22nd March 2015 - Alport Castles
Walk Details
Distance walked: 9.3 miles
Total ascent: 2019 ft
OS map used: OL1 - The Peak District, Dark Peak area
Time taken: 5.5 hrs
Route description: Fairholmes-Ladybower Reservoir-Hagg Side plantation-Rowlee Pasture-Birchin Hat-Alport Castles-The Tower-Alport Farm-Alport Bridge-Upper Ashop-Rowlee Bridge-Rowlee Farm-Woodcock Coppice-Lockerbrook Farm-Lockerbrook Coppice-Fairholmes
A beautiful spring day for this walk in the Peak District to visit the spectacular landslip at Alport Castles. Though when I arrived at Fairholmes it was quite cloudy and grey and I began to wonder if the forecast would turn out right. It was clear and sunny when I left home and those sunny skies arrived soon after I set off and lasted for the rest of the day. As the wind dropped during the afternoon it felt quite warm in the sun.
From the Fairholmes car park I made my way up to the road for a brief walk south until I reached the first roadside car park where I took the path that goes through the conifers above the Ladybower Reservoir to the next car park. I then crossed the road and made my way up the bridleway through the Hagg Side plantation. At the top I turned right and followed the top of the ridge to the path crossroads at Woodcock Coppice, and then up onto the moorland of Rowlee Pasture. After a stroll across the moor I reached the highlight of the day, Alport Castles. The moorland at Birchen Hat just past here was my lunch stop. I then made my way back to Alport Castles before heading down to follow a faint path between Little Moor and The Tower, and the footpath to Alport Farm. Alport Farm's access road took me down Alport Dale to a footpath to the A57 at Alport Bridge. After crossing the A57 I followed the bridleway towards Upper Ashop and along the hillside before heading down to Rowlee Bridge and back across the A57 and up to Rowlee Farm. The bridleway continued uphill below Bellhag Tor to the path crossroads at Woodcock Coppice. Here I turned left onto the bridleway past Lockerbrook Farm, a footpath down through Lockerbrook Coppice brought me back to Fairholmes.
Total ascent: 2019 ft
OS map used: OL1 - The Peak District, Dark Peak area
Time taken: 5.5 hrs
Route description: Fairholmes-Ladybower Reservoir-Hagg Side plantation-Rowlee Pasture-Birchin Hat-Alport Castles-The Tower-Alport Farm-Alport Bridge-Upper Ashop-Rowlee Bridge-Rowlee Farm-Woodcock Coppice-Lockerbrook Farm-Lockerbrook Coppice-Fairholmes
A beautiful spring day for this walk in the Peak District to visit the spectacular landslip at Alport Castles. Though when I arrived at Fairholmes it was quite cloudy and grey and I began to wonder if the forecast would turn out right. It was clear and sunny when I left home and those sunny skies arrived soon after I set off and lasted for the rest of the day. As the wind dropped during the afternoon it felt quite warm in the sun.
From the Fairholmes car park I made my way up to the road for a brief walk south until I reached the first roadside car park where I took the path that goes through the conifers above the Ladybower Reservoir to the next car park. I then crossed the road and made my way up the bridleway through the Hagg Side plantation. At the top I turned right and followed the top of the ridge to the path crossroads at Woodcock Coppice, and then up onto the moorland of Rowlee Pasture. After a stroll across the moor I reached the highlight of the day, Alport Castles. The moorland at Birchen Hat just past here was my lunch stop. I then made my way back to Alport Castles before heading down to follow a faint path between Little Moor and The Tower, and the footpath to Alport Farm. Alport Farm's access road took me down Alport Dale to a footpath to the A57 at Alport Bridge. After crossing the A57 I followed the bridleway towards Upper Ashop and along the hillside before heading down to Rowlee Bridge and back across the A57 and up to Rowlee Farm. The bridleway continued uphill below Bellhag Tor to the path crossroads at Woodcock Coppice. Here I turned left onto the bridleway past Lockerbrook Farm, a footpath down through Lockerbrook Coppice brought me back to Fairholmes.
Route map
It's brightening up nicely as I follow the path by the Ladybower Reservoir..
Up the bridleway through the Hagg Side plantation
At the top the view opens out across to Lose Hill and the Great Ridge
A bit further on there's a great view of the Woodlands Valley with the northern slopes of Kinder Scout on the left
Up onto the moorland of Rowlee Pasture
Good striding out country and the ground was firm underfoot as well
To my right are the Howden Moors. A little bit of Howden Reservoir and its dam can be seen.
and to my left is Alport Dale. I'm getting close to Alport Castles.
I decided to have my lunch here, at Birchen Hat just past Alport Castles. It's a long walk but if you followed this ridge into the distance you'd reach Bleaklow.
Below is the landslip of The Tower at Alport Castles
and looking up the narrowing Alport Dale
Spectacular views of The Tower as I backtrack along Alport Castles..
Derwent Edge in the distance before I head down..
..for a closer look at The Tower
Heading down to Alport Farm
Alport Dale
and crossing the River Alport
On the track from Alport Farm down to Alport Bridge
One last look up Alport Dale..
..before I leave the track and head down to cross the A57 at Alport Bridge
Looking down the Woodlands Valley from the bridleway below Upper Ashop
Just ahead the bridleway divides and I'll take the left-hand one down to Rowlee Bridge
Crossing the River Ashop at Rowlee Bridge
I've crossed the A57 again and I'm on the bridleway below Bellhag Tor
Turning round and there's a great view up the Woodlands Valley
Derwent Edge and a bit of the Ladybower Reservoir from next to Lockerbrook Farm
Walking down through Lockerbrook Coppice back to Fairholmes