A change in weather fortunes today. Low cloud hung over the valley hiding the views, but despite the mist, it did at least stay dry enough to have breakfast before raining in earnest. We are staying here again tonight so that we can climb in the area, without needing to strike camp.

Leaving the tent’s behind, but fully loaded with optimism and climbing kit, we cycled along the High Peak Trail towards Harbourgh Rocks, but stopped about a kilometre short to assess our choices.

After a team talk, huddled in the rain, we reluctantly decided that there was unlikely to be much learning or enjoyment in pressing on. As luck would have it, there was a climbing wall nearby in Wirksworth’s leisure centre. The small town was within cycling distance, so we decided to abort Plan A and turn around into Plan B…

We were a bit of a bedraggled sorry state when we arrived, but pretty much had the climbing wall to ourselves and somewhere to be climbing that wasn’t soaking wet. The bouldering was superb on an old style featured wall – the type that I love. And there was plenty of ropes routes to keep us busy. My first time climbing indoors since last winter. Usually I wait until the clocks have changed but was happy to make an exception today!

It was tough climbing back into wet gear as we togged up to ride away.

Darkness soon fell once back at camp. We all cooked together under a small shelter by the camp reception which kept the rain off. A massive bowl of rice and some mint tea perked things up no end. Tomorrow we move on!…