Ramblers and I asked if I could do a couple of walks to try it out. It seemed a bit more civilised and age appropriate and a nice stroll in the sunshine. The first walk we did was 6 miles from Digley Reservoir into Holmfirth and then back. That was hard but we had a nice lunch in Holmfirth. The second one we did was Todmorden to Stoodley Pike. That was 9.5 miles and, as we climbed out of Todmorden, I thought we were heading for a plinth or a monument on top of a hill. Nope. It was a big tower on top of a very big hill. We had elevensies at the bottom and I wished I hadn't eaten anything because I kept thinking we'd got level with the tower and then another brow led to another steep climb. At one point I could see what looked like tiny people around the tower but I thought that can't be right because that would make it really far away. They were people and they were really far away. There's my spatial awareness issues. Ramblers walk very quickly and my older sister is a lot fitter than me. I dropped back and pretended to be taking in the view when really I was just waiting for my lungs to re-inflate and my heart to stop hammering its way out of my chest. We made it to the top and sat and had lunch. The views were amazing and I thought, if I can do this, I can do any of the walks.
Climbing Stoodley Pike felt like running up Stonegate Road in the Leeds Half. You want to stop and walk but there's loads of people watching so you keep heading for the turn-off at the top ... The nice thing about rambling is that you get to stop for elevensies and lunch and admire the views. Spurred on by my two walks I officially joined the Ramblers and chose my first walk. Sutton Bank, Gormire Lake and Boltby. The description said "there's a climb at the end but it's worth it for the view". Perfect. I surveyed my walking wardrobe and thought about what layers I'd got. That's all they seem to talk about. You need the right layers. I emailed the walk leader to let her know I was attending so I couldn't procrastinate myself out of it.
On the Saturday morning. I was up and off to the Visitor Centre at Sutton Bank. As I drove around the bend in my electric car near the top I was quite shocked and a bit worried my car wasn't up to it. I didn't remember it being this steep or this high up but I got parked and went to meet the group. They were all slightly older than me and really friendly. "Don't worry, we don't leave anyone behind." (!?) I was the youngest one there. We set off and were soon descending down a very steep path headed for Gormire Lake. We sat at the shore and had elevensies and it was really peaceful and the water was really clear. It was exactly like the water's edge I see when I meditate. I took some photos and we headed out to Boltby where we would be stopping for lunch. We started to climb gently and I thought we would meander back up Sutton Bank via a different route. Nope. At this point, I was wearing a base layer, a mid-layer and an outer layer. All I could think about was which layers I could remove without offending anyone and which ones would fit in my rucksack. Now I know!! We had lunch at Boltby Village Hall, sat on the grass outside. They leave it open and there's all the history of the village displayed in the hall. It's the prettiest village I've ever seen and "proper 'erriott country". I didn't eat much lunch which turned out to be a good idea.
We left the village and started the "climb". We were about 6.5 miles into the 10 mile walk and I hit the wall like you would at mile 20 of a marathon. I was a third of the way up the climb and I felt like I couldn't take another step. The Ramblers didn't leave me behind and were very kind. I could see how much further I had to climb and I knew that my car was at the top so I had to do it. Once we'd done the climb, we joined the Cleveland Way which leads you up to the best view in England.
I took this picture before we got to the top and I was too tired to take anymore. The water below is Gormire Lake where we'd stopped in the morning. At the top it truly is the best view in England. It's breathtaking, I think partly due to what you have to go through in order to see it! It definitely was worth it for the view. We went back to the Visitor Centre and I paid a fortune for a cup of coffee in disposable cup and it was the nicest cup of coffee I'd ever had.
My takeaways from this amazing day are that looks can be deceiving. Ramblers look like delicate women in Cotswold co-ordinates but they are the Rambling Ninjas of the Yorkshire Dales and fitter than most people half their age. Consider your layers carefully. It's very important that you have the right layers for walking safely in the elements. I'm not as fit as I thought I was ...
The last few years have been a bit of a rollercoaster for me. Standing at the top of the tower at Stoodley Pike and surveying the best view in England on Sutton Bank, looking at Gormire Lake so far below, I can see how far I've come in so many ways. I'm immensely proud of what I've achieved and having my diagnosis has given me a sense of calm I've never had before. It's not for everyone but it was the right thing to do for me.
I joined the Ramblers as a way to be outside in nature, enjoying the fresh air, getting fitter, meeting new people and looking after my mental health so that I can help other people with theirs. My day at Sutton Bank was all of that and more. I was made to feel very welcome and the walk leader tells you interesting facts about the places you are walking in. I'm totally hooked and looking forward to my future walks.