Attack of the killer grouse! Bamford, Fidler Lane, Bamford Clough, Bamford Edge, Stanage Edge - KILLER GROUSE, Hood brook

After a dearth of walks these last three weeks, due to 'things' that needed doing, but also largely due to awful weather, this was the first walk we'd done for almost a month, so we were well ready for it! The weather wasn't great, very cloudy and overcast, and we expected to get wet at some point. As it was, we stayed dry all day - and had a few 'surprises' to boot!

We parked on the roadside at Bamford, and set off. Sue didn't thank me for sending us up Bamford clough straight from the car, particularly as we were not really 'match fit', because of aforementioned reasons. The track is so steep, it's almost impossible to ascend in the wet without some fall, or major slip. It's not helped that many, many motorbikers use it to practice 'scrambling'. I've seen a few of them come off as well in the treacherous conditions. Anyway, today it wasn't wet at all, and we got a great view of Win hill as we climbed.

The ubiquitous Hope cement works. Kind of ethereal in this sort of light and haze.
Not a pretty site, but a life-giver as far as work goes in the Hope valley and surrounding areas.

A view I love, looking East - all the way along the ridge from Win Hill, over Lose Hill, Back Tor, Hollins Cross, and finally Mam Tor, above Hathersage.

Yours truly, with a big smile on my face.

As we got up onto Bamford edge, there was evidence of millstone making. Not as much as on Stanage edge, but enough, if you look. The English millstone was replaced by the French ones, as theirs were finer grained and good for grinding the fashionable white flour, at the time.

Sue, perched precariously on Bamford edge with Win hill behind her. You can see the viciously steep path up to the pike, running through the trees. We once christened it 'orgasm hill' - it was all to do with the amount of heavy breathing that accompanied the climb up it!

Anything you can do, I can do better............

The heather path along Bamford edge.

Sue takes in the magnificent views from the top of Bamford edge.

After Bamford edge, we decided to 'bushwhack' over the moors to get to Stanage edge.
Sue, at this point, commented that we'd not got a really good picture of a grouse, because of how 'shy' they are - hmmm, read on.........

Doctor Livingstone I pres....oh no, it's Sue again, thrashing through the ferns.

When we eventually got to Stanage edge, we sat in an old quarry to have lunch. To my amazement, this grouse came and sat near us. I took its photo, remarking on how tame friendly it seemed to be.

Here, grousey, grousey, grousey........

To see what happened next - see the video at the bottom of this blog posting.

Anyway, she saw us off fair and square. We MUST have been sitting near her nest without knowing. We retreated tactically, fending off her attacks with my coat (I didn't want to harm her).
A look back along Stanage, just to make sure she wasn't still following us (which she did for about 200 yards).

We saw this rock, which I said looks like an owl, but Sue said not!
Should've gone to 'specsavers' :-)

As we dropped down off Stanage edge, we saw lots of climbers. Some of the worlds best have cut their teeth on this gritstone before going on to greatness in the climbing and mountaineering world.

Stanage edge, from the road below.

On our way back, we passed 'Bronte cottage'. We're not sure it has any other connection, other than being close to North Lees, made famous in Jayne Eyre as 'Thornfield hall'

This new bridge over Hood brook was constructed using only local timber.
What a thing of simple beauty.

Now, not a lot of people know this (said in best Michael Caine voice), but wool is grown on trees in large quantities here in Derbyshire. There are not enough sheep, so a special strain of wool has been developed to grow wild on 'wool bushes'.
Here is an example of a crop, just before being picked.

And finally, just to finish us off, a steep set of steps back towards Bamford, and a well-earned pint in the Anglers rest.
Hope you've enjoyed this weeks pictures.

The moment the 'friendly' grouse ATTACKED!!!

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A walk around Bakewell to Rowsley

On Tuesday, we did a very short walk of only 4.5 miles. We'd had a very busy and hot week, and felt we needed to take it a bit easy on our day off this week. Still, that didn't stop me having a go on a rope swing we found!
Not too many pics, but a lovely walk through the local Manners Woods to Rowsley.

The walk started from our door, and headed up over Bakewell golf course. See the hammer and metal 'bell'? You have to ring this to let golfers know you're crossing.

Safely over the course, this is the view back.
With the zoom, you can just see the church spire.


It was a lovely, hot and sunny day, but we had the trees to shelter us from the hot rays.

This time of year is great for foraging in the woods, as there are lots of small, sweet raspberries to pick and eat. We saw evidence of lots more to come - this time blackberries, we estimated in about three weeks time.

The foxgloves are out too, and make a nice foreground for any picture.

A simple plant, but I like to see it - the fern. This is one of natures BEST examples of a 'fractal' (a snowflake is another). A fractal is a simple shape, repeated over and over. If you look at the fern leaf as a whole, it's a sort of xmas tree shape. Then, if you look at one of the smaller fronds on that leaf, it's the same shape. Look deeper, even the pattern ON the frond is the same!

This is me, just about to launch myself on a rope swing we found in the woods.
I really should grow up, before I hurt myself!

On walks, if you keep your eyes peeled, you can see SO much. This little toad crossed our path.

We emerged from the woods to a beautiful sky. The view back to Bakewell was lovely too.

Rosebay willow herb (I think).
'Only a weed'. some might say.
Not me!

A cheeky horse - no need for that!

He certainly wasn't tongue tied!

One more short section of woods before we emerged to join a minor track, and reach our goal - Rowsley. We went to the local pub for lunch before making our way home.

The Peacock at Rowsley.
A really nice place to look at, but the stone peacock on the roof is the 'piece de resistance'.

After that, we just caught a bus back to Bakewell.
A steady, relaxing day, but we needed it.

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Rope swing in the woods above Bakewell

.......we came across this rope swing in the woods above Bakewell, while we were on a walk.
Anyone with any sense would walk by.
The drop, if the rope broke, was about 30 feet down a steep bank.
Also, that tree was solid!
I should be more sensible, I suppose :-)

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Hartington, Minor Million, Biggin Dale, Wolfscote Dale,

Today we just did a short walk starting from Hartington, home of the famous Stilton cheese.

We got an early surprise when we set off, as we saw this car....noticed the strange registration, then realised what it was. It was one of a special edition Morris Minor to mark the 1,000,000th Minor sold. They were all done in this (horrible) colour.

A set of steps that has had a LOT of feet up it.

If only they could talk.

Looking over the wall from the track out of Hartington, heading towards Biggin dale.
The meadows are really a joy to behold.

This fine example of a red poppy did not escape my notice (or lens).

Looking down Biggin dale.

At the end of the dale, the path joins with Wolfscote dale.

There's this big rock, which I HAD to climb........

That's me waving, no zoom on this one.

The others were not impressed, and walked off!

A thistle fronts this lovely sky.

A gorgeous bunch of marsh marigolds.

The path walks gently by the river, and this shot shows that there were few people about today.

At the end of Wolfscote, a look back reveals this lovely house set in the woods.

And that was it - as I said, only about 7 miles, and a little overcast, so not as many pictures today. A nice little walk all the same.

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