Shining Cliff Woods Cromford Canal 11/08/26

 Despite the heat I needed to have a day out walking different from the various footpaths direct from home. Usual route - park up at Ambergate, up to the top of the woods, Alderwadsley, and the back along Cromford Canal.

No pics . About 7 miles.

Parkhouse Hill 26/08/26

 We were in the fifth heatwave of the year , and the day after the hottest day of the year (37 C in Smalley), so it was no surprise that this walk was curtailed. We had originally planned to do Parkhouse Hill and Chrome Hill, but by the time we had slogged up the steep Parkhouse Hill the heat was too much , so we u turned and headed back to the car.

I picked Ben up from Derby at 9.00Am and were parked up at Earl Sterndale by 10.00 AM. Navigation out of the village was easy and soon after crossing a couple of fields we could see the pointy summit of Parkhouse Hill. Although only a small hill in height it is a steep slog to the top. By the time we got to the top we had already decided that Chrome Hill was for another day due to the heat (we were into the 30's). So by the time we got back to Earl Sterndale we had only clocked two miles.

Parkhouse Hill

Chrome Hill

Start of the climb

Chrome Hill from the top

The obligatory summit pic

Nice to get out again , although only briefly !!

Big Moor - Totley Moor 17th July 2026

 According to the forecast this was going to be the last day of the current heat wave. I arrived at the layby onn the Sheffield Road above Baslow, and there was some cloud cover, so for the first 90 mins or so it was cooler than it had been.

Similar root to previously - 

• Bar Brook
• Big Moor
• Longshaw Estate
• Fox House pub
• Totley Moor
• Back via Bar Brook

The sun soon came out and for the rest of the walk I was cooking. Stopped at Longshaw visitor centre for a lovely cuppa and jam scone, and then carried on over Totley Moor.

Didn't have my camera with me , so all these pics were with my phone.

wish I had the camera to snap this handsome beast

High point of Totley Moor

Every time I have walked past the pool above the dam on Bar Brook I have fancied a swim, so this time I had packed my swimming gear. So on Mile 9 out of 10, I had a lovely cooling dip. I did one circuit of the small lake - perfect.

As usual a great walk. 10 miles.

Dove Dale 7th July 2026

 

The car park at Dove Dale is now run by NT which is much better than before. Headed up past the stepping stones and after a couple of miles crossed the footbridge signposted for Stanshope. Stopped in Hall Dale for some breakfast ad then completed the loop to Milldale before returning back all the way down the river to the car park.

8 miles in glrious sunshine. There were hundreds of school kids out on field trips along the Dove, so the loop to Stanshope was lovely and quiet in comparison. No elevation data for some reason. I found out later that a reset fixed this.

Codnor Castle 1st July 2026

 

Short 4 mile circuit from Codnor Park resevoir.

Codnor Castle

Nice and easy but it cleared the cobwebs. 4 Miles

Sca Fell 17th June 2026

 Trip Up to the lakes the night before with Anne to stay at Richard and Jen's Lodge. We had a nice evening and then Richard and myself got up early for the drive to Wasdale for the start of the walk.

Once we left Wasdale it wasn't long before the rain and clag set in. Added to that was a sketchy (sometimes non existent) path and a relentlessly steep gradient. Because of all this - not many pics. Pretty soon my boots had filled up with water which had dripped down my legs. I guess I should have packed gaiters. Richard's feet were wet even quicker as he had a leak in both of his boots. After a while Richard was experiencing a racing heart beat, so we stopped for a rest and a hot drink. My hands were so cold it took me several minutes to rip open the satchet of coffee I had brought.

Nice view before we started climbing

Looking back down the start of the climb

We kept having to check the route

After, losing the path a few times we finally reached the summit - wet cold and miserable !!

I managed to convince Richard it was a bad idea to then hike onto Slight Side. We were both wet and cold, and the clag was thick. It is only over a mile away, but with no path down from there. The option would have been to pick a route down on the open fellside, or retrace our steps back to Scafell. As it was the descent from Scafell was steep and sketchy. As on the way up we kept losing the path, but eventually emerged from a hardrigg gill valley about a mile from Burnmoor tarn, where we manaaged to find a decent path back to Wasdale.

Burnmoor Tarn

Back down out of the clag

We stopped while this flock was moved down the lane

A tough hike. six hours 46 minutes. 6.5 miles. 3000 ft ascent.