A Walk on Eyam Moor

The weather was supposed to be better today, and it was. A mild, if breezy, day with frequent light showers so there was plenty of sun, cloud and rainbows.
We parked in the layby outside “The Plough” near Hathersage and walked a short distance up the road to then follow a minor road steeply uphill.
After reaching level farm drive, we passed along a narrow path among conifers until we reached a bridge on Highlow Brook.
We reached another farm track and then into open country and skirted along one side of the wide valley with views back to our starting point, Hathersage and the gritstone edges including Millstone Edge and Stanage Edge.

The weather continued with short but light showers and sunny breaks. After a quick coffee break, we continued onwards until we reached a ford with two small bridges and a rough track which continued on either side of the ford. We followed the rough track as it headed uphill eventually reaching another ford where five paths meet as well as Abney Brook and Bretton Brook. There were quite a few walkers sitting there having lunch or just resting.

There was a narrow path hemmed on by bracken another plants which wended its way up the valley side which we followed until the path levelled along the side of the valley with views of Bretton Clough opening up.

We soon reached Eyam Moor and followed the rising path next to a drystone wall. It had been dry for a while with quite a bit of sun but we could see showers in the distance moving towards us and since we were getting hungry, we made use of a sheltered hollow to stop for a lunch break.

Once we had eaten our sandwiches, we followed onwards until we eventually reached a road. Climbing over a stile to reach the road, we walked about 10 metres and crossed another stile back onto the moor and then followed a path this time next to a fence which led us downhill, then away from the fence and then to another wall and stile to reach a minor road next to the lovely building of Hazleford Hall.

We only had to walk down the minor road to pop out on the main road to Hathersage not far from where we had parked by “The Plough”.

Walk from Cistern's Clough Via Flash

The morning was windy and misty as we drove into Staffordshire again and parked on a layby on the A53 a few miles north of Flash.
We followed a small road for a short way heading across a section of very boggy moorland below Orchard Common, which luckily didn't last for too long until we met a track with a firm surface: probably an access route for the shooting butts on the moor. Unfortunately, not only was the mist stubbornly refusing to clear, it also started to rain. Never mind, we were expecting it as it had been forecast.
This led to Three Shire Heads where the borders or Derbyshire, Staffordshire and Cheshire meet where there were two old packhorse bridges spanning the River Dane which rises not far away. We stopped here for a quick coffee in the shelter of some beech trees.

After the coffee we crossed the larger of the two bridges and followed a path along the side of the valley watching two people on mountain bikes on the other side until we realised we also should be on the other side after checking with the map!
We hadn't gone far so we retraced or route back to the bridge and re-crossed to the other side. We were on the correct side of the valley now and continued on our way passing an old ruined stone-built house. Soon we were on another minor road and after following this for a while, crossed a stile into a field and found that the rain had stopped and we were getting hungry, so we had a quick rest for lunch.
After our sandwiches were eaten and we were about to continue the walk, the rain began again! Oh well, at least it had stopped long enough for us to have lunch!

After another short stretch of minor road we followed a footpath across more moorland heading uphill until we passed some rocks at Wolf Edge and then headed onwards through more fields and scrubby ground until we were back on tarmac and entering the village of Flash, where we had been last weekend.
We entered a large field which had two horses and a large pig which was very friendly and came over and was grunting gently – probably hoping for some food – before he trundled off to a low shelter and had a good scratch against one of the wooden posts holding up the shelter's roof.

The rain was now stopping for short periods then starting up again as we crossed the A53 and followed a tarmaced lane leading past a farmhouse near Nield Bank. After passing another house at Lower Gamballs, we reached another minor road and the rain had stopped. Not only had the rain stopped, there were blue patches in the sky and we could see the rugged hill tops of Chrome Hill and Parkhouse Hill in the distance with patches of sunlight shining over them.

We stopped to take several photos of these two hills and then followed an old track across pasture land before again reaching a minor road and after a short steep section, we reached the A53 again opposite where we had parked the car earlier.

Cisterns Clough to Flash

The morning was windy and misty as we drove into Staffordshire again and parked on a layby on the A53 a few miles north of Flash.
We followed a small road for a short way heading across a section of very boggy moorland below Orchard Common, which luckily didn't last for too long until we met a track with a firm surface: probably an access route for the shooting butts on the moor. Unfortunately, not only was the mist stubbornly refusing to clear, it also started to rain. Never mind, we were expecting it as it had been forecast.
This led to Three Shire Heads where the borders or Derbyshire, Staffordshire and Cheshire meet where there were two old packhorse bridges spanning the River Dane which rises not far away. We stopped here for a quick coffee in the shelter of some beech trees.
After the coffee we crossed the larger of the two bridges and followed a path along the side of the valley watching two people on mountain bikes on the other side until we realised we also should be on the other side after checking with the map!
We hadn't gone far so we retraced or route back to the bridge and re-crossed to the other side. We were on the correct side of the valley now and continued on our way passing an old ruined stone-built house. Soon we were on another minor road and after following this for a while, crossed a stile into a field and found that the rain had stopped and we were getting hungry, so we had a quick rest for lunch.
After our sandwiches were eaten and we were about to continue the walk, the rain began again! Oh well, at least it had stopped long enough for us to have lunch! After another short stretch of minor road we followed a footpath across more moorland heading uphill until we passed some rocks at Wolf Edge and then headed onwards through more fields and scrubby ground until we were back on tarmac and entering the village of Flash, where we had been last weekend.
We entered a large field which had two horses and a large pig which was very friendly and came over and was grunting gently – probably hoping for some food – before he trundled off to a low shelter and had a good scratch against one of the wooden posts holding up the shelter's roof. The rain was now stopping for short periods then starting up again as we crossed the A53 and followed a tarmaced lane leading past a farmhouse near Nield Bank. Fter passing another house at Lower Gamballs, we reached another minor road and the rain had stopped. Not only had the rain stopped, there were blue patches in the sky and we could see the rugged hill tops of Chrome Hill and Parkhouse Hill in the distance with patches of sunlight shining over them. We stopped to take several photos of these two hills and then followed an old track across pasture land before again reaching a minor road and after a short steep section, we reached the A53 again opposite where we had parked the car earlier.

Circular Walk from Onecote

Another trip to Staffordshire for a walk. We drove to Onecote (pronounced “on cot”) and parked near the church outside a large house associated with the Robinson family who survived 53 days in an inflatable dinghy after their yacht was sunk by killer whales near the Galapagos Islands. After walking down this road for a short distance, we followed a footpath sign saying Mermaid 3 ¼, Mixon Mines 1 ¼” which led to the farm Onecote Grange. The route led past the really nice farmhouse and along a cow muck strewn section onto a track leading to the former Mixon Mine. This was a good track and had been tarmaced and as we continued along the track we spotted a heron flying which landed nearby.
We reached another set of farm buildings with what looked like an anti-aircraft gun from WWII pointing up the track! Anyway, the immediate surroundings didn't match the map or the guide book description: there was a large pool which wasn't on the map and no obvious continuation of the path. We investigated various options until Karen found a section of path leading through a short section of conifer trees and a stile. We crossed over the stile into pasture land and dropped down to the young River Hamps and after crossing a footbridge, had a lunch stop.
After a number of stiles and gates we reach the old abandoned farmhouse of Black Brook Farm and then a track leading to the road we had driven along to Onecote earlier. After crossing Butterton Moor, we followed a lane down into the village of Butterton. Near the village pub, The Black Lion, we dropped downhill to a ford with a stone footbridge immediately afterwards we passed through a gate leading along a footpath which crossed through thirteen narrow fields connected by squeeze stiles and past another abandoned farmhouse.
From here we followed uphill on continuing pasture land until we followed more moorland and after a drink break we reached a road leading back to Onecote and where we had parked earlier. Another nice walk, this time about 5 ½ miles long.

Circular Walk from Flash

On a cool but dry day Karen and I drove in her car to the village of Flash over the county boundary in Staffordshire and parked outside the New Inn. Flash is claimed to be the highest village in Britain at over 1,500 feet. It is also reputed to be the source of counterfeit money many years ago, which was distributed at Three Shires Head so that the forgers could literally step out of their pursuers as at this point, the boundaries of the three counties Derbyshire, Staffordshire and Cheshire meet.
We started the route along a minor road before leaving it near Brook Farm to head across Adders Green. We passed near the gritstone outcrop of Gib Tor Rocks as we headed for another called Bald Stone Rocks passing through a Nature Reserve.
After a short distance along another road and past a couple of farm buildings, we crossed a footbridge across a small brook called Black Brook and followed a lovely valley eventually crossing another footbridge. We followed a path uphill and then through a stile in the wall, then back down the hill on the other side of the wall to reach a sign-posted junction with one path heading for Lud's Church, which we followed.
This led along a path through woods with the ground dropping steeply down to our left and after another junction and a short section of very muddy path, we reached Lud's Church. This is a gap in the gritstone bedrock about 60 feet high with damp and gloomy depths. It is thought that the name comes from Walter de Ludbank, a Lollard who met others here in the fourteenth century with other to worship, but was eventually arrested.
We followed a short section of steps down onto the floor of the gap and along the bottom eventually popping out at the end leading onto another path. We stopped near here for lunch.
After lunch, we followed the path until after a short distance it turned through a sharp angle to the right and then led gradually downwards in the deeply worn groove you get with ancient tracks until eventually arriving at Gradbach Mill, which is a Youth Hostel.
We followed the drive leading from the Mill and passed through a gate into fields which we followed uphill past a ruined house then through a stile onto a track for a short distance. As we walked along the next field we saw some very peculiar sheep mixed in with the others in the next field. They had very long necks and legs for sheep: they were alpacas! This field was followed by a short length of track then a sloping section of grass until another stile led onto a minor road going uphill back to Flash. We were back at the car parked outside the pub after a lovely walk of about 9 miles.

Circular Walk from Hartington

While we were out walking yesterday, Pete and Keith were back digging at Water Icicle Close Cavern. They had joined us in the evening for a meal at the Miners Standard in Winster and stayed at our place. They planned to return to the dig today and Karen was also going for a trip down the cave and I went walking!
After we all had breakfast as usual at Monyash, where we also met Boyd with the same plan – breakfast anyway, if not digging, I said “see you later” and drove over to Hartington. I followed a circular route I have done several times before and after passing Hartington Hall, an impressive Youth Hostel. I headed across some fields and joined a track which led to the top of Beresford Dale.
Continuing down Beresford Dale it started to drizzle lightly. Continuing down Beresford Dale I reached Wolfescote Dale, until reaching the junction with Biggin Dale which I followed until after crossing some fields I was back where I started in Hartington.
I sent a text messsage to Karen to say I was returning to Monyash cafe at around 1:00 pm and after some cake and a mug of tea I decided to head for home but sent another text message to Karen first to let her know. As I was setting off, she rang to say she was just getting changed after her caving trip and I returned to the cafe to meet her.
Afterwards it was back home. Of course now the ran stopped and the sun came out!

A Walk on Lantern Pike

The weather forecast was reasonably good and Karen and I decided on a walk instead of caving. We had often passed below Lantern Pike near Hayfield on our weekend trips to the Yorkshire Dales as we headed towards Glossop so we decided on a circular walk starting at the small village of Rowarth.
After parking in the car park at Rowarth we headed past some houses and then through a narrow path between two gardens. This lead onto open ground gradually rising towards Cown Edge. We eventually arrived at a track and took a slight detour of a quarter of a mile or so to have a look at two small gritstone rock columns on a gritstone plinth marked on the map as “Robin Hood's Picking Rods”. It is believed that the stones are over 1,100 years old and may be the remains of a cross.
We returned back the way we came and followed our route leading to Cown Edge which is a large horse-shoe formed by a land slip around a mile across. There were a number of ravens flying around, obviously favouring the rocky outcrops of Cown Edge Rocks. After this we followed an old sunken lane leading to the minor road known as Monks Road.
After a mile or so we took advantage of a rocky plinth at the start of a drive to a couple of farms to stop for a coffee break and a bit of a snack. This was probably where milk churns were left in the past for collection. We hopped over a stile into a field and followed across this to a small lane and then after a mile or so through a gate to the foot of Lantern Pike. Ignoring the track leading around the bottom of the Pike, we followed a narrow path leading up to the summit where there was a topograph giving the names of all the hills which we could see in all directions including the nearby plateau of Kinder Scout. We dropped down the other Eastern ridge of the Pike for a short way and found a grassy ledge for another coffee break and a snack which was sheltered from the breeze with lovely views across to Kinder Scout and also to Hayfield village below.
Once the snack break was over, we continued down he ridge and followed another road passing the Little Mill Inn which had both a very large iron mill wheel which was turning due to a trickle of water leading along a channel and also an old train carriage known as a Derbyshire Belle Pullman in the garden.
After another short distance we were back at the car park at Rowarth after a very nice walk just over 8 miles long (about 13 kilometres).

A Walk on a Wndy Day on Kinder Scout

Keith and Pete were up for the weekend as it was the OCC Half-Yearly Meeting on Sunday and they were planning on a trip in Mandale Mine with Karen who had been there recently during the week. As this would not take very long I decided to spend the day walking.
The weather forecast was for showers and some wind. I decided on another trip to Kinder Scout and drove to park up at Barber Booth after breakfast. I got my walking boots on and after walking along the road for a short distance I followed the Pennine Way route through a farmyard heading towards Edale village. As I reached the fields past the farmyard I found the wind was very strong and it made sense to try and keep to the lee of the wind so when I reached the path junction with the Pennine Way route dropping down to Edale village past Coopers Farm camp-site I planned to turn left and follow the path up Grindslow Knoll.
When I reached the cairn on the top of the Knoll I was almost knocked over by the wind. I had taken my walking poles out on the way up to help, as I found the wind was getting fairly strong on the way up. Now it was so windy it was difficult to place them on the ground as I walked along as the wind kept blowing them. From her I headed for the paved path along Kinder's edge and then followed this towards the head of the Grindsbrook valley. After passing this I followed the tributary heading in a roughly Northern direction. It was more sheltered in the small valley formed by the tributary and I stopped for a rest and a coffee from my flask at the remains of "Four Jacks" cabin. After the stop I followed the stream for a bit further to see if I could find the remains of an aircraft wreck I had found several years ago in this area but after a quick look around I couldn't find any.
I then headed across groughy ground (groughs are the names given to channels worn in the peat bog) until I reached Blackden Edge on the Northern side of Kinder Scout overlooking the Woodlands Valley. I then headed South to meet the path along the Southern Edge. I noticed some dark clouds moving in from the West and soon it started to rain. The rain was fairly light to begin with, bit soon it became heavier and with all the wind it was coming from all directions! I stopped behind a small boulder to keep my lags dry as I only had a waterproof top on (a Paramo Adventure Light smock) and a guy came past walking in the opposite direction.. It looked like the rain wasn't going to stop anytime soon so I decided to get my waterproof overtrousers on. As I was doing this, the guy who had passed me earlier had turned around and was heading past me again saying "I'm not going that way!" with a wall of white cloud rolling in behind him!
I finished getting the overtrousers on and soon afterwards found a well-sheltered spot behind some rocks on the edge overlooking Edale below and stopped there to have a quick lunch as I was getting hungry. After lunch I continued onwards and passed a group of men dressed in jeans and light jackets, etc who seemed cheerful enough despite the strong wind and heavy rain. I followed the path descending Golden Clough below Ringing Roger. Soon I was making my down the steps leading to the bottom of Grindsbrook Valley and into Edale village. By the Old Nags Head Inn. I followed the Pennine Way track back to the junction with the path I followed earlier up to Grindsbrook Knoll, and then followed the path I had been on earlier to arrive back at the car park.