Date: 2012-03-31
Region: Peak District
From: on A619 2mls East of Baslow
Walk: Circular
OS Sheet: Outdoor Leisure OL24
Parking at: Car Park by Robin Hood PH
Grid: 281 721
Distance:
10 mls 16.4 km
Height Gain: 1670 ft 509 m
Height Loss: 1670 ft 509 m
Walking With: Mrs G, Andy & Katie
Notes: Mainly on good paths, 5 road
crossings, a few stiles and gates
Route
From
the Robin Hood PH walk down the A619 to
footpath on right passing below Moorside Farm and Gardoms Edge to A621. Cross and
take path through the woodland over Bar Brook and uphill to reach Wellingtons
Monument. Head NW along Baslow, Curbar and Froggatt Edges.
On
reaching the A625 cross over down to the woodland by the car park, take the
path on right across the fields to the Grouse Inn. Cross the A625 again and up
the path on to White Edge. Follow the edge to its end and head SE to the
distant cross roads. Cross the A621 and follow the well trod route across the
open land to a path running below Birchen Edge and back to the car park.
Journey
Walking
along the Edges Baslow, Curbar Froggatt, is always a pleasure, the views are
wonderful, the air is fresh, the changes of light and the movement of clouds
can be intoxicating. Watching and listening to the climbers adds another dimension,
different, but entertaining.
The
Edges can become overcrowded at times with all sorts of runners, walkers and cyclists
heading either North or South. Thankfully on Saturday things were fairly quiet
I can
well remember, back in the 1970’s and 80’s walking from Curbar Gap car park along
to The Haywood then plunging downhill to the Derwent, taking a gentle stroll by
the river followed by a lung busting, leg seizing climb from Calver back to the
car.
As a
result it was not until about 2003, when I was introduced to White Edge, that I
did my first really enjoyable walk along the Edges. Since then we’ve extended
the walk by starting at The Robin Hood and coming back via
Birchen Edge (above
or below).
On
Saturday we left home late but were lucky to get a parking space. By the time
we got sorted out and dealt with the dogs (Katie) vomit it was nearly eleven
before we set off along the A619 towards Baslow.
I love
walking through wooded areas and birch woods in particular. The path passing
below Gardom’s Edge was lovely with the silver of the trees, largely still in
bud, the bright green grass and the grey of the rocks, some daffs and peeking
through a smudge of pink blossom.
The old
bridge over Bar Brook, with the high concrete bridge above, the brook, rocks
flowers and shrubs below makes for a short break before slogging up through the
woods to Wellington’s Monument. It was good to see that Chatsworth House is no
longer ‘under wraps’ even though the dull light and the mist inhibited getting
a clear photo of the house.
Very disappointed
no ice cream van at Curbar Gap.
Looking
to the west the we had a stab at picking
out some of the salient hills and places such as Stanton Moor, Longstone Edge,
Calver, Stony Middleton, Sir William Hill,
Abney Moor, Win Hill Lose Hill and Kinder.
There
are some new, well at least I’ve not seen them before, inhabitant’s on the
moors, a herd of Longhorn (possibly Highland) cattle (negligently I didn’t have
my ‘Observers Book of Cattle’ with me. They are very docile I took a dozen
photos of them some as close as a couple of feet away. The ‘blonde’ one was
heavily in calf.
Even more disappointed no ice cream van at Haywood Car Park or on the road. It was a bit chilly. Had lunch sitting on some convenient rocks in Haywood before pushing on, past the Grouse Inn and up onto White Edge. Although many of the views south and west are the similar to those on the way up White Edge feels a whole lot wilder, more exposed, more ‘edgy’!
We
zipped down to the cross roads on the A621, heading for the low side of Birchen
Edge. Usually the first 800 to 1000m of the path here is wet, to say the least,
as can be seen from the width of the walked area. Now it was almost dry, a
clear result of the lack of prolonged rain in the last year. Unfortunately if
the dry weather continues it is probable that many of the moors will be closed
due to or to prevent grass fires.
Had a
great couple of pints in the Robin Hood.
