Stanage Edge
Date: 14th March 2007
Weather: Fair, long sunny intervals - very pleasant out of the wind
Walkers: Audrey, Celia, Harry and Roger
Parking: The car park at Upper Burbage Bridge
The Walk:
Leave the car park, cross the road and take the footpath heading for the end of Stanage Edge. The path crosses heather moorland which must be fantastic in August. Ascend onto the ridge to the left of the Cowper Stone which looks as if it could topple over and roll down onto the moor given another few thousand years! This bit is steep and and may be a bit of a scramble in places for those with shorter than average legs. However you are quickly past the worst and the path now veers left and meanders through slabs of rock towards the summit.
Behind, the view over the moor towards Sheffield unfolds and then, on reaching the top, a panorama with magnificent views to the southwest and across to Hallam Moors to the north. It was here that we first heard the curlews which were much in evidence below the escarpment on the return leg of the walk. How far you go along Stanage Edge depends on the time available. It is easy walking but on this occasion we only did about a third of the distance. In total this stretches from Upper Burbage Bridge to where Stanage Edge peters out at the A57 between Sheffield and the Ladybower Reservoir. We took some time to establish the position of North Lees Hall, the inspiration for Thornfield Hall in Charlotte Bronte's Jane Eyre. We did a walk which took us round the back of this atmospheric Elizabethan tower house last year (see Hathersage Walk when we get round to it!)Audrey and Celia looked round it on an open day and fantasised about renting it for a weekend - it is available at a price - and having dinner up on the roof looking down the valley to Hathersage. Later in the year it will be completely hidden by trees.
The walk along the edge is accompanied by stunning views as far as the eye can see. There is much evidence of the craft of the dry stone waller. Were they trying to stop the sheep absconding (or abseiling) over the edge? The Edge itself attracts serious climber, their ropes and assorted gear.
We stopped for our fruit and nuts near Robin Hoods Cave which we didn't actually find. Imagine our amazement when a middle aged walker appeared clad only in a flimsy pair of shorts and accompanied by his little white dog! The carrier bag he held in his right hand did not seem full enough to contain a shirt and boots or shoes.
We retraced our steps back to the summit where we decided to take a path down the front face of the Edge which led to the road between Hathersage and Sheffield. Here extra spectacle was provided by hang-gliders and remote controlled model aircraft.
On reaching the road we turned left and followed it as it looped back to the junction with the road that passes behind Higger Tor. On this side of the Tor there are long flights of steps cut into the hillside. We usually approach via a rocky scramble from the south. Proceeding to the left at the junction brings you back to the car park at Upper Burbage Bridge.
Hostelry: The Scotsman's Pack, Hathersage A real find. Excellent sandwiches and a good range of meals if you can cope with that sort of thing at midday.