Derwent Edge, Peak District

Yesterday the group made their way to the Peak District. The meeting point was the Fairhomes forest commission car park next to the Ladybower Reservoir. Yet again I managed to pick a place where there was no mobile phone reception - full marks :) Anyway waiting for Helen P and I, were Helen T and Stefan, as well as Edd, who was already out walking the eager daisy up and down the car park. A little bit later Paul and Helen E arrived, but no sign of Tom or Louise. Some of us getting some emergency breakfast :)



We waited for a while but began on our way without them and headed along the road and south westwards by the reservoir. Passing some lovely old houses along the way and avoiding the early morning cyclists whizzing past we walked past Wellhead - where there was something interesting sticking out of the water! Not sure if it was the church spire or an old building? could be!! We headed off east up Grindle Clough along a well marked footpath, which rose up to some farm buildings where we took a breather. Looking back was a lovely view over the reservoir.



We continued on up the hill and over a stile onto access land. We came across a fence before we rose up onto the Derwent Moors. Leading the way I looked back over the heather to see the group starting to appear behind me! We turned north here and directly in front of the Wheel Stones a dog raced passed me. The weather was amazingly clear but quite chilly but no clouds!! We took a break at the Wheel Stones and clambered over them and up to the top where it was quite windy!! Taking some photos we stopped for some lunch underneath the White Tor (487m) a little further along the ridge.



After lunch we headed further on along the ridge past Salt Cellar and Dovestone Tor and then on towards Back Tor (538m). As we crossed over the tor, we saw some familiar faces coming the other way, Tom and Louise :) They were a little late and decided to take their chances and try and meet us up the top. We stopped to take some photographs of the lovely views.



Daisy was going a bit crazy with something in the heather, and pulling Edd left right and center. We carried on now in a north eastwardly direction with Howden Moors to the left and Brogging Moor. I was trying to spot a path off to the left, to take us down Abbey Broux and down to Derwent Reservoir. But I missed it and then about half a mile further on we stumbled on a duke of edinburgh group who seemed equally lost and not convinced about where I was directing them :)



We traced back next to the stream which I think would turn into the brook we wanted, over quite rough heather. At least it was not raining but it was cooling down and the shadows were becoming longer. Fortunately we found the right path and we started walking down the valley.



The walls of the valley steeply falling away we took a breather to admire the view. When suddenly a fell runner literally ran down to the bottom of the valley with his dog and then ran probably up another 150m up steep contours on the over side without stopping. Fair play. My legs ached just watching it!!



We carried on down the valley, with some pleasent woodland appearing at the end we arrived on the shore of Derwent Reservoir. We headed then south towards the Dam which looked more like a castle from the south side!! We then carried on down to the car park and watched all the crazy ducks trying to steal peoples lunches :)