W/C 17th August 2013 - South West of Sheffield

This time, I walked with the Sutton-in-Ashfield Ramblers from Whirlow to Holmesfield via Burbage Moor and Longshaw.

We began at Whirlow, on the south west side of Sheffield. Whirlowbrook Hall was adjacent to the footpath up towards Burbage Moor.

The first part of the walk was up the narrow Limb valley through thick woodland. Apparently, this was part of the border between Northumbria and Mercia at one time and later the boundary between Yorkshire and Derbyshire until recent times.

We caught a brief glimpse of Ringinglow before heading back into woodland, still heading west.

This was a view looking towards Sheffield from just south of Ringinglow village.

Beyond the woodland we came upon Burnage Moor, with a view of the Ox Stones.

This was the view from the other side.

From atop one of the stones, there were some wonderful views into the far distance. This was looking north west towards Rud Hill.

...and back to the east looking over Sheffield

We then carried on over Burbage Moor towards Burbage Rocks - tis was another view to the north west.

Burbage Rocks form a sheer cliff, in an L shape. This view was looking south.

......as was this view, showing the bend in the middle.

Climbers were scaling the cliffs

This ws a view looking back along the edge of the cliffs towards the north.

At the corner, I took this view looking south east towards Grindleford.

.. and here, a little further along, is the road to Hathersage.

Beyond the end of the rocks, we descended to the Fox House Inn and the National Trust's Longshaw Estate. This is a view from the drive to the visitor centre, looking west.

......and a view from slightly further south.towards Hathersage Moor

In the grounds of the Longshaw Estate is a small lake.

There is also a vegetable garden open to the public....

From the garden you get a view of the back of the old Hall.

Climbing south, we got a long distance view towards Hathersage, looking north.

The end of the footpath at the boundary of the Longshaw Estate is called "Wooden Pole" - and you can see the pole in the background. The railway tunnel from Sheffield towards Manchester is under there somewhere.

We were on moorland again by this stage, walking along the edge of Totley Moor.

This was a view looking west in the general direction of Grindleford.

and a view to the south east. Soon afterwards we passed the disused Barbrook Reservoir.

The reservoir had a big hole in its dam wall.

Beyond the reservoir, we turned sharp east. Around here there were long views to the south and east, with long views in the distance of Bolsover Castle, the crooked spire at Chesterfield and other local landmarks..

 

The cows made way for us, fortunately.........

We then descended steeply into a valley, heading east. It is very wooded around here.

We stopped briefly for a break in some beautiful woodland, next to a stream, just north of Unthank.

Then, the valley opened out dramatically. This is a view to the east, towards Dronfield, from just below Holmesfield village.

.and here is a view of Holmesfield itself as we approached from the valley below.

There was just time to photograph the church before we caught the bus home.

My thanks again to Sutton-in-Ashfield Ramblers for another excellent walk.

W/C 3rd August 2013 Cat & Fiddle & Flash

I was out walking again with the Sutton-in-Ashfield Ramblers this week, west of Buxton. We did a circular walk from the Cat & Fiddle via Three Shires Head and the tiny village of Flash.

It was raining when we got out of the bus. This was the view across towards the south west, with low cloud obscuring the distant view.

We headed south towards the head of Cumberland Clough. This is a view from above.

 We turned into the Clough, which was steep-sided near the top.

 The valley slowly opened out, offering views of Shutlingsloe Hill ahead.

 This was the far end of the valley.

 We then turned south along a minor road towards Crag Hall. This was the view looking back to the north.

 and down the valley towards Wildboarclough.

 We turned south east towards Three Shires Head. This was the view looking back up the valley.

 Three Shires head is really beautiful. The sun came out at just the right time.

 This was the view looking back as we headed back west along the other side of the valley.

 and this was the view ahead, a short way further on.

 The valley opened out again.

 and we began a steep climb towards Flash

 This was the view looking north again.

 and the view looking west.

 The village of Flash had some interesting buildings, including this former Methodist church.

 Here is the New Inn, claimed to be the highest pub in England.

 and here is the church.

 We missed the duck race by a couple of weeks!

 After lunch, we climbed again, up onto the moors. This was the view looking west again

 .....and again.

 We came up by Wolf Edge.

 and onto moorland on the way towards Edge End.

 Here is a stitched panorama looking east from Edge End.

 We then climbed towards Axe Edge Moor. This is the view looking south east

 On the moor top, things started to get very bleak. Heavy rain and low cloud threatened to engulf us, but miraculously we avoided it.

 This view is looking back to the south.

 We finally reached the main road east to Buxton, which is hidden somewhere behind the hill.

 After crossing the road we headed east towards Derbyshire Bridge. This is the main track from the Buxton direction.

 The cloudline fell as we headed west towards Derbyshire Bridge.

 Derbyshire Bridge was originally the border between Derbyshire and Staffordshire. This is the view looking north.

 Looking west, the road passed some interesting geology.

 Back at the Cat & Fiddle, the low cloud was only just above us. Here is another view looking towards the south west from the pub. The Cheshire Plain was bathed in sunlight in the distance. The bright spot just right of the centre of the shot is Jodrell Bank.