Peak district Walk

Members present:  Virginia Castick, Laura Collier, Sabina Cosulich, Trish Cranston, Roger Dyke, Ding Koy, Kate Harvey, Sheena Hendrie, Iain McCallum, Lorna Marsland, Al Metelko,  Alan Peck, Dave Shotton, Andy and Jo Stratford, Dave Wylie (16)

Guests: David Swindlehurst, Francis Wooff (2)

 

Driving over from Manchester the grey clouds suddenly gave way to blue skies and sunshine at Rushup Edge.  So the meet was blessed with wall to wall sunshine all day. From our meeting point close to Bamford Station we stode off up Saltergate Lane, the old saltway from Cheshire to Sheffield via Stanedge Pole, heading for Stanage Edge.  On reaching the edge of the wood at Dennis Knoll we re-grouped and stopped for our elevenses.  Andy who was keen to climb carried on to Stanage.  After our break we made our way up the Long Causeway to the Edge.  Along the way the party split – the climbers: Andy, Dave S. Dave W. Laura, Roger and Francis Wooff, staying behind to climb on Broken Buttress (VD), the rest of us carried on along the Edge to the Trig Point.  Here we dropped down from the Edge and followed the path towards Higger Torr (434m).  On reaching the road we came across a car stuck in the ditch.  With our help and the use of car mats we managed to push the car back onto the road much to the relief of the driver. On reaching the top of the Tor we stopped and sheltered behind some rocks for lunch.                                                                                                   

Our next objective was Carl Wark, the Iron Age Fort.  (Nowadays some experts believe the fort is really post-Roman.)  From there we headed for Burbage brook.  Once across the brook we re-grouped and then made our way down the valley and across the road into Longshawe Estate and so to the Lodge.  What a busy place!  The NT Café was heaving with people.  After a short pit stop we walked through the Estate to Padley Gorge. Following the path down the right hand side of the Gorge eventually brought us to the T Junction of paths at its foot.  Here Lorna and Dave S. left us to make their own way back to Bamford by train from Grindleford.  While we were re-grouping we were passed by very large party of walkers from Rotherham.  Gradually we overtook them as we headed for the River Derwent and Leadmill Bridge.  On our way we passed the remains of the quarry workings at Bole Hill (Stone from this quarry was used to construct the dams and reservoirs in the Derwent Valley.)  We also passed Padley Chapel and the ruins of the Hall.  (In July 1587, two catholic priests were seized here.  They were taken to Derby where they tried and executed. The anniversary of this sad event is remembered in July by a service in the Chapel).                                                                    

Approaching Leadmill Bridge we halted for a drink and a chat on a convenient pile of masonry.  Once across the Bridge we followed the path along the river bank to Shatton. The path was surprisingly dry.  Close to the stepping stones across the river we caught up with Al and Trish who were ahead of us.  Most of the stones were under water.  So it would be a brave person who attempted to cross the river at this point.  Back at the cars there was no sign of the climbing party but it turned out that they were only 20 minutes or so behind us.  They had stopped at the Grindleford cafe for refreshments.

Virginia advised me that the walk was in fact 14.1 miles not 12 miles in length!

Thank you all for your support.

 

Iain McCallum