8th May 2016 - Longstone Moor & Wardlow Hay Cop
Walk Details
Distance walked: 13.3 miles
Total ascent: 2210 ft
OS map used: OL24 - The Peak District, White Peak area
Time taken: 7 hrs
Route description: Monsal Head-Little Longstone-Dale Farm-Longstone Moor-Castlegate Stud Farm-Housley House-Foolow-Silly Dale-Stanley House-Wardlow Mires-Mires Lane-Litton-Tansley Dale-Cressbrook Dale-Wardlow Hay Cop-Cressbrook Dale-Cressbrook-Monsal Trail-Monsal Head
Talk about topsy-turvy weather. After snow at the end of last week and a chilly weekend, this weekend it's the turn of summer to arrive early. It was a beautiful day for hill-walking, pleasantly warm with a cooling breeze. I decided to do a walk in the Peak District today that was a variation of one that I did a couple of years ago. There's a bit of contrast between Dark and White Peak with the gritstone of Longstone Moor and the limestone of Cressbrook Dale. I certainly added a few miles to the original route with my wanderings around Tansley Dale, the top of Cressbrook Dale and with the visit to the top of Wardlow Hay Cop. That hill had to be included this time, it's one that I've looked at whenever I've been in the area and thought "I bet there's a good view from it".
After parking in the car park behind the Monsal Head Hotel I crossed the B6465 and walked by the road to Little Longstone. A footpath on the left on the other side of the village took me across a few fields to Dale Farm and onto the byway that heads up onto the side of Longstone Moor. This was left for a path along the western side of the moor and then at a crossroads of paths I turned right to make my way to the top. I kept on this path east across the moor before taking one that heads north across many fields and a few lanes to Housley on the A623. After crossing the A623 I followed the road to the village of Foolow. Lunch was taken here on a conveniently placed bench by the village green. I then walked along the road west out of Foolow until I reached a byway that I followed south by Silly Dale to Stanley House and the footpath to Wardlow Mires and the A623. I ignored the path on the other side of the road that heads into Cressbrook Dale, instead I took the one that heads for Mires Lane, which I walked along to Litton. A path on the left before I reached the centre of the village was taken down to Tansley Dale, (a side valley of Cressbrook Dale) and instead of following it down the valley floor I took a concessionary path that hugs the edge of access land round into the western side of Cressbrook Dale to reach the head of the valley. Now I walked down Cressbrook Dale. When I passed the exit of Tansley Dale I made my way up the path to the edge of the valley. My there and back visit to Wardlow Hay Cop was done from here using a path that keeps to access land. Having retraced my steps the path was followed down into the woods of Cressbrook Dale to reach Ravensdale Cottages. I then walked the road down to Cressbrook. A concessionary path by Cressbrook Mill was followed to the weir over the River Wye and up to the Monsal Trail. A gentle stroll along the Monsal Trail took me back to Monsal Head.
Total ascent: 2210 ft
OS map used: OL24 - The Peak District, White Peak area
Time taken: 7 hrs
Route description: Monsal Head-Little Longstone-Dale Farm-Longstone Moor-Castlegate Stud Farm-Housley House-Foolow-Silly Dale-Stanley House-Wardlow Mires-Mires Lane-Litton-Tansley Dale-Cressbrook Dale-Wardlow Hay Cop-Cressbrook Dale-Cressbrook-Monsal Trail-Monsal Head
Talk about topsy-turvy weather. After snow at the end of last week and a chilly weekend, this weekend it's the turn of summer to arrive early. It was a beautiful day for hill-walking, pleasantly warm with a cooling breeze. I decided to do a walk in the Peak District today that was a variation of one that I did a couple of years ago. There's a bit of contrast between Dark and White Peak with the gritstone of Longstone Moor and the limestone of Cressbrook Dale. I certainly added a few miles to the original route with my wanderings around Tansley Dale, the top of Cressbrook Dale and with the visit to the top of Wardlow Hay Cop. That hill had to be included this time, it's one that I've looked at whenever I've been in the area and thought "I bet there's a good view from it".
After parking in the car park behind the Monsal Head Hotel I crossed the B6465 and walked by the road to Little Longstone. A footpath on the left on the other side of the village took me across a few fields to Dale Farm and onto the byway that heads up onto the side of Longstone Moor. This was left for a path along the western side of the moor and then at a crossroads of paths I turned right to make my way to the top. I kept on this path east across the moor before taking one that heads north across many fields and a few lanes to Housley on the A623. After crossing the A623 I followed the road to the village of Foolow. Lunch was taken here on a conveniently placed bench by the village green. I then walked along the road west out of Foolow until I reached a byway that I followed south by Silly Dale to Stanley House and the footpath to Wardlow Mires and the A623. I ignored the path on the other side of the road that heads into Cressbrook Dale, instead I took the one that heads for Mires Lane, which I walked along to Litton. A path on the left before I reached the centre of the village was taken down to Tansley Dale, (a side valley of Cressbrook Dale) and instead of following it down the valley floor I took a concessionary path that hugs the edge of access land round into the western side of Cressbrook Dale to reach the head of the valley. Now I walked down Cressbrook Dale. When I passed the exit of Tansley Dale I made my way up the path to the edge of the valley. My there and back visit to Wardlow Hay Cop was done from here using a path that keeps to access land. Having retraced my steps the path was followed down into the woods of Cressbrook Dale to reach Ravensdale Cottages. I then walked the road down to Cressbrook. A concessionary path by Cressbrook Mill was followed to the weir over the River Wye and up to the Monsal Trail. A gentle stroll along the Monsal Trail took me back to Monsal Head.
Route map
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Before I set off I had to take in the view from Monsal Head
Longstone Moor from the road to Little Longstone
Little Longstone Chapel
Fine displays of flowers in the gardens of Little Longstone
On the byway to Longstone Moor from Dale Farm
The view opens up to the west to High Field above Upperdale
Blue skies ahead and it's already feeling warm
Another shot to the west above the flowering gorse
The moors above Miller's Dale and Cressbrook Dale and Wardlow Hay Cop as I head up to the top of Longstone Moor
Through the gap between Wardlow Hay Cop and Hucklow Edge to the hazy outline of a distant Kinder Scout
On the summit of Longstone Moor looking out to the west to Taddington Moor and the moors above Miller's Dale
Eyam Edge and Sir William Hill in the distance
Fin Cop and Deep Dale to the southwest
Wardlow Hay Cop, Tideswell Moor, Bradwell Moor, a hazy KInder Scout and Hucklow Edge to the northwest
Heading east across the moor
Wardlow Hay Cop comes back into view as I head north off Longstone Moor
Heading for Foolow and there are lots of fields to cross as I approach Castlegate Stud Farm
Eyam Edge from just outside Foolow
A very warm afternoon in Foolow, it's a lovely day
The village green in Foolow. A convenient bench next to it was a good place to stop for lunch.
On the road west out of Foolow..
and onto the bridleway south by Silly Dale
Looking up Silly Dale. Interesting name.
Looking back as I reach Stanley House
Peter's Stone in Cressbrook Dale as I follow the path to Mires Lane and Litton. I'll be walking down Cressbrook Dale a bit later.
Looking back to Litton backed by Litton Edge
Looking up Cressbrook Dale as I reach the end of the path above Tansley Dale
and down dale to Wardlow Hay Cop
Peter's Stone and the head of the valley
An early purple orchid. They were just starting to flower.
Now to walk down Cressbrook Dale..
I think this view of Cressbrook Dale from the path above the valley has to be one of my favourites in the Peak District
Approaching the summit of Wardlow Hay Cop
On the summit of Wardlow Hay Cop with its freshly painted trig point. It's the first time that I've paid it a visit and I was looking forward to seeing the view.
Looking west over Cressbrook Dale to Tideswell and Litton
Longstone Moor
Looking north to Hucklow Edge
Hucklow Edge and Eyam Edge with the hamlet of Wardlow below
Hay Dale to the south
A great view of Cressbrook Dale as I make my way back to the path down the valley
The path down reaches the woodland around Ravensdale Cottages
There are some good displays of bluebells on the hillside above
The limestone cliffs at Water-cum-Jolly Dale
and the weir on the River Wye
Upperdale as I follow the path to the Monsal Trail
Cressbrook and the River Wye as I join the Monsal Trail..
..which will take me back to Monsal Head
A beautiful end to the afternoon to take in the view from Monsal Head