Ladybower, Win Hill and Hope Cross
According to MWIS the forecast was dry but cold, with a few snow flurries. In the end, this proved inaccurate and we decided to adjust our walk to suit the conditions. We parked at Heatherdene and, having admired the "plughole" by Ladybower dam, we climbed up Parkin Clough to Win Hill.
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| The "plughole", or spillway, at the east end of Ladybower dam |
This was a walk that (surprisingly) we hadn't done together in 2022 although David did when he did the Edale Skyline walk. As ever, the views from the top were excellent.
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| Derwent Edges from near the top of Win Hill |
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| Lose Hill, The Great Ridge and Kinder from the top of Win Hill |
We walked on to Wooler Knoll, where there was a gaggle of sheep feeding on a stook of hay. Having checked us out, they decided that eating was more important than retreating so they stood their ground (or high spot).
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| Eat or retreat? |
We walked on to Hope Cross and the snow began to start slowly and we thought that we would go down through the woods and assess things again. As the snow had started in earnest by the time we needed to decide whether to return via Hag Farm and Crook Hill or beside Ladybower, we took the sensible option to take the lower route.
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| Time to assess our route back! |
Even though, in normal weather, the walk beside the reservoir would have been less exciting, it was still a great walk and Crook Hill could wait for a nice, bright summer's day! As we passed the West "plughole" by the dam, the snow was beginning to settle- clearly it was pretty chilly.
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| The West spillway with a dusting of snow |
We had lunch in the car and then went back home before too late.
