Edale to Perryfoot Walking with my brother

 Edale to Perryfoot

 RFM Blue Line 

Walking with my brother

16/08/24

This is a long walk from Edale to Peak Forest and back with plenty of ascents and descents. There are many changes in the character of the walk from mountain wilds to lowland farmland. The weather started misty but quickly became warm with sunny intervals and a light breeze, perfect for walking.

We began in Edale at the main car park. I had passed Peter at the end of The Strines waiting to join the road from Sheffield down to Ladybower. He more or less followed me all the way to the car park. I unfortunately ran over a young pheasant that squirted out of the road side vegetation straight under my wheels. Not a good start to the day. As ever we arrived at the car park at least 20 minutes before 8. By 8 we were walking past the railway station with the mist hiding Broadlee Bank to our right. This was a walk in the opposite direction of a route to Barber Booth we had completed at the end of the 18 mile circumnavigation of Kinder Scout and we reminisced as to how that day we were at the end of our physical resources whereas today we were fresh and strong. The mist was a little worrying and though as usual I was dressed for summer Peter was dressed for winter.

We passed an early dog walker at the very pleasant hamlet of Barber Booth.

Climbing up through the fields past the ruin of the old Manor House Farm the views were enhanced by the mist. 

Up the valley we could see the track of  Chapel Gate which was our route up the hill. As we were in sunshine and climbing steadily Peter discarded some winter layers to suit the situation. We speculated reference the ruins we could see but could not decide whether they were old or not so old. The views were interestingly atmospheric.

The views of the Edale Valley climbing Chapel Gate were beautiful. Clouds in valleys always look so good.

The view over towards Jacobs Ladder and Kinder Scout reminded us of the girls looking for the tower when we were at the top of Kinder Low thinking it was a man made structure instead of the granite tor. We again agreed their successful ascent to that level was a fantastic achievement and we hoped they were proud of what they had done. 

We watched a noisy train go along the tree line in the valley bottom and were waiting to see where it entered the tunnel but after losing sight of it the sound stopped quite a distance before where we thought the tunnel was located. Interesting. Not sure the sheep were that bothered.

We quickly crossed over the moor with its long desolate views last experienced with Lacey in much windier wetter conditions. At this point we met a lady who stopped to chat. She was walking for fun and had no specific destination but obviously knew the hill well. It was a pleasant exchange and we wished each other well. What a happy soul.

We dropped down the lane across Rushup Edge to the road connecting Castleton and Chapel-en-le Frith.

Down the lane past Rushop Hall with the heads of Llamas sticking up through the long grass. Peter speculated the hall was some sort of retreat. It definitely looked the part and was in a perfect location for a week of quiet contemplation. Turns out its a B&B so could well fit the bill. We then discussed the value of mindfullness and I suggested walking was a type of contemplation but we agreed it was more a well being experience than contemplation, deep eh ? 

A little further along the lane we met a man in work gear walking a dog. We talked for a time about walking in general and somehow got onto going out drinking Barnsley Bitter when were young. He was working nearby but we did not enquire as to the nature of his work though his top indicated landscaping. He didn't seem to want to end the conversation so thankfully Peter tactfully ended it and we walked on.

We arrived at Perryfoot and crossed the road into Perry Dale. 

Following the lane through the dale to Peak Forest was quiet a long stage through various types of farmed land. We observed that some of the sheep in the paddocks were so few in number and were of varied types so seemed to be more like pets than commercial animals. Further down the dale larger numbers of ordinary sheep suggested a more commercial activity.

Just before  Peak Forest there were a couple of memorial stones in the wall and I suggested the farmers were too tight to have a proper funeral. This lead to a discussion regarding the legality of the right to dispose of a body on your own property. Then we decided we were being disrespectful to the family of the deceased named on the stones which were probably not grave markers but just memorial stones. Apologies to the family concerned.

We found a bench in Peak Forest fronted by a suv but it was somewhere to sit so we had a brunch sandwich and a cup of coffee.

From Peak Forest the path quickly climbed through fields up the side of Conies Dale.

On the opposite hillside of Ox Low we saw a procession of cows along the ridge line. It was really cool. I told Peter it reminded me of the camels going along the hill top of La Lajita in Fuerterventura. 

It looked like the farmer must have put some food at the top of the ridge and the cows were heading towards it, in a line.

Looking back to Peak Forest was a picture of a rural idyll.The main road running through the village centre was not so attractive.

A little higher up looking across the valley it looked a little strange as if there was a dam. I am sure man has altered this landscape but this feature must remain just a curiosity. We realised that the trig point at the top of the view was the same as the one next to bthe Limestone Way we had visited a few weeks ago. Its always good when you can fix walks by experience.

We reached the highest point of Conies Dale and the views west and south were long and beautiful but we were heading northeast.

In the distance we could see Mam Tor with its tourist army covering the summit.

 

The views across the top of  the hill towards Mam Tor and the Hope Valley were green and welcoming.

Crossing the last few fields towards the road below Mam Tor we passed a multitude of sheep and friendly cows. Many of the sheep were limping, we wondered why and speculated whether it was accidental damage or some sort of hoof infection. 

This cute young cow seemed to be using a thistle to hide behind.

Across the road and up the hill to the pass below Mam Tor. The bike in shot was not planned. This walk avoided the crowds of the final ascent.

Over the pass the hillocks of the bronze age hill fort on the left of the road with the magnificent Jacobs Ladder and Kinder Low in the distance were good to see not least because the only hill to come was downhill.

A purple heather coated Ringing Roger above Edale in the distance is a favourite view of mine. The valley at the top of that walk is magical.

Fine views of the Edale gave the back drop to the path down the hill which was actually quite steep in places and heavily eroded. We passed many people walking up the hill few of whom were obvious hikers. Again our discussion centred around the non-hikers giving themselves literarily mountains to climb, hats off to them. We passed one 3 generation family who answered our greetings with an Irish twang welcome but there were too many walkers to do anything but say hello. 

Back to the car park and home.

This walk was 10 1/2 miles with some quite difficult hills but we achieved it in about 4 hours and had a break on the way. We were not intending to be quick but it was still pretty impressive. I find when I am walking now-a-days I don't really take any notice of the time, perhaps that is an indication of contemplative hiking.