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.

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.