Article27th June, 2024 / travel
Expanding in Edale
It’d been too long since I’d spent several uninterrupted days in my favourite place. And I needed this trip, because opening myself to the valley’s slow time always leaves me recharged and reorientated.
I’ve been making things in response to this place since my teens, most notably as a young visual artist (my old sketchbooks burst with a fascination for the Dark Peak) and again now, having reconnected with that wide-eyed younger version of myself. I arrived prepared with a list of research topics and several experiments to run. Time in the valley has always helped me pay better attention to my ideas, and I knew this trip would help narrow my project goals.
Of course, Edale’s a lovely place to do anything at all. Geri also made good use of the trip, and together, we enjoyed several sunny and uplifting walks.
Monday: Together again
On our way to Edale, we stopped at a favourite family spot in neighbouring Hope Valley to reunite my Mam and Dad. It comforts me that they are together again, on a day trip that will never end, looking out across these hills forever.
Then, over the Nick and into the Vale of Edale. Our tiny cottage in Barber Booth suited us perfectly: very quiet, walks in every direction, and the old chapel a few yards away. A neighbour’s bird feeding station captivated me, drawing everything from siskins to woodpeckers, keeping the outstanding Merlin Bird ID app busy. Edale’s best on sunny summer evenings, and with low evening sun illuminating the hills, it was clear we’d timed our trip well.
Tuesday
In the morning, I went out on my own, across the fields to Upper Booth, stopping occasionally to run different experiments. I made standard recordings with and without external mics and explored nascent sound/land art ideas. I exposed magnetic tape (on which I’d recorded loops) in various places and buried some recordings in the soil to retrieve later. I like to experiment because I never want to forget what it feels like to be an artist, and I have always tried to involve the place and have a dialogue with it. I also enjoy getting dirty in the name of art.
I returned to the cottage and dried the tape. In the afternoon, we walked across the fields to Grindsbrook Booth (more commonly known as Edale village) and caught the cafe before it closed. We then looped over to Ollerbrook Booth before a slightly hurried walk back chased by menacing storm clouds, which thankfully turned south.
Back in our little cottage garden, I organised field recordings, and Geri studied before we settled in for an evening of comforting food and televised footy.
Wednesday
The weather was kind, so I tested my portable studio outside. I’ve spent some time getting this together because I love the idea of jamming outdoors. I also want to develop rough ideas in the places that inspire them and invite live field recordings into the process. Doing experiments and jamming outdoors is all part of me seeing what makes sense, connecting multiple interests, trusting my instincts and better understanding the need and purpose of my creative outlets. I write a lot of ideas down, but they mean very little unless I get out and pursue them.
I've posted a short video of my favourite jam on my Stream.
After lunch, we set off again across the fields to Edale. The sun was intense, and the valley was alive with life and livestock, but mercifully few humans. Another stop at the cafe, another massive cherry bakewell. With sunny and stable weather, we took the lower Pennine Way path up to Broadlee-Bank Tor, where we paused to appreciate the outstanding views. We descended to the farm at Upper Booth, where we finished our Ginger Beer and laughed at free range hens before a slow walk back along the quiet road.
Thursday
Three nights would never be enough, and we were sad to pack up. At least we’d arisen early and found time for a bit of reading in the garden. After checkout, we headed over the ridge and down Winnats Pass to Castleton for coffee and lemon meringue cronuts.
It was early Thursday morning, but the village was bustling: coaches blocking traffic, side roads closed, and all the world’s children here in multicoloured school bibs tailing us. I was also insulted by Mr “Some of us do live here, you know!” for no good reason; I ought to have challenged him to a “Let’s see who knows more about Castleton?” competition — or knocked him into next week — but instead, I just moped off and let it briefly discolour the trip before Geri caught up and consoled me. To cheer ourselves up, we drove across the national park to Tagg Lane Dairy for double scoops of gelato before the drive home.
Back home
Back in the studio, I cleaned, assembled and digitised the tape I’d exposed in the River Noe. The results are full of character, and I hope I’ll get similar positive results from my other experiments.
One thing’s for sure: a few days in Edale has reinvigorated me and encouraged me to follow my instincts and continue to expand, and that’s a result that I never doubted.
Our short trip took place from 17th to 20th June.
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