On the Edge- Baslow edge- White edge - Froggat edge - Curbar edge 21st September 2013

Another repeat walk. Still no camera !

This is easy in the sense you start high up at Curbar Gap car park, and follow the path around the edges :-

• Baslow Edge to Wellingtons Monument.
• White Edge - via a concessionary footpath
• Grouse Inn
• Froggatt edge
• Curbar Edge.

OS OL24 The White Peak. About 8 miles.






Very enjoyable. I saw a herd of wild deer grazing on Big Moor from White edge.

Whatstandwell - crich chase 14th September 2013

A walk I have done many times now, but no less enjoyable.

I have lost my camera so no pics.

Parked up next to Cromford Canal at Whatstandwell, and then all the way along the canal to Ambergate. Cross the bridge (near chase road) and follow the footpath up through the woods across Crich Chase. at Chadwick nick there is a short stretch of road before picking up the path across the Tors to Crich. Crich Stand - Crich quarry and then back down to the canal via Wadebridge.

OS OL 24. Approx 6.5 miles. Ascent 925feet.

Langdale Pikes 25th August 2013

Up at 4 AM and off to the Lakes again.

 

I wanted to do some of the peaks that I missed on my last visit. Parked at the National Trust car park next to the Stickle Barn pub.

 

Weather – clear , sunny with a light breeze. Perfect walking weather.

 

The last time I had ascended the path alongside Stickle Ghyll, but hadn’t got as far as Stickle Tarn.  This time (with fresh legs) I as soon at Stickle Tarn dominated by Pavey Ark. I followed the path around the tarn towards the North end of Pavey Ark, and took (I think) the North Gully, which was a steep gully with the occasional scramble the top.  Great feeling to get to the summit after the last aborted attempt.

Stickle Ghyll

Stickle Tarn

 

This was my first time in this area and although the footpaths are clearly marked on the map it wasn’t too clear and it took me some time to get my bearings so I was headed for High Raise via Thunacar Knott. Thunacar Knott was really just the high ground on the plateau marked by a couple of cairns – not sure why it is considered a fell in its own right. Once on this summit a mist descended limiting visibility. It was quite strange as there was clear blue sky above me. Fortunately, the mist soon cleared and I could see the cairned path leading of the summit towards High Raise.

 

High Raise Summit

I followed the path which dropped down to a boggy dip before gradually climbing up again. I missed the main path and ended up on what was not much more than a sheep track headed towards Sergeant Man. I backtracked and picked up the correct path up to High Raise. I was soon there on the wide summit where I stopped for a bite to eat and a drink. Unfortunately, the views were not very good due to the haze. I could just make out Bowfell and Crinkle Craggs.

 

From High Raise , I retraced the path back towards Thunacar Knott. Not sure where the path went as I seemed to end up nearer to Pavey ark, with Harrison Stickle in view (my next target). The path dipped down to a small hause, and then steeply (but not for long) up to the summit of Harrison Stickle. There were lots of folk on this summit as it was now around 1.30 in the afternoon. The views form the top were starting to improve as the haze was lifting.

 

I then realised what a daunting prospect Pike O Stickle appeared – a great dome shaped fell with steep sides a short distance away across the valley at the top of Dungeon Ghyll. I set of and was soon at the foot of Pike O Stickle where the ascent started with a clearly defined stepped path climbing steeply up the fell. As this wound around the side of the hill the path stopped abruptly and I was then faced with a steep scramble. I made a start and got about thirty feet up but began to worry how I would get down.  Couple who had arrived just after me took one look ad decided it wasn’t for them. I also decide, as I was solo that  I could got into trouble coming down, so decided to go no further.

 

View from Harrison Stickle summit

Pike O Stickle

The walk along the ridge to Loft Cragg was quite easy with the one problem of millions of flying ants just hatched out on the summit. I had been warned by a group on their way down, but being so close I had to visit the summit…..for all of 10 seconds before I was eaten alive!!

 

The path down to Great Langdale form Loft Cragg was steep but well defined, so I just had to take it easy (especially after battering my big toes and the descent from Grisdale Pike). I tried the first part of the descent in sandals which I had packed in my rucksack to try out. This helped my feet cool down a bit , but as the path got even steeper I put my boots back on.

 

A fabulous walk with dramatic views (when the haze cleared). Yet another beautiful corner of the Lake District.

 

About 6.5 miles , and 2500 ft of ascent.

OS OL 6

3rd August Dove Dale - Wolfescote Dale

This was a re-run of the walk I did a couple of years ago. Fantastic walk with lots of variety on an intermittent sunny / cloudy day.

Parked at the cheap car park(£1.50) before you get to Dove Dale car park.

The Route was :-
Dove Dale - Hall dale - Stanshope - Alstonfield - Narrowdale - Wolscote Dale - Mill Dale - Dove Dale.

Note for next time :- At Alstonfield take the Hulme end / Hartington Road, and the footpath to take is the first signposted one on the right. The map suggests that there are two footpaths before then (there may be , but they aren't signposted)

Hall Dale

I had the same problem as last time at the derelict farm at the foot of Narrowdale Hill. I just checked my previous post - the wasn't Field House Farm - it isn't named on the map. The footpaths named on the path to the right the main path are not there, so navigation isn't that clear.
To get to the main path to Hartington/ Wolscote Dale - Head along the footpath out of the farm (do not turn immediate left) after about thirty yards take the footpath to the right. This is OK for a couple of fields and then just disappears. From a cowshed keep heading in roughly the same line from where the footpath disappears. In the corner of the field there is a rusty gate . Climb over that and then the main path is about 20 yards on.

Brilliant walk - about 13 miles OS OL24

27th July Coombs Valley Nature reserve

We had just had a drive out to the Roaches, but as it was mid - day we couldn't find anywhere to park. We stopped at Tittesworth Resevoir for lunch at the visitor centre on the way back.

Coombs Valley nature reserve is of the A52 between Leek and Ashborne. It is a RSPB site with three waymarked walks through old and new woods and meadows. We had a lovely walk on a hot Saturday afternoon. Anne is still recovering from her broken ankle so she used walking poles. This proved to be a good decision as there were quite a few ups and downs on the walk.

 

About 3 miles OS OL24

Saturday 6th July Upper derwent Valley

Weather forecast was for it to be hot, so I set off early and managed to get parked at the free car park next to Fairholmes.

The first part of the walk was flat and easy, taking in the dams on the Upper Derwent and Howden reservoirs. After Howden reservoir takes a left fork there is a footpath that turns of before the path around the reservoir takes a hairpin. From there a well defined path climbs steeply through the woods before emerging onto Birchinlee Moor /Pasture). The path then continues upwards (not quite as  steep) past some grouse butts and with superb view across to Derwent edge on one side and the edge of Bleaklow to the right.  eventually the path hits a right hand turn along the edge overlooking allport Castles.

I met a fellow walker at this point who wanted directions. He had never done this walk before and was on a planning mission for his walking group. I am getting better at this stuff and knew where he had gone wrong - he needed the path down the hillside to Allport farm - a walk I had done in reverse a couple of years ago.

From here I just followed the path along the ridge with fantastic views all around. Eventually, the path reached a crossroads and one of the choices was a concessionary path through the woods back down to Fairholmes and my car.

Terrific walk with easy navigation. 

About 8 miles OS OL1 Dark Peak

Shipley Park - Four Lakes 30th June

Another ramble around Shipley Park to avoid jumping in the car.

This time I set of down Old Pit Lane an di the full circuit taking in all 4 lakes - the fishing lake near the visitors centre, Osbornes Pond , Shipley Lake and Mapperley Reservoir.

A lovely day - about 7 Miles