Tag: walks

The Dark Peak, The Peak District, The White PeakLeave a comment

The Sleeping Dragon

richardpeakwalkingadventures

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

The Dark PeakLeave a comment

The Great Ridge at Night

richardpeakwalkingadventures

I had been really looking forward to Friday 22nd February when I was guiding our first ever ‘Great Ridge at Night’ walk from Castleton. For Martin, Charlotte, Sherry and Elizabeth who had booked, it was their first experience of hillwalking in the dark. We were fortunate to have good weather conditions. Although it was very cold (around -5 degrees) it wasn’t too windy and the snow that had covered the hill only days before had almost gone. We all wrapped up in lots of layers of warm clothing and set off up the hillside passing the buildings of Treak Cliff … Continue reading The Great Ridge at Night

Geology, History, The White PeakLeave a comment

High Tor, Matlock Bath

richardpeakwalkingadventures

High Tor is a great limestone outcrop which towers almost 400 feet about the river Derwent between Matlock and Matlock Bath.  The limestone was formed about 325 – 350 million years ago when the area was at the bottom of a shallow tropical sea. Over millions of years, limey muds and the shells and skeletons of tiny sea creatures settled on the bottom and formed a thick layer of limestone.  Large areas of limestone such as High Tor have been pushed upwards by land movements and further shaped by glacial meltwaters at the end of the last ice age. You can walk up … Continue reading High Tor, Matlock Bath

History, The Dark Peak, The Peak District, Wild Flowers and TreesLeave a comment

The wonders of Stanton Moor

richardpeakwalkingadventures

Yesterday we enjoyed a short walk onto Stanton Moor from the village of Birchover.  As well as being carpeted in beautiful purple ling heather, there are also a wealth of interesting features on the moor to marvel over.  Stanton Moor is believed to have once been a very special place to our ancestors.  In Bronze age times the landscape would have been very different with fertile farmland, and timber roundhouses scattered over the area.  Evidence has been found all over the moor of field boundaries, burial mounds, and stone circles.  The best known stone circle is the Nine Ladies.  Local legend … Continue reading The wonders of Stanton Moor

Birds, The Dark Peak, The Peak District, Wild Flowers and Trees, WildlifeLeave a comment

A wonderful walk!

richardpeakwalkingadventures

Eyam Moor Every year the Peak District Tourist Board organise a two week long walking festival in the Peak District and today was our first walk in the 2011 festival.   On a beautiful sunny day we walked from Hathersage, over the stepping stones over the river Derwent where we saw some newly hatched ducklings.  Then up onto Offerton Moor and Smelting Hill, with a wealth of spring flowers to see on the way, including at lower levels bluebells, wood anemones, celandine, and wild primroses.  As we got higher onto the moorland, the bilberries were in flower along with cowberries and of course gorse … Continue reading A wonderful walk!

The Dark Peak, The Peak District, Wild Flowers and TreesLeave a comment

Ling Heather on the Moors

richardpeakwalkingadventures

View Full Album August is a great month to see the Peak District moorlands in their full glory, covered in flowering ling heather.  Whole hillsides take on a purple appearance whilst closer inspection reveals tiny clusters of flowers.   It is also a good time for insects such as bees which are attracted by the heather.    We actually have three different types of heather in the Peak District:  Bell Heather, Cross Leaved Heather, and Ling Heather.  The first two are well worth seeking out, but it is the latter that is the most common which creates the beautiful purple … Continue reading Ling Heather on the Moors