Stanage Edge
Before I start I must admit I have begun to lose a bit of interest in this blog. I haven't done many walks recently and the ones that I have done haven't been up mountains so I've thought, what's the point? I am dying to go up a mountain, but the prolonged winter has been putting a stop to it. Finally Spring began a week and a half ago when we had the first good weekend weather of the year and so accordingly I headed out to the Peak District to go for a walk. The place I picked was Stanage Edge, which I have, of course walked along before, but not recently.
I parked at one of the many car parks that lie below Stanage Edge, specifically the one near Overstones Farm. After putting on my new walking boots for their first walk in anger, I headed up the road past Overstones Farm to join the path to the 457m trig point on the eastern end of Stanage Edge.
I gave myself a bit of a scramble to get to the top and then admired the views, bracing myself against the strong winds. This first picture was taken from the trig point looking along the edge with the snow-flecked Bleaklow in the background. Heading off along the edge, braving the strong winds I passed many a rock climber practising their craft on the cliffs below. Rock climbing is something I have never been interested in persuing. I like scrambling, but the idea of hanging by a rope onto the side of a precipitous cliff seems akin to madness. I guess I just don't trust the rope to hold me, I'd prefer to be in full control of what I'm doing.
While traversing the edge stunning views were to be seen of the surrounding countryside, including this one looking across Bamford Moor to Win Hill with the bulk of Kinder Scout behind it. The conical peak of Lose Hill can be seen on the left of the picture. 
This next picture was taken from above the Stanage Plantation and shows the rocky edge stretching out to High Ned in the distance. I wasn't to go as far as that just yet as I soon came down from the edge by way of the Long Causeway to the Dennis Knoll car park. From there I headed along the road over Bole Hill until I reached the footpath taking me onto the new Access Land around Bamford Edge. A few years ago when I did this walk I had to stay on the right of way that passes a disused quarry and then crossed Moscar Moor to reach the northern end of Stanage Edge. Today I was able to take advantage of the new Right to Roam legislation and proceed along the top of Bamford Edge. Not as long or as high as Stanage Edge it was still good to be able to walk along its top and enjoy the views that more than made up for any deficiencies.
Stopping for lunch at the northern end of the edge I enjoyed the stunning views and took this picture of Ladybower Reservoir. I really like this picture, centred on the bridge that takes the A57 across the reservoir. You can see the dam on the bottom right and the snow-speckled Bleaklow on the horison. The sun was shining and it was a glorious day. There is nothing quite like hill-walking. Anyone who doesn't go hill-walking is missing out on so much, I don't know how they can live with themselves (!).
After lunch I continued around the side of the hill exploring a couple of perculiar pillars that litter the hillside, the purpose of which is beyond me. Crossing the moorland I reached Jarvis Clough which I descended into and then climbed out of. I decided that at this point that it would be a good idea to cross the moor to reach Stanage Edge, so taking advantage of my new walking boots I crossed the often boggy moor to the bottom of the edge. Once again I took the opportunity to do a little scrambling and picked a route up the rocks onto the top. Turning to my left I headed north until I was certain I was at Stanage End, the northern end of the edge. When I discovered the disused quarry near Crows Chin Rocks I was fairly certain I had achieved this so turned around and headed back along the edge.
The weather had now turned rather grey with rain on the way, fortunately it would hold off until I got back to my car. Passing over the trig point at High Ned, the highest point on Stanage Edge, I returned to the point I'd left earlier in the morning and immediately left it striking out westwards to Stanage Pole. I'd never been there before and I was curious to see what I would find. What I didn't expect was a pole! There was a wooden pole sticking out of a pile of rocks; it was most bizzare, I wonder why it's there. Another thing that is bizzare is the name. I have just called it Stanage Pole, but that is not what the map calls it. According to the OS this is Stanedge Pole, perhaps a shortened version of Stanage Edge pole? Perhaps.
The map indicates a path heading from the pole back to the edge across White Path Moss, but the park authorities have closed it off. Curiosity getting the better of me, and not wanting to go back the way I'd come I went along this path anyway. With hindsight I think the path was rightly closed as it goes straight across a very boggy area of moorland. By the end I was wading through water rather than mud or grass. Anyway, back onto the edge path I returned to the rock climbers and descended back down to my car. Five minutes after getting into my car, it started raining. Perfect timing!
Over Easter I shall be going to the Lake District so normal service should be resumed on this blog before long.
I parked at one of the many car parks that lie below Stanage Edge, specifically the one near Overstones Farm. After putting on my new walking boots for their first walk in anger, I headed up the road past Overstones Farm to join the path to the 457m trig point on the eastern end of Stanage Edge.
I gave myself a bit of a scramble to get to the top and then admired the views, bracing myself against the strong winds. This first picture was taken from the trig point looking along the edge with the snow-flecked Bleaklow in the background. Heading off along the edge, braving the strong winds I passed many a rock climber practising their craft on the cliffs below. Rock climbing is something I have never been interested in persuing. I like scrambling, but the idea of hanging by a rope onto the side of a precipitous cliff seems akin to madness. I guess I just don't trust the rope to hold me, I'd prefer to be in full control of what I'm doing.While traversing the edge stunning views were to be seen of the surrounding countryside, including this one looking across Bamford Moor to Win Hill with the bulk of Kinder Scout behind it. The conical peak of Lose Hill can be seen on the left of the picture. This next picture was taken from above the Stanage Plantation and shows the rocky edge stretching out to High Ned in the distance. I wasn't to go as far as that just yet as I soon came down from the edge by way of the Long Causeway to the Dennis Knoll car park. From there I headed along the road over Bole Hill until I reached the footpath taking me onto the new Access Land around Bamford Edge. A few years ago when I did this walk I had to stay on the right of way that passes a disused quarry and then crossed Moscar Moor to reach the northern end of Stanage Edge. Today I was able to take advantage of the new Right to Roam legislation and proceed along the top of Bamford Edge. Not as long or as high as Stanage Edge it was still good to be able to walk along its top and enjoy the views that more than made up for any deficiencies.
Stopping for lunch at the northern end of the edge I enjoyed the stunning views and took this picture of Ladybower Reservoir. I really like this picture, centred on the bridge that takes the A57 across the reservoir. You can see the dam on the bottom right and the snow-speckled Bleaklow on the horison. The sun was shining and it was a glorious day. There is nothing quite like hill-walking. Anyone who doesn't go hill-walking is missing out on so much, I don't know how they can live with themselves (!).After lunch I continued around the side of the hill exploring a couple of perculiar pillars that litter the hillside, the purpose of which is beyond me. Crossing the moorland I reached Jarvis Clough which I descended into and then climbed out of. I decided that at this point that it would be a good idea to cross the moor to reach Stanage Edge, so taking advantage of my new walking boots I crossed the often boggy moor to the bottom of the edge. Once again I took the opportunity to do a little scrambling and picked a route up the rocks onto the top. Turning to my left I headed north until I was certain I was at Stanage End, the northern end of the edge. When I discovered the disused quarry near Crows Chin Rocks I was fairly certain I had achieved this so turned around and headed back along the edge.
The weather had now turned rather grey with rain on the way, fortunately it would hold off until I got back to my car. Passing over the trig point at High Ned, the highest point on Stanage Edge, I returned to the point I'd left earlier in the morning and immediately left it striking out westwards to Stanage Pole. I'd never been there before and I was curious to see what I would find. What I didn't expect was a pole! There was a wooden pole sticking out of a pile of rocks; it was most bizzare, I wonder why it's there. Another thing that is bizzare is the name. I have just called it Stanage Pole, but that is not what the map calls it. According to the OS this is Stanedge Pole, perhaps a shortened version of Stanage Edge pole? Perhaps.
The map indicates a path heading from the pole back to the edge across White Path Moss, but the park authorities have closed it off. Curiosity getting the better of me, and not wanting to go back the way I'd come I went along this path anyway. With hindsight I think the path was rightly closed as it goes straight across a very boggy area of moorland. By the end I was wading through water rather than mud or grass. Anyway, back onto the edge path I returned to the rock climbers and descended back down to my car. Five minutes after getting into my car, it started raining. Perfect timing!
Over Easter I shall be going to the Lake District so normal service should be resumed on this blog before long.
posted by David Keates at 11:18 am
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