David and Jacinta's Walks- 2023

 Derwent Edge, Back Tor and Strines We last did this walk nearly a year ago- 20th December 2022. It was another cold, icy but sunny day and the lure of Derwent in such conditions was very attractive. The walk did not disappoint- up from Cutthroat Bridge to Derwent Edge was familiar, but fantastic in the conditions. The start of Derwent Edge. Lead Hill and Win Hill (in mist) in background We easily made our way along the edge to have a break and a snack at The Wheel Stones. Jacinta approaching The Wheel Stones The clouds above us eventually burned off- the winter light was wonderful. We made a token stop at Back Tor and returned to Foulstone Road (a track serving the many grouse butts) and walked down to the short section of Mortimer Road leading up to Strines. It was easier going in this section as there was less ice about and the views were superb all around. Frosted fungi beside Foulstone Road We nipped up to The Strines Inn for a quick drink and lunch- joined by a curious, magni...

Low Bradfield and Derwent Edge (David with Paul B) David met with Paul B for their occasional walk, starting in Low Bradfield- the picturesque village that Jacinta and he had walked from on August 8th . It was a great variant of a mainly familiar walk, which normally starts from Mortimer House. From Low Bradfield the Sheffield Country Walk is followed up to the church in High Bradfield and from there, up to Agden Side Road and Mortimer House. At this point, we were on ground familiar to David, following Dukes Road and the track across Cartledge Flat up to Back Tor. From here, we were able to see the Great Ridge and its own Back Tor. The Great Ridge under the clouds Lose Hill, Back Tor and Mam Tor on the Great Ridge On the way down Foulstone Road from Back Tor we saw a number of hunters with their dogs, either walking or in the butts. By the time we reached Strines Bridge on Mortimer Road, we could hear a few shots as well. On reaching Strines Reservoir dam, we took the path on the nor...

Edale, Hope Cross, Lose Hill and Hollins Cross A misty moisty day so we were off to somewhere where we could get a nice cup of coffee and do a relatively straightforward walk. Where else but Edale and the Penny Pot? After our cuppa, we walked through Ollerbrook Booth and up to the Youth Hostel and Jaggers Clough. We stopped for a quick break at Hope Cross and admired quite a few sheep. Sheep, near and far Then it was on, down to Townhead Bridge just outside Hope and up to Townhead itself. There, we met several very happy pigs (on the basis that they were in lots of muck). Happy pigs We reached the top of Lose Hill and the mist lifted, albeit briefly, when we had our lunch in the lee of the summit. We were lucky enough to see a rainbow. Rainbow at lunchtime at Lose Hill From Lose Hill, it was down to Back Tor, Barker Bank and Hollins Cross. Looking back from the descent from Hollins Cross, we had another lucky break in the clouds and a view along the Great Ridge. Eastern Great Ridge fro...

Lost Lad, Back Tor and Derwent Edge Another walk from Day Walks in the Peak District- 20 Classic Circular Walks. We parked up at Fairholmes and up to the side of the Derwent reservoir dam, then on for almost the entire length of the reservoir. The Derwent dam From there, it was a steady plod above the valley of the Abbey Brook. We'd not been there before and it had a very different feel to most of the Peak District that we're familiar with. As with other walks this year, the heather was fantastic. Heather above Abbey Brook After a couple of miles, the route turned south up Sheepfold Clough towards Lost Lad. On the way up to Lost Lad from Sheepfold Clough From Lost Lad, we joined the flagged path up towards Back Tor. From this point, there were no great navigational challenges! Back Tor from Lost Lad We had lunch at Back Tor and from there, it was a straightforward walk south along Derwent Edge with views of much of the Dark Peak to our right. The Kinder Plateau from Derwent Edg...

Edale, Hollins Cross, Lose Hill and Hope Cross Monday's forecast was brilliant so we went off to Edale to make the most of the weather. After walking up to Hollins Cross, we followed The Great Ridge to Back Tor and Lose Hill in the company of many other walkers. On the way to Hollins Cross, with Back Tor and Lose Hill Grindslow Knoll and Kinder in dappled sunlight A great perch on Back Tor However, after Lose Hill the crowds fell away and we completed the rest of our walk with very little company. We dropped down to Hope and then up to Wooler Knoll as normal, admiring the clear and dramatic vistas to the left. Lose Hill and Kinder from Wooler Knoll At Wooler Knoll, the sheep had mad...

  Mortimer House, Dukes Road, Back Tor and Dale Dike Reservoir Off we went to Mortimer House to walk in the Eastern Fells. The last time we went there was July 1st 2022, so it was good to see the countryside at a very different time of year. The most marked difference was the lack of people- we walked the whole of the first section (about seven miles) without seeing a soul. There are signs that the earth is warming up and that spring is on the way, but there is a fair way to go yet. Back Tor and Lost Lad on the horizon, from Dukes Road There were red kites and the sad remains of several hares, noisy pheasants and the welcome sight of a curlew, perhaps choosing a nesting site. Hare today, gone tomorrow... Invasive species with colour contrast Cakes of Bread, Dove Stone and Win Hill (on far horizon) Descending Foulstone Road towards the Brogging Moss Plantation The walk down to Strines Reservoir and across the dam is an interesting new rout and we picked our way through the rather mu...

  Edale and The Great Ridge with Ann, Julian and Nellie To Edale to meet up with Ann and Julian (and Nellie the dog). We couldn't start walking without a bracing coffee at The Penny Pot café . It was sunny and slightly cold, but the views were amazing. We walked up to Hollins Cross and then along the Great Ridge to Back Tor. Conflab on the way to Lose Hill. Nellie: "C'mon folks, let's go!" From then to Lose Hill, where we dropped down out of the wind to have a quick lunch. Lunch on Lose Hill We then decided to return to Back Tor via a lower path slightly to the south of the ridge and then down to Edale past Backtor Farm- a way that we've not gone before but was very pleasant and undulating. Looking back to Back Tor After crossing the road and going under the railway line, we were soon on more familiar ground at Ollerbrook Farm. From there, it was on to the village, past all the sheep (fewer lame ones than last time) and Julian provided some really interesting ...