Date: 17th March 2007
Weather: Overcast to begin with but the the fresh wind soon blew the cloud away.
Walkers: Celia, Jo (Senior Honorary Faartal) and Roger
Parking: Car park – on A57 above Cutthroat Bridge
The Walk
It just goes to show that you should never be put off by the weather! Things did not look promising as we drove further from base than usual in order to do a walk with spectacular views. Indeed as we drove across under Stanage Edge the valley bottoms looked dark and murky and we feared that we may not be able to see much at all. The wind was cutting as we walked down the A57 from the car park. Around the bend you come to Cutthroat Bridge where the road goes over a stream that feeds into the Ladybower Reservoir. Care is needed here in crossing the road as visibility is restricted. Go through the gate at the lower end of the bridge onto a rocky path above two streams that meet and flow under the bridge – an idyllic spot if it weren't for the sound of traffic. Take the rocky path ahead which starts to climb up Highshaw Clough. It follows the course of a stream for a few minutes and then veers to the left taking you out of the Clough. The path here is quite firm and even but soon becomes rutted, with mud and puddles to be negotiated.
Once past this tricky patch the path becomes much easier as it climbs steadily across the heather moor. The sky was clearing fast, we had warmed up and the birds were singing. With each successive step further layers of Edges and hills are revealed until finally you reach the edge overlooking Ladybower Reservoir just below Whinstone Lee Tor.
Here you are treated to a spectacular panorama which is even more dramatic when bathed in sunshine and shifting shadows. Today there was no danger of falling over the edge as the wind was blowing strongly against us.
So we admired the breath taking (in more ways than one) views, held onto our hats and each other, then turned to retrace our steps back to the car. There are good views across to the frozen waves of Bamford Edge and Stanage Edge and the car park is visible for much of the descent.
Hostelry
Mostly heaving on Mothering Sunday weekend! Thank goodness for The Peacock at Owler Bar.
Comments
This is a short walk (no more than 2 and 1/2 miles) which could easily be extended by leaving the edge taking the highest of the three paths to the right, a short steep rocky route up onto Whinstone Lee Tor itself. Spectacular views again and a good spot for a fruit and nut stop. Continuing along the Edge the path ascends past the Hurkling Stones, like a pile of thin slabs stacked to your right, until you come to the highest point before dropping down slightly to a crossing of paths marked by a green signpost. The panorama here takes in views of Kinder Scout the highest summit in the Peak. Take the path to the right which, although less dramatic than the one you are leaving behind, has extensive views in the other direction. It takes you steadily downhill across the heather moorland passing a lone standing stone on the left whose significance is lost in the mist of time. The path takes you past the top of Highshaw Clough crossing the stream by a flat stone bridge – but there is no path back to the bottom here. Continue until you reach a gate in a dry stone wall blocking the way ahead. (This is not marked on the ordinance survey map.) Turn right and follow the wall down to where it meets the path between Moscar House to the left and Cutthroate Bridge to the right. If you look over the stile on the wall here, you will see an eighteenth century stoop indicating the direction to Sheffield, seven miles away, as this was once part of an old highway. Turn right along the path which runs parallel to the road below as it drops back down to Cutthroat Bridge. At the bridge cross the stream and scramble back onto the path leading to the road.
Celia.