Ladybower, Alport Castles, Howden Reservoir, Cronksley Moor cabin, Slippery Stones, Derwent Valley

We were EXCITED!! We had a WHOLE DAY to devote to walking and, when we looked out of the office window - on the tops, we saw SNOW! YIPPPPEEEEEEE!

Knowing that usually, in the High peak of Derbyshire, there is more snow than on the lower ground, we got booted up and ready to walk the whole day in what promised to be a winter wonderland. However, the further North we went, the less snow we saw. Were we disappointed? Well, take a look at the view that greeted us. Would you have been?

No - us neither!

Don't forget, you can see a larger version of any of the pictures by left clicking on it with your mouse. If you want to save the picture to your computer, right click on it and select 'save picture'.

We decided to park at Fairholmes visitors centre, at the side of Ladybower reservoir. Our route was then over the top of Hagg side to Lockerbrook farm, then onward and upward to Alport castles, the largest natural landslip in Europe.

The morning sun lit the reservoirs to a shimmering expanse and it was beautiful. Despite the lack of snow, today gave promise in lots of other ways. The light was particularly good for photography. The walk up through the woods made us feel good to be alive!


I paused to look up - this is what I saw.
The pines reaching for the warmth of the sky.

At the top of the woods, this small gate leads out onto the hillside and we were greeted by the fabulous blue hues of our winter sky, tinged with just a sprinkling of snow.

We turned left, and got our breath back along the flat track with views forward to the Southern edge of Kinder Scout. That hunch you see on the horizon is Back Tor on the Lose hill to Mam tor ridge. You can always pick out its distinctive shape.

Here's Sue, ready for the day, with Woodlands valley behind her.

We walked along the edge with only the odd sheep for company.

Now we walk mid-week, we get much more peaceful walks.

The business part of the walk!

Alport Castles.

This is quite a dramatic picture, but it's much more so in real life. The side of the hill has literally slipped down into the Alport valley, leaving a distinct edge that we walked along.

Looking back along the edge.

Note the three walkers to give you some sense of scale.

After the Castles, we turned sharp right and dropped steeply back down towards a finger of Howden reservoir, but we then turned left again at the bottom, and started the long climb up onto Cronksley moor. The day was still really clear and living up to the mornings promise. It was cold, but perfect for walking. We saw lots of impressive icicles hanging from the peat.

Here's a happy lad!

Our goal for lunch - our favourite shooting cabin, where we had lunch. Surprisingly, there were two other couples there and we spent lunchtime in pleasant conversation.

The road onwards was a dream come true, with inviting views of Derwent edge. Although the days were now drawing out, we'd neither the time, nor the light, to visit the edge, which would have added maybe 2 hours to our route (which was already 7 hours long).

We dropped off the moors to meet the young river Derwent. We forded this (and I got a boot full of VERY cold water), and then followed it as it wound down the valley towards captivation in the reservoirs. Here I am at the bottom of Cranberry clough, posing on a small footbridge.

This is Slippery stones bridge. When the reservoir chain was flooded, it would have been submerged, but it was disassembled and re-built at the head of the valley, where it now stands today.

Sue sits and reflects on a perfect day.

Not over yet though, as we still had to walk the length of the reservoirs to get back to the car.

A tranquil scene.

A small puff of cloud lends itself to a photo.

To really make it perfect, the water would be dead calm and reflect the land & sky.

I can't remember us having had a lot of rain recently, but the reservoir chain was full to capacity and the water was flowing over the top of the Howden dam.

Looking back to Howden dam, the sun just catching the Eastern tower.

A zoomed shot onto Derwent edge, and one of the many weathered rock formations.

We got back to the car about 5:30PM. It really had been so perfect today that we were sad it was over. We'd walked 15.6 miles, and taken in almost 3,000 feet of ascent. This was our last view of the reservoir before climbing into the car and wending our way home. Beneath this picture are a couple of short videos, the first time I've put any on blogger.

Here I am near the shooting cabin, showing you the panorama over Derwent edge.

I've not quite got the hang of the sound yet, so you can't hear me talking (but then it's all about what you can see, not hear).

And here's Sue, walking on after lunch.

NEXT POST

CLICK HERE

Baslow, Curbar, Froggatt edges, Grindleford, Horse Hay coppice

The new job I'm now doing usually precludes me walking, as I work weekends. However, I DO get Tuesdays off, so this week, Sue & I decided to get out. The previous week had seen a perfect day, but we had other things to do. This week, we promised ourselves a walk, and so we got out as soon as we could. Although visibility wasn't perfect, I decided to go up on the edges. Baslow, Curbar and Froggatt, to be precise. We drove the ten minutes from Bakewell to Bubnell and parked up.

The sight that met us was a load of ducks sitting on a stone wall. Like a real life shooting range!

Anything off the top shelf, sir!

One good shot along this line would take out several at once!
(The only shots I fire though, are with my camera).

This friendly cat didn't seem to bother the ducks.
They seemed to live side by side in harmony.

So, off we set, up past the golf course, and through this gate to the first edge, Baslow.

The obelisk on the top there is Wellingtons monument.

There is also one to Nelson on another edge.

As we walked forward, we got this lovely view of Curbar edge, where we were heading.

Here's Sue, standing on the edge.

Then she decided to sit down - slacker!

I was a bit more adventurous!

It was around this time that we decided to stop for lunch. We rested against one of the large rock formations, with the sun beating down on us. I couldn't believe this was a FEBRUARY sun, as it was so warm and strong! I even ended up a bit red-faced as I caught the rays - totally unexpected!

Although a lovely, sunny day, it WAS quite cold out of the sun, as the surrounding water courses proved;

The sun through the trees was wonderful. The woods were really etherical in this light.

This was the unfortunate result of some recent high winds.

What a shame two such stoic things, the tree and the wall, were both destroyed.

As we dropped off the last edge, we looked across to Grindleford church.

Look at this for an inviting path through Horse Hay coppice.

These flag stones were laid for the pack horses.

Another break Sue????

Looking back across the fields.

We then came to the river, a complete paradox in views, but just as beautiful, in different ways.

Froggatt bridge.

This was an early daffodil, on the verge of opening

This one was fully open, and what a lovely sight.

As you would expect, the snowdrops were well advanced and, along this bank, in great profusion.

A close study of them.

Towards the end of the walk, evidence of just how low the temperature still was, for anywhere out of the sun's caress.

No warming rays for this poor plant, not yet anyway.

One final look back along the river in the evening light before making our way home. The end of a very rewarding day. I'd forgotten just how good it was to stretch my legs and get my boots on. Today was a great reminder.

NEXT POST

CLICK HERE