Thursday, October 13, 2011

Grindsbrook Walk

OS Map: Title – The Peak District – The Dark Peak, Code OL1 (1:25000)

Start Grid Reference: SK 124853

Walk distance:  6.8 miles

Date walked: 13th September 2011

Time: 5 hours (including a lunch stop)


The walk up Grindsbrook Clough was the first I did in the Dark Peak back in 1965.  That walk impressed me so much that I continued walking, mixed in with cycling and running, until the present day.  I did that first walk in a new pair of Tuff boots; today its a new pair of Scarpa Terra GTX boots, well broken in this time.


The walk itself starts from the car park near the train station, goes into Edale village, more correctly known as Grinsdbrook Booth, up Grindsbrook Clough, skirts Kinder Scout, before coming down Jacob's Ladder back into the valley.


 
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When I first came to the village and for several years since, there was a cafe, made out of old railway carriages, selling pint mugs of tea .  The Old Nag's Head pub was a real walkers' pub, and I still have memories of wet bleeding walker's feet being soothed with a pint by a coal fire.  Both are still there, but changed to meet needs of the tea room and pub grub people of the 21st century.



The Old Nag's Head


The path to the Clough has changed too.  It is no longer a muddy path, but a stone one.



Path to Grindsbrook Clough


Once the bridge across the Golden Clough is crossed the ascent up Grindsbrook begins.



Bridge over the stream at Golden Clough


Now Grindsbrook can be enjoyed.



The final reaches of the Clough



View down Grindsbrook Clough



The cairn at the top of Grindsbrook 


There are no pictures of Kinder Scout as the wind was too strong to take anything decent. After we joined the Pennine Way, we stopped for lunch below Swine's Back and enjoyed the views down the Edale valley.



Landscape view from Swine's Back


On this photograph the path down Jacob's Ladder can be seen winding its way down towards the valley.



Cairn at the top of Jacob's Ladder


Walking back down through Upper and Barber Booths our sunny, windy day turned to rain, but before it came the light was incredible.



Rain clouds over Lord's Seat


So we ended the walk wet, but my new boots were brilliant and my feet were dry.



Tuesday, September 20, 2011

Stanage Walk

OS Map: The Peak District, Dark Peak Area, OL1 (1:25000)

Start Grid Reference: GR SK 260830
Walk distance: 8.5 miles 
Date walked: 4th September 2011
Time: 4 hours 40 minutes (approx.) with lunch stop



View Stanage Walk in a larger map
This walk takes you to an area enjoyed by many outdoor ethusiasts: walkers (naturally), fell runners, cyclists, mountain bikers and climbers.  We started the walk on a wet and misty September day and ended it in the sun.
View over Hathersage Moor 
The walk is a fairly high level one with very few ascents or descents.  The path crosses the stream at Upper Burbage Bridge and continues along the edge of the valley.  Keep to the upper path rather than the more clearly marked lower one.  The way marks on the walk are all very obvious.  At the one in the photograph below turn left and follow the path to reach Houndkirk Road. 
Way mark 3 on Burbage Moor

Houndkirk Road is a wide track with the appearance of a bridleway.  In fact motorised transport is allowed to use it, so you might meet four wheel drive jeeps and off-road motorcycles.  The majority of the traffic though are the runners, mountain bikers and walkers you might have met earlier.

Houndkirk Hill from Houndkirk Road
At this time of year the moors were full of the very purple heather.  The turning off of the road to go alongside Lady Canning's Plantation is very obvious.
Track to Lady Canning's Plantation
After the plantation and having crossed the road, the path continues on towards Brown Edge Farm.  There are several paths that could be taken, but they all seem to end at the correct point.  The Farm is visible in the distance and you should head for this if you do feel you are lost.
The paths goes through the Farm to the road and then along the side of a stone wall on Rud Hill.  This is a permissive path leading to the moor above Redmires Reserviours. 
Redmires Reservoirs from White Stones
After the Reservoirs the path follows a track by the side of the wood to reach Stanedge Pole.


Stanedge Pole
A short distance from the Pole, with the weather brightening, Stanage is reached.  It is a magnificent edge, poplular with rock climbers and walkers.  The views up and down the edge, but there are also wonderful views into the Hope Valley and Edale.
Rock climbing on Stanage Edge

Heather Moors from Stanage

View from Stanage Edge
The path leaves the Edge to go through the heather moor to Upper Burbage Bridge and the car park.



Saturday, September 3, 2011

Ashop Edge Walk

OS Map: The Peak District, Dark Peak Area, OL1 (1:25000)

Start Grid Reference: SK 109915 
Walk distance: 8.4 miles 
Time: 4 hours (approx.)


View Snake Pass Walk in a larger map


This is a walk that takes you around the edge of that great peat plateau Kinder Scout.  The car park is on the Snake Pass (A57).  From the car park the path goes through the wood on the other side of the main road. After a short distance the path through the woods comes into the open.  It then turns back on itself to follow the stream.

Ashop Clough - the view after emerging from the wood


Looking down the clough

Towards Ashop Head
 Walking up the clough, we saw grouse on the moorland on each side and heard golden plover, but unfortunately none were seen.

At the head of the stream, at a crossroad of footpaths, the path takes the route of the Pennine Way.

View up to Kinder Scout
Our path takes the opposite direction to this, but it is a continuation of the Pennine Way.  After crossing the Snake Pass, the path continuous on the other side to another crossroads of paths.  Here it turns right back to the road.  We followed the road back to the car park.  The map shows another path on the other side of the road leading through the woods.  While we could make it out below, we completely missed its beginning.

Less than a mile down the road, the Snake Inn will provide you with well-deserved sustenance after a very enjoyable walk.