19th February 2017 - A Four Edges Walk
Walk Details
Distance walked: 9.7 miles
Total ascent: 1600 ft
OS map used: OL24 - The Peak District, White Peak area
Time taken: 5.5 hrs
Route description: Baslow-Eaton Hill-Bar Road-Wellington's Monument-Baslow Edge-Curbar Edge-Froggatt Edge-A625-Hay Wood-Grouse Inn-White Edge-Clodhall Lane-Wellington's Monument-Bar Road-Eaton Hill-Baslow
I didn't make the best decision regarding which day to head out this weekend. With hindsight it should have been yesterday, it turned out to be better than forecast. Never mind, I was just glad to get out on a walk somewhere after not doing so last weekend. I'd already decided that I was going to go to this eastern part of the Peak District for a walk along the southern gritstone edges above the Derwent Valley, with the wind in the west I was hoping that they would see the best of the weather that was on offer and I always enjoy a walk along a gritstone edge. When I set off from home I did begin to wonder what sort of day I was going to have. A heavy drizzle was falling and the cloud was sitting really low on the hills. It was only on the final approach through Stoney Middleton and Calver that things started to look up, the drizzle stopped and the cloud was clear of the moors. My walk was done under mostly grey skies with spits of drizzle in the strong wind every now and then. It was mild though and the brief glimpses of the sun I had from Curbar Edge made my day.
From the car park in Baslow I crossed the A619 and walked up the road of Eaton Hill and then right up Bar Road. This becomes a bridleway and this was then followed uphill to Wellington's Monument. After a visit to the Eagle Stone I got onto the path on Baslow Edge and followed this north to Curbar Gap. Across the road I kept heading north along Curbar and Froggatt Edges to reach the A625. The path on the other side of the road took me down to and across a brook and up into Hay Wood and the National Trust Longshaw Estate. A walk past the car park was followed by a right turn to take the path up to the Grouse Inn on the A625. Over the road and the bridleway east to White Edge Moor was taken. This reaches a path junction by a wall and here I turned right and made my way south along White Edge past the trig point and down to Clodhall Lane. Across the lane I took the bridleway to Wellington's Monument which brought me back to Bar Road for a return to Baslow.
Total ascent: 1600 ft
OS map used: OL24 - The Peak District, White Peak area
Time taken: 5.5 hrs
Route description: Baslow-Eaton Hill-Bar Road-Wellington's Monument-Baslow Edge-Curbar Edge-Froggatt Edge-A625-Hay Wood-Grouse Inn-White Edge-Clodhall Lane-Wellington's Monument-Bar Road-Eaton Hill-Baslow
I didn't make the best decision regarding which day to head out this weekend. With hindsight it should have been yesterday, it turned out to be better than forecast. Never mind, I was just glad to get out on a walk somewhere after not doing so last weekend. I'd already decided that I was going to go to this eastern part of the Peak District for a walk along the southern gritstone edges above the Derwent Valley, with the wind in the west I was hoping that they would see the best of the weather that was on offer and I always enjoy a walk along a gritstone edge. When I set off from home I did begin to wonder what sort of day I was going to have. A heavy drizzle was falling and the cloud was sitting really low on the hills. It was only on the final approach through Stoney Middleton and Calver that things started to look up, the drizzle stopped and the cloud was clear of the moors. My walk was done under mostly grey skies with spits of drizzle in the strong wind every now and then. It was mild though and the brief glimpses of the sun I had from Curbar Edge made my day.
From the car park in Baslow I crossed the A619 and walked up the road of Eaton Hill and then right up Bar Road. This becomes a bridleway and this was then followed uphill to Wellington's Monument. After a visit to the Eagle Stone I got onto the path on Baslow Edge and followed this north to Curbar Gap. Across the road I kept heading north along Curbar and Froggatt Edges to reach the A625. The path on the other side of the road took me down to and across a brook and up into Hay Wood and the National Trust Longshaw Estate. A walk past the car park was followed by a right turn to take the path up to the Grouse Inn on the A625. Over the road and the bridleway east to White Edge Moor was taken. This reaches a path junction by a wall and here I turned right and made my way south along White Edge past the trig point and down to Clodhall Lane. Across the lane I took the bridleway to Wellington's Monument which brought me back to Bar Road for a return to Baslow.
Route map
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Heading up the track of Bar Road bound for Baslow Edge
Looking across the valley of Bar Brook to Gardom's Edge
and down the Derwent Valley
At Wellington's Monument
and at the Eagle Stone
Looking down the Derwent Valley to Chatsworth House from the southern end of Baslow Edge
The villages of Calver and Curbar below
White Edge to the north. I'll be on it later in the day.
Curbar Edge appears as I near the northern end of Baslow Edge
A jumble of gritstone boulders
Looking west from the viewpoint at the northern end of Baslow Edge to Curbar, Calver and Middleton Dale
About to cross Curbar Gap to Curbar Edge
A welcome bit of sunshine lights up the Derwent Valley
Curbar Edge stretches away to the north
A climber reaches the top of a gritstone column
Baslow Edge and the Derwent Valley from Curbar Edge
White Edge to the northeast
It looks quite atmospheric with the shafts of sunshine and the mistiness
Approaching the northern end of Curbar Edge with Froggatt Edge to come
A gap in the edge
Longstone Moor rises on the other side of the Derwent Valley
A last chance to look south down the valley
Climbers on Froggatt Edge
The village of Grindleford in the valley below. The moors higher up the Derwent Valley are shrouded in cloud.
Walking through the woodland on the top of Froggatt Edge
Approaching the Grouse Inn on the A625
White Edge from the path up to it
My lunch stop with a view of a wall running across the moor
Looking back as I head south along White Edge for a view up the Derwent Valley to cloud topped Bamford and Stanage Edges
White Edge stretches away to the south
Looking across Stoke Flat to a hidden Curbar Edge
There's a stark beauty to the moor in this flat light
At the trig point on White Edge
Looking east across Big Moor..
and south down the Derwent Valley past a hidden Baslow Edge
Making my way south off White Edge
and onto the bridleway to Wellington's Monument
With horns like that it's a good job that Highland cattle aren't that bothered by lots of people being around
Back at Wellington's Monument and there's a clearer view of Chatsworth House than there was this morning
The roofs of Baslow beckon