This weekend, Ling Heather has been just about at its best on the Peak District moors. It is the most common of 3 types of heather that grows in the Peak District. As well as looking beautiful when in flower, … Continue reading Ling Heather on the Moors
On our walk today we found this lovely Heath Spotted Orchid on a grassy path between Stanage and Bamford Edges. Thank you Alison for sharing your photo with me! Continue reading Heath Spotted Orchids
Cotton Grass is looking beautiful on the Peak District moolands at present! There are actually two types of Cotton Grass. Common Cotton Grass which often has two flower spikes on each stem, and Hare’s Tail Cotton Grass which grows in … Continue reading Hare’s Tail Cotton Grass
Over the last week I have seen several patches of Butterbur in flower, usually along river banks in the Peak District. I took these photos yesterday from the Derwent Valley Heritage Way footpath between Calver and Baslow. As with all … Continue reading Butterbur in flower on the river bank
After all that cold weather and snow it is lovely to see some spring flowers starting to appear in the Peak District countryside. Yesterday we saw some lovely Celandine on a grassy bank near to Hope. This afternoon we passed this patch of Colt’s Foot on the side of Ladybower Reservoir. The plant gets its name because the leaves, which appear after the flowers resemble a colt’s foot in cross section. In years gone by, the plant was used in herbal medicine, but it has now been discovered that it can cause liver problems so is no longer used. Continue reading Colt’s Foot
Our Four Gritstone Edges guided walk yesterday took us past The Eagle Stone which is set back on the moorland just a short distance from Baslow Edge. It is a huge tower of Gritstone with an interesting local custom attached to it. The age old custom is that before they are allowed to marry, the young men of Baslow have to prove their manliness and fitness for marriage by climbing onto the top of this huge stone. There is no easy way up because some of the higher parts of the stone overhang the lower parts. The village has always had its fair share of weddings though, so plenty must … Continue reading The Eagle Stone and an interesting local custom
On a brief stroll though the northern end of Chatsworth Park this morning I was treated to a wonderful view of the deer. A lone Fallow Deer caught my attention first, wandering amongst the sheep. Then not far away I spotted a … Continue reading Deer in Chatsworth Park
This afternoon, I needed to find a short, easy, low-level walk with some added interest as an alternative to the Dovedale walk that I had planned for a coach party on Saturday. From the look of the amount of snow … Continue reading A Walk Around a Football Pitch!
Quite a common site on the high moorlands of the Dark Peak, but maybe not everyone knows what they are? These are commonly known Devil’s Matchsticks. Like all lichens, the Devil’s matchstick is actually two organisms working together: a fungus and an algae in a symbiotic relationship. The red tips are the fruiting bodies of the fungal component of the lichen. Have a look for them next time you are walking across the Peak District’s peat covered moorlands. Continue reading Devil’s Matchsticks
If you can get to the Peak District on 13 April, please do take part in one of these fabulous walks and help to support The Friends of the Peak District – a very worthwhile charity that we at Peak Walking Adventures actively support. We hope to see you there on the day! Continue reading
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