The Joy in a Microadventure | Hiking Chrome & Parkhouse Hills

I wanted to write a little about the joy in just heading our for an adventure — in whichever way you are able to. Whether that be a hike up a local hill, a two week road trip around a new land, or a night in the van just an hour from home. Most of the time for me, it doesn’t matter where I go or for how long; it’s about being outside with people I love and feeling the joy in exploring some place beautiful.

There were many things to be grateful for on this particular trip; our first night in the van since lockdown, Oslo’s first night in the van EVER, the beautiful weather we had when hiking, the amazing campsite we found at the foot of Chrome & Parkhouse Hills, a delicious dinner, no phone service and quality time together. It didn’t matter that we were so close to home and somewhere I have hiked before 2 or 3 other times, the joy in being was still ever-present and I hope that is something I never lose. The joy in a simple microadventure in the hills.

For a little bit of context, we drove down to Earl Sterndale on a Saturday afternoon where we set off on a 6 mile hike around and over Chrome & Parkhouse hills, reccying a route I plan to write into my upcoming Peak District guidebook. On our hike, we spotted a beautiful little campsite (Dowall Hall Camp Site) tucked in the hillside and decided to stay there in the van, for just £8 per night. Oslo could roam around and we had the most beautiful views to fall asleep and wake up to. We headed home the next morning and were back before lunchtime. It was the perfect microadventure and so wonderful to spend a night outdoors together.