The Dark Peak is the gritstone area of the Peak District with its distinctive gritstone edges and high moorlands.
On a very cold walk along Stanage Edge today, I marvelled at the rime ice that had formed on the rushes and other vegetation. Rime ice is the white curst that builds up on the windward side of objects in exposed areas, thereby showing the direction that the wind has been blowing in. Continue reading Rime ice on the rushes
All around the top edge of Kinder Scout there are fascinating gritstone rock formations. On our walk today along the northern edge of the mountain, we passed these. They are known as ‘The Boxing Gloves’. If you use your imagination a little, you can see a face with gloved, raised hands up in front of it. Whether you think they look like a man with boxing gloves on or not, it’s a really beautiful place! Continue reading The Boxing Gloves
Chunal Moor is a beautiful area of high, heather covered moorland in the Dark Peak with paths leading onto it from two points on the A624 between Hayfield and Glossop, and from Mill Hill. Upon studying the Ordnance Survey map, you will see the highest point on the moor is named Harry Hut. So who was Harry and where is his hut? Well, it appears that no-one knows! There is certainly no hut there now, but there are a few loose rocks around the trig point, so maybe Harry did build some kind of shelter there many years ago. What … Continue reading Harry Hut on Chunal Moor
Our walk yesterday took us over five small hills in the area of the upper Dove valley, one of which was Chrome Hill. From my photo, it’s easy to see why is it known locally as ‘The Sleeping Dragon’. The classic walk over Chrome Hill is to ‘walk the dragon’s back’ which is exactly what we did. Stunning views can be enjoyed from the ridge back up the valley towards the moorlands of the Dark Peak to the north, and looking south down the Dove Valley over White Peak countryside towards Parkhouse Hill, Hitter Hill, and High Wheeldon. You can … Continue reading The Sleeping Dragon
Late August or early September is usually the best time to see heather in flower on the moorlands of the Peak District, and this year is no exception. Out of the three types of wild heather in the area, Ling … Continue reading Ling Heather in its rare white form
Everyone has heard of Nelson’s Column in Trafalgar Square, London and many people also know of The Nelson Monument on Calton Hill, Edinburgh. But did you know that in the Peak District we have our own Nelson’s Monument? Not only … Continue reading Nelson’s Monument and The Three Ships
The area between Gardoms Edge and Birchen Edge in the Peak District was once the site of a small Bronze age settlement and was farmed by the people who lived there. If you take a wander around the area, you … Continue reading Bronze Age Rock Art
A walk in the hills and woodland around beautiful Errwood Reservoir in the Peak District wouldn’t be complete without a visit to the ruins of Errwood Hall. Once a very grand building, the hall dates back to the 1830’s and … Continue reading The ruins of Errwood Hall
This year has been a good year for bilberries on the moors. The tiny pink flowers appear in spring and are replaced with tasty purple berries as August approaches. They are delicious to eat right up there on the moors, or to pick and take home to be transformed into bilberry and apple pie or bilberry jam. My mum’s old recipe for bilberry jam is 2 1/2 lb of bilberrys, 1/4 pint of water, 3 tbsps lemon juice, 3 lbs sugar and pectin (quantity as recommended by the manufacturer on the bottle or packet). Simmer the cleaned fruit, water and … Continue reading Beautiful Bilberries
I am by no means wishing to detract from the fabulous sporting achievements of the cyclists who took part in the second day of the Tour de France, or from the brilliant organisation of the race itself. I would however … Continue reading Ladybower Reservoir – Setting the record straight . . .
Peak Walking Adventures Blog 