Tagged by "derbyshire"
-
Monsal Head viaduct
(route)
Starting at the hamlet of Litton Mill (note that you cannot park in the hamlet, but can further up the road leading into Litton Mill) cross the river Wye at the footbridge at the back of Riverside House (self-catering guest house). Climb the slope up through the trees onto the disused railway (Monsal Trail), turn left and almost immediately climb up alongside a handrail. You will join a track which you follow up and along until you join the disused railway track again through a gate and marked by an information point. Keep on this railway track and you will reach the spectacular Monsal Head viaduct with views of the River Wye and valley below. Just over the viaduct take the path on the left up to the Monsal Head pub at the top. On the return journey follow your tracks back to the gate and information point. At this point descend down the track to Cressbrook Mill, crossing the river at the footbridge at the bottom of the track. You can stop here at Drew's Brew stop for coffee and cakes or continue along the side of the river until you are back at Litton Mill. (Note the river is often flooded in winter and can be unpassable - there is an alternative route through Cressbrook on the lane, and you will then drop down back into Litton Mill via the footpath).
-
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.
-
White Edge to Grouse Inn and return via Froggatt Edge
(route)
This route sets off from he A 621 and crosses the moor to one of the highest of the Derbyshire Edges. The mid point is the Grouse Inn which can provide a pleasant lunch stop.
-
Legendry Ladybower and the Derwent Valley
(route)
Here's the second weekend route I tried on my new mountain bike after many years away from the scene and boy was it hard work! Definitely 'Advanced' both the climbs and descents are hard going, perhaps something for the people with downhill bikes!
Start and the visitors centre and head north along the track by the side of the reservoir, when you come to an inlet to the west the road veers left and you'll see the track going up the hill to the left (south). Some seriously steep and challenging up hill here leads to ridable tracks across the top. Eventually you come to a three way junction (4 including the track you've come along), one tract heads right to the west. another straight down the hill and another in to woods on the left. Take the left track up between the twin peaks of Bridge End Pasture then down the other side of the hill, veering right down the hill to the A57.
Alternative routes are to go 'STRAIGHT DOWN THE FREAKIN HILL' (srsly not recommended) at the 4 way junction, or to the right then rejoin the route when you get to the A57.
Then the easy bit, back up the A57 then south/east along the southern part of ladybower, across the dam and back up to the A57. Turn right and follow the track up the hill to the left just after the Lady Bower Inn Pub.
Again challenging stuff gives way to the ridable, the track doubles back on itself to the high point at Whinstone Lee.
It's then north along the eastern side of the Derwent valley with some lovely views but a distinctly rubbish 8 " pothole undulating track then back down the very steep hillside to the road. Watch out for the cobbles at the bottom of the hill, they don't take well to brakes so check your speed! Then it's back along the road to the visitors centre and a well earned cup of tea and pasty at the pie shop there. Boy will you deserve it.
Alternative starting points are: the car park near '1' (on the road to Bamford) with nearby Ladybower Inn ; and Bamford Railway Station to the south, following the track up to the west of the dam at 2 or the road to it's east.
-
Derwent Reservoir to Crowstones Edge Circular
(route)
Derwent Reservoir to Crowstones Edge Circular
Crash site NGR. SK174967 Consul TF-RPM 12th April 1951. Map required Outdoor Leisure 1 The Peak District (Dark Peak Area) Details of the aircraft wrecks obtained from "Dark Peak Aircraft Wrecks" Ron Collier.
The walk starts near to the head of Howden Reservoir, at the turning circle on the west side (NGR SK167939). Begin by going through the gate, which bars traffic from going further up the reservoir, and follow the stony but easy track to the bridge at the head of the lake, at the spot called Slippery Stones. Cross over the bridge onto the Yorkshire side and immediately turn left (north) This 17th century packhorse bridge once stood in Derwent village before it was flooded with the construction of the Ladybower Reservoir, it was reconstructed on this spot in 1959. The wide path now passes between a large sheepfold and a steep banking before taking the footbridge that crosses the beck, which flows from the confluence of Cranberry and Bull Clough's. Almost immediately the way ahead divides and you take the path that turns east and into the Clough, to follow the stream chuckling away on your right. This path is called the Cut Gate track and is part of an ancient Bridleway, which was used to carry salt and other goods from Cheshire to the market towns of South Yorkshire. The path turns briefly into Bull Clough before rising easily onto the moor top with views of the Margery hill ridge, and the Bull Stones standing prominently to the North. Follow the track which is heading straight for the top of the ridge, until you draw level with a prominent stone cairn which marks the junction of a minor path that crosses from right to left in front of you. Turn North on this narrow path which follows the contour across the moor to the Bull Stones, which are now slightly below and behind you. On a clear day the views from the Bull Stones are excellent, with views of the Derwent reservoir to the south and as far as Bleaklow to the Northwest, with the rocky tors of Crow Stones to the North.
Leave the Bull Stones and head in the direction of Crow Stones, and you will soon pick up a narrow path in the heather that takes more or less a level course across the moor, soon arriving at the head of a deep Clough that drops into the main Derwent valley on your left. This is Broadhead Clough and is easily identified because of a series of grouse butts which are scattered about it's head, it is at this point that you need to watch out for the debris from the crash site. While you are still in the area of the grouse butts progress along the narrow path in the direction of Crow Stones, and keep looking slightly uphill to your right (East) As you drop into a stream, which crosses the path, the crash site can be seen up stream in the bed of the shallow gully, which forms the streambed. The aircraft (Airspeed Consul TF-RPM) was on a delivery flight from Croydon to Iceland when it crashed into the hill on the morning of 12th April 1951 killing the three man crew on board at the time. The pilot was Pall Magnusson aged 26 from Sentiarnarnesi, Iceland and he was accompanied On this fateful flight by a wireless operator, Alexander Watson aged 42, an Englishman from Leytonstone, London, and a passenger Johann Rist aged 35 another Icelander. According to Ron Collier, the pilot had apparently opted to fly the aircraft using only visual means instead of using instruments, as he approached the Pennines in bad visibility he lost sight of the ground and ran into the hill under full power. As can be seen from the photos quite a lot of the debris is still on the ground including one of the Cheetah engines which has been stripped almost bare of it's cylinders. There is an area with a number of wooden crosses stuck into the ground and a small glass jar, which used to contain a poem. If you are like me, you will probably be leaving the site in a pensive mood, and you need to continue along the same path in the direction of Crow Stones Edge, which is reached in about ten minutes walk from the site. The route that you take from here back to the turning circle will depend on your ability to navigate on open moorland, if you feel confident to find your way without the benefit of a path, stay with me, otherwise return to the lake the way you came. The rocks of Crow Stones edge mark the southern end of a gritstone outcrop with the weirdly shaped rocks of Crow Stones poised on its northern edge, and the tors of Rocking Stones situated below them. From the tors find a faint path heading north in the direction of Stainery Clough Head and follow this until you have passed the rocky ground on your left, and can easily turn onto a south westerly direction on pathless terrain. Keep on the level ground above, and parallel to the Clough, and you will come, with out any difficulty to a narrow path leading steeply down to the confluence of the river Derwent and Stainery Clough, from here you take the wide, easy riverside path southwards back to the turning circle and the end of the walk.
Mick Melvin
-
Walks to Aircraft Wrecks
(interest group)
Walks to the Dark Peak Aircraft Wrecks
I would like to include walks to Aircraft wrecks anywhere in Britain, please feel free to join my group.
Mick Melvin
-
wirksworth skyline
(route)
A walk round the skyline of the small Derbyshire market town of Wirksworth.the route includes footpaths, minor roads and the High Peak trail
