Cromford July 22 2019

This was a different walk to the usual wander up the canal and then to Black Rock. The Starting point was the car park at Cromford Wharf. However, the route went back to the road, under the railway bridge and then onto a footpath up the hill and through the woods.

The path then climbed to Hearthstone Lane (still a footpath), which was effectively the high point. Turn right down to Castletop farm and then picking up the footpath through Bow Wood.

As the path came out of Bow wood , there was a short road section down the hill. To the left is a footpath which crosses a footpath over the Derwent and then to High Peak Junction,

The return to the car park is an easy stroll along the canal tow path.

This is an excellent new walk to add to the close by starts.

About 4 miles OS OL 24.

Goyt Valley July 9th 2019

The original plan was to park at the Cat and Fiddle and walk over the moor to the 3 Shires Head. Unfortunately there was a sign stating that no dogs were allowed on the moor (ground nesting grouse). I had a look at the map and decided to head up to Shining Tor, and then have a look at the map and decide where to go next. As it turned out we had a great new walk which would be well worth doing again. The route was :-

• Cat and Fiddle
• Shining Tor
• Cats Tor
• Pym's Chair
• The Street (footpath alongside road)
• Erwood Resevoir
• Erwood Hall
• Stakeside
• Cat and Fiddle

Shining Tor summit

Cat's Tor through the haze

Paved path on the way up to Cat's Tor

Poster at the Reservoir car park

Erwood Reservoir

View from Shooters Bridge

Erwood Hall

Looking back on the way up to Stakeside.

It was raining quite heavily on the return leg from the reservoir, and hundreds of black flies decided to come out for a feed. I also learned thta my waterproof jacket is no longer waterproof.

An excellent walk with some options for next time. I could make it a longer walk by tagging on the loop around Wind Gather and then Fernilee Res, and another option would be to return via Goyt Clough and Derbyshire Bride. 

OS OL24. About 8 miles.