Robin Hood and the Edges

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.