Longstone Edge

After parking on the road leading from Monsal Head into the small village of Little Longstone, Karen and I followed the road onwards into the village to leave the road on a footpath which brought us through a farmyard and into the fields beyond.
We continued on through the fields until we reached a rough track joining Castlegate Lane and Moor Lane where we followed the track eastwards past Chertpit Plantation until we reached a well-worn path leading upwards through gorse bushes to arrive near the opencast workings of Crossdale Mine.
Here we were on open moorland and continued along an path until we reached a second path which crossed at right-angles and passed between two large fenced of excavations.
I had a look at one of these large and deep holes and was puzzled as to how it was dug out. The sides were loose and very steep so unless a digger with a long extension arm was able to do it, I have no idea how it was done.
Here we took the path heading towards the right and through a stile into Open Access moorland of Longstone Moor. Soon we arrived near a cairn with a pole sticking out of the top which was on top of large mound which the map confirmed to be an ancient tumulus.
Passing the tumulus, we reached a five-way junction of paths and again turned right, now heading South passing the area of Watersaw Rake where we took advantage of a grassed-over hollow to shelter from the cold wind and have a hot drink.
Continuing on our way, with the village of Great Longstone in the distance ahead and below, we soon reached the minor road of Moor Lane where we walked uphill for a short distance, then joined a path which left the road on the right and brought us along the side of Longstone Edge until the path widened into a track and we arrived at a gate.
This was a good position to see most of the route we had followed and much beyond as well.
From here a narrow path led downwards across a field bringing us to a lovely little dale with grass-covered hillocks and small limestone outcrops.
The small dale continued into more open fields and then onto the road through the village of Great Longstone.
After following a section of road and then passing between some houses on a narrow path, we soon found a footpath sign which pointed the route across a few remaining fields with ewes and their recently-born lambs until we were back in Little Longstone. New-born lambs are a sure sign of Spring along with the sprouting daffodils and other flowers like Primroses and Celandines.

Fossils in a slab of limestone

Great Longstone Church