Tagged by "Bleaklow"
-
Doctors Gate, Shelf Stones and Bleaklow Head
(route)
Starting at Old Glossop Bus Terminus walk Doctors Gate gate up to the Pennine Way. Turn left towards Bleaklow Head; around a third of a mile up the Pennine Way turn left over open moorland and head towards Shelf Stones; you should be able to follow the track as it continues up hill.
The trig point at the top of Shelf Stones should come into view as you get to the top of the hill; and the wreckage around 100 feet to the North East of the trig point.
From the wreckage walk towards Hearn Stones and then continue to Wain Stones; this part of the walk can be quite muddy since your'll be walking over open peaty moorland.
Bleaklow Head isn't far from Wain Stones and is topped by a huge pile of stones.
From Bleaklow Head walk down the Pennine Way to Wild Boar Clough. Once you've crossed Wild Boar and climbed up the other side, take the path that heads past Torside Castle and then head towards Glossop Low and C**k Hill (Sorry about the name but check the map). The path from Wild Boar to C**k Hill is over open moorland, so again expect some mud and slush. From the trig point on C**k Hill follow the old quarry road back down into Old Glossop.
-
Doctors Gate, Snake Path & Bleaklow Head
(route)
Starting at the bus terminus at Old Glossop, walk up Doctors Gate, cross the Pennine Way, and head down to the A57. The down side of this walk is you've got to walk along the A57 for 1 or 2 miles, but all in all it's not to bad.
When you reach the wooded area on the right hand side, keep an eye for the paths that will eventually take you to the bottam of the Snake Path. Follow the Snake Path towards Mill Hill. You'll have a good view of Kinder Scout on left hand side as you follow the path up. From Mill Hill, you'll follow the Pennine Way to Wild Boar Grain, over Bleaklow Head. At Wild Boar take a left and follow the path past Torside Castle and onto C*ck Hill. From C*ck Hill drop down into Old Glossop down the old quarry road.
-
Glossop to Edale via Bleaklow Head & Kinder Scout
(route)
Glossop railway station to Old Glossop through Manor Park. On the other side of Manor Park your'll find the Queens Pub, from there follow the road past the factory to Old Glossop Bus Terminal and take a left. At the top of the hill (little insignificant one) turn left past some more houses and then about 100mtrs turn right, and follow the road up hill; they'll be some houses on the right. At the top you'll see a sty; now your on the path that will take you up to C*ck Hill (Sorry about the name but check the map). The path is the old Quarry Road and it's got dry stone walls either side of it; it's a steady climb, but nothing too taxing. Eventually, you'll see the old quarry in front of you which you've got to climb up to get to the trig point at the top of C*ck Hill. From the trig point you walk North West to a dry stone building about half a mile away; the path is easily defined and you should be able to see the building; providing the mist isn't down. From the building you'll walk in an eastily direction; along a very muddy but well defined route that takes you across open moorland past Torside Castle and over to Wild Boar Grain where you'll pick up the Pennine Way. From there you'll follow the Pennine Way all the way to Edale via Bleaklow Head and Kinder Scout. If you want something different, from Bleaklow Head walk towards Higher Shelf Stones, via Wain Stones and Hearn Stones where there's the weckage of an American B29 that crashed in 1948. From Higher Shelf Stones you'll need to get back onto the Pennine Way but there's various paths you can follow.
This a wonderful walk over what can be some pretty tough terrain so make sure your well prepared; but on a good day the views are something special; epecially when on the ridge on Kinder Scout.
-
bleaklow - Woodhead Circle
(route)
A easy stroll at the beginning and end along the Longendale trail. This route has everything, a steep climb to reach the top of Clough Edge, then follows a well defined path across Sykes Moor to Bleaklow Head, and the Wain Stones.
Turning East, you will need to make sure your gaitors are a snug fit, no path across to Bleaklow Stones, across the peat moor, you will have to use the way posts.
Take a break here to enjoy the veiws, even the way post are hard to follow on the next section, but you can take your bearings using White Stones, and aim for the head of Far Black Clough,once you leave the peat and come on to the heather moor, the going gets a lot easier.
A good path leads back to the head of the Longendale Trail, to finish with a pleasant stroll along the edge of Woodhead Resevoir, back to the visitors centre and a well deserved brew, and if the van is still there some snorkers on toast.
There are a couple of tricky points on this route and you really shoud be good with your map.
If you fancy this and would like more images of the walk, together with more details, please email me at ann.westwood@btopenworld.com.
-
Torside visitors Centre Bleaklow Circular
(route)
Torside visitors Centre NGR SK068983 Bleaklow Circular
Crash site NGR SK106987 Wellington R1011 30th January 1943. Map required Outdoor Leisure 1 The Peak District (Dark Peak Area) Details of the aircraft wrecks obtained from "Dark Peak Aircraft Wrecks" Ron Collier.
Park your car at the Visitors Centre and go through the gates and up the hill to the disused Railway track which is now the Longdendale Trail, turn east onto the trail. After walking about 100 Yards you will come to a finger post indicating right (south) Wildboar Clough, ascend the wide stile, which leads to a track passing between some immature trees and then over a step stile on the left and into the woods. Now follow the track which runs parallel to the stream through this ancient Oak and Birch woodland, and climb the steep hillside crossing a stone wall and eventually emerging above the wood on the open Fell, with a wire fence crossing your path over which passes another wooden step stile. The way on now levels out, and after about half a mile it is possible to cross the Clough on your left and head North on a good path which take you back in the direction you have just come, but this time on the opposite side of the Clough. For the next two-mile you remain faithful to the edge of the gritstone escarpment, and follow the faint path running above the Grags, passing Lawrence Edge, Deer Knowl, and eventually to the dry waterfall of Dowstone Rocks. Five minutes after leaving the Grags at Dowstone Rocks you will come to a wire fence climbing up the hill and guarding the deep Gill of Stable Clough, follow the fence uphill to the right (south) and you enter an area of Grouse butts, and below you in the Gill you can see a sandy track (this is a private track for the Grouse shooters) Keep on the narrow path which follows the fence and winds through the Grouse Butts until you are safely able to cross the stream on some water worn slabs, and gain the opposite bank next to Butt number 6. Walk downstream in a Northerly direction to the next Grouse Butt number 5, and now you will need your compass for the next leg.
Leave Grouse Butt number 5 walking on a bearing of 90 degrees (east) and almost immediately you will see in front of you a pole with a white painted top standing on the moor, you will reach this pole in about 4 minutes, keep walking on the same bearing and in a further 2 minutes, you will come across a cairn with some aircraft debris piled around it's base. This is not the crash site, you need to walk on the same bearing for a further 3 Minutes to arrive at the site which is marked by a tiled plaque attached to a wooden post commemorating the Airmen who lost their lives here. Wellington R1011 was on a night flying exercise from Wymeswold Leicestershire when it crashed into the ground here on the night of January 30th 1943. In worsening weather the crew were confident that they were on the approach to the airfield and were losing height as they began to cross the high ground of Birchen Bank Moss. As they dropped gently through the clouds they slammed into the moor, at around 1.45 am. Three men in the front of the bomber were killed instantly (Flying Officer Lane, Sergeant Rouse, and Pilot Officer Brown) the Navigator, Pilot Officer Grisdale, and a Sergeant Miller survived but were suffering from serious injuries. There is not a lot of debris present at the crash site now, but a tile with a graphic of a Wellington bomber on has been fixed to a small wooden cross by relatives of the crew I believe. Leave the area of the crash and remain faithful to the 90 degree bearing, crossing a number of shallow cloughs in about 8 minutes you find yourself dropping into a much deeper clough, with a well worn path running from right to left, and following the west bank of the clough in a North South direction. Now take this path in the downstream direction soon passing through a wood, and then turning sharply right (east) and begin to drop steeply down to meet the stream. Turn left downstream and in about 4 minutes you join the river Etherow which you follow downstream for a further 5 minutes to arrive at the eastern end of the Longdendale Trail, you now have an easy 3 mile walk back to the visitors Centre.
Mick Melvin
-
Around Holme Moss, Crowden and the Pennine Way "epic" (21miles)
(route)
Start at the car park beside Holme Moss mast. Cross the road and run to the second car park before crossing onto open land. Down across Heyden Brook and up to Tooleyshaw Moss. Turn south and descend to Crowden. At Crowden take farm track past the campsite until you reach the main road. Cross over following the path through the woods and across the dam to the bottom of Torside. Follow Pennine Way up! Don't forget to cross the stream (left turn) just below Torside Castle. At the summit reverse the route, returning to Crowden. This time, before reaching the campsite & farm, follow markers for Pennine Way. This leads up to Laddow Rocks and eventually summit of Black Hill. Pass over and continue northwards until reaching Isle O' Skye road (Holmfirth - Saddleworth road). Surprise - reverse once again! Make your way back up to Black Hill. At the top there are two options: (1) run towards the mast and find the top of Hetden Head before following trail back to the road and car park. (2) from Black Hill cross the open land for 100metres or so in the direction of Tooleyshaw before crossing at one of the styles. Follow the route along Tooleyshaw for about 1 mile before turning NE (left!) and finding the descent back down to Heyden Brook and a final climb up to the road. All done.
