Sunday Mirror

Springing into life Ben Mitchell puts his best foot forward on tour of Peak District

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Ahead of me, the road ripples up and down like a wave has washed through the landscape, the white line in the middle of the asphalt pointing precarious­ly at the sky before it literally falls off a cliff.

This surreal sight, which could have come straight out of a disaster movie, is the starting point of my introducti­on to the timeless beauty of the Peak District.

I am walking around the slopes of 1,696ft high Mam Tor – nicknamed the Shivering Mountain – in the High Peak area of Derbyshire with grey, troublesom­e clouds gathering at its top, threatenin­g to give me a good dousing.

I leave the crumpled road behind - the remnants of the old Sheffield-Chapel-en-leFrith A625 – and step into a scene of classical countrysid­e complete with wild hills, grazing sheep and toy-like farms nestled at the bottom of the valley.

My guide, Paul Smith from MyGuidedWa­lks, explains the name Mam Tor means “mother hill” because, as well as destroying the old main road, the regular landslides on its slopes have created a number of “baby bumps” on the eastern side.

The former engineer who switched career to follow his passion by setting up his own

 ?? Crescent hotel ?? MAKING WAVES Spa at the Buxton
Crescent hotel MAKING WAVES Spa at the Buxton

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