Day 41: Uttoxeter to Ilam

Is summer here already? It was a beautiful day today with pleasant walking along rolling hills. 

• Date: 30 April 2024
• Start: Uttoxeter
• End: Ilam
• Miles: 15.2
• Total miles: 521.4
• Accommodation: YHA Ilam Hall

I realised something this morning, never wear walking boots in a hotel room with light carpet. I spent about half an hour cleaning up the mess of mud I’d made before I eventually left. 

Once I left the very industrial outskirts of Uttoxeter, I spent the day following the River Dove (I’ll be following it tomorrow morning as well), and going through a clay shooting club. 

When I reached Rocester, I left the Staffordshire Way. Good riddance to it, it’s the most poorly kept path I’ve been on since the start. I joined the Limestone Way and headed out of town back along the river. 

The Limestone Way was excellent. The path was always obvious and I didn’t nearly die climbing over its stiles. 

I ran into my old friend, the cow, once today, but being on a better footpath, I had an electric fence between me and the cows. Good luck to them coming for me with that in the way. 

Shortly before I finished for the day, I’d crossed into the Peak District. This is where things are going to get pretty over the next few days. 

I made it into Ilam which felt familiar. I’ve been here years ago, also hiking. I am staying in the YHA tonight which is inside the grand Ilam Hall. 

There was a children’s party in the main area of the hostel, so I stayed in my room for most of the evening, avoiding the little kids running all over the place.