Burbage Bridge to Grindleford station and back again RFM Blue Line with Peter and Katie

 Burbage Bridge to Grindleford station and back again

 RFM Blue Line

with Peter and Katie

09/05/25

We have a guest this week, Peter's daughter Katie. Just a reminder all are welcome to join us on these walks. They are challenging but never dull. I am carrying the heavy weight bag again in preparation for the Pennine Way final stage. It'll be good to complete the stage and get back to normal rucksack weights. Seriously though carrying the heavy weight, today about 10 kilo, does become easier the more you do it.

The start point, Upper Burbage Bridge of this early May walk in glorious sunshine, warm but not hot.

Peter and Katie arrived around 9.00 o'clock just 10 minutes after myself. We had a brief discussion and set off towards Stanage Edge. The vista in front of us was awesome but the conversation revolved around the Lions Tour and the selection and non selection of rugby players

Probably the most photographed culvert in the Peak District.

Cowper Stone's edge was covered in school children weaselling, a new term to me but apparently means squeezing through gaps between rocks and rock hopping, I think. Anyway they were very active and noisy which was great.

We climbed up to Stanage Edge anticipating the views to come. Its good Peter is walking after his back spasm and I hope this walk strengthens it.

The views from the top are just spectacular today if a little distant.

The cement works in the Hope Valley is ever present as Katie says you just have to ignore it. We had the usual exchanges of we've walked here there and everywhere but its good to reprise ....sometimes.

The views from the trig point are just lovely on a day like today.

The path we were on though well trodden is still such a joy.

The view through the arch of a few Belted Galloways was to get more interesting later on the walk.

Every where you walk along this edge there are different views, no wonder it is so popular. We did pass quite a few people and happily exchanged good mornings.

Kinder Scout in the distance beyond the climbing edges.

Father Xmas and an Elf.

The last look from the edge before we started to descend. We were just about level with Stanedge Pole.

Just before we dropped down off the edge we passed a group of Duke of Edinburgh kids doing the final day of their hikes. They all had the same coloured rain covers on their packs, orange I think, or was it yellow. Peter and Katie chatted with them and as ever they were very friendly. A little further down another group with purple rain covers were making their way up the path. we stopped and let them pass and everyone one of them had a friendly greeting.  Kids today eh .. they are just too nice, (tongue, cheek). The rocks look much more impressive from below. The descent was actually quite benign. We could hear a Cuckoo in the distant woods probably at Dennis Knoll.

After crossing some heathland we went through Stanage Plantation with its impressive boulders. A real change of scenery.

We headed down to the road at North Lees and were happy to hear another Cuckoo. A short walk around the road and we were onto Cattis-side Moor.  Katie and I paused to use the Merlin app to identify some woodland birds notably a Willow-warbler and despite my brothers attempt to replicate the sound of a Cuckoo the app failed to identify his effort.  

Remember the Belted Galloways through the arch well here they were on the path. These young bullocks are so calm and amiable you just want cuddle them. My favourite cows and good at bracken clearing.

A good long distance view of the Hope Valley. We are now moving south away from this area.

A sedge warbler posed for a photo.

We were quickly moving away from and south of Stanage Edge which still dominated the horizon to the east.

The walk along this Edge above Hathersage was quiet though we still did pass the occasional runner or walker. Peaceful would be a good word to use.

An interesting image looking up towards where we had started the walk. Around here we heard another Cuckoo.

After crossing Carhead Rocks we followed the road down to Mitchell Field. We passed a parked horsebox converted into a Caravette but with all the appearance of being an active horse box. Just before we reached the nature reserve we heard a fourth Cuckoo of the day. This was the last would hear today but it had been a real treat.

As we dropped down through the conversation area...yes I am responsible for the malapropism from conservation which Katie and I chuckled over for the next few miles. She is quick that one. 

This is the hill up from the conversation area, it doesn't look much but believe me it is a killer hill.

Looking up towards the start of Stanage Edge.

We got to the top of Hathersage Moor and found a few rocks to sit on to have our lunches. In the field behind us was this ornate construction. We imagined it was the grave of John Smith but now I have consulted the OS map it is marked as a rain gauge. Looks like something missing. I prefer the idea of a grave.

A view of Hathersage the Hope valley and no cement works.

Katie lead the way past the viewing point at the top of Millstone Edge on the start of our steep descent down to Grindleford Station.

We crossed the road and traversed the heathland towards the woods. For some bizarre reason I said that according to the map we were about to enter the woods talk about stating the obvious. Not surprisingly I was chummily ribbed. The man behind the wall turned out to be the fireplace of a deserted building not a displaced Moai.

The terrain changed into a tangled wood.

Bluebells everywhere. Peter and Katie discussed the origin of the bluebells as an invasive Spanish species. They did look pretty though.

Just before we got to this point we scramble down a very long, very steep slope, hands knees and a prayer on this one. My weighty back pack increased my nervousness exponentially but we all made the bottom without mishap. We even tried to convince a couple of ladies at the bottom who were contemplating not attempting the scramble climb that it looked worse than it was but it didn't.

We followed the steep gravel drive down to Grindleford station and then set off back up Padley Gorge.

The gorge was a bit of a maze of paths.

We crossed the road and headed into the grounds of the Longshaw Estate. The signage here was good and though steep we soon got to the lake.

We rested at the pond and chatted to a couple of ladies about the ducklings on the pond and our day's adventure. It was very restful and good to have a drink. In the distance we could see our destination still 3 miles away.

Up at the top of the estate the landscape was gently rising but very green and appealing.

We crossed the A6187 and steeply climbed to the oddly shaped remanent of something or other. There is old quarrying in the area so it my be connected ... who knows.

We followed the upper path all the way around Burbage Edge back to the car park. Still great views up here but nothing really new. It does involve a bit of rock hopping so often you are looking at your feet not the view. 

Back at the cars I think we were all happy about the walk which had gone very well. The highlights for me were the Cuckoos and spending time with a brother and niece and of course taking this dammed heavy pack off my back, finally.

The distance was 10.3 miles, a total ascent of 1725 feet and over 30,000 steps. Moving time was 4.14 hours and average speed 2.4 mph which for this terrain is pretty good.