Great Longstone
RFM Blue Line
02/05/25
On this warm early May day a walk in Derbyshire on a Friday morning should be a joy but my brother is out of action due to a back spasm and I am carrying a heavy load in my large rucksack to get ready for the challenge of Byrness to Kirk Yeltholm, our last section of the Pennine Way. 12 kilos doesn't sound a lot but I found it a pressing weight.
I parked opposite the Butter Cross at Great Longstone and despite the shock of heaving the bag onto my back I set off up the aptly named Moor Road.
The steady upward climbing leafy road got steeper as I progressed.
The rock formation to my right needed Mr Ellerby to interpret but I thought, even if I could contact him, he would probably be around 120 years old by now. It looked like limestone.
Further up the hill, on my left, a donkey was fascinated by the sight of a human with a large rucksack fighting his way up the road.
Leaving the road the path just got steeper but I was getting used to the weight so I took the change in my stride.
I made a mistake and headed off uphill in the wrong direction but soon rectified this and headed up to the top of the moor proper.
There is a point where 2 paths cross near the top of the moor and today my route went to the right.
The route along the ridge was the first flat part of todays walk and my legs appreciated the change. The views were fantastic not like the more spectacular well known Derbyshire edges but never-the-less well worth the climb.
I am proud of this photo of a Kestrel who watched me for a few moments whilst I took the photo before flying to a more distant tree. How lucky was I.
Looking to the west I could see Cressbrook Dale in the distance.
Great Longstone in the valley below.
More karst scenery at the edge of the ridge showing the soluble nature of the limestone underlying geology.
The path dropped down to the road which I crossed and re-crossed back onto a limestone bordered road. The sheep with lambs enrich the scenery marvellously.
I reached the pond with the mast at Eyam visible on the hill top in front. Peter and me have been here before but at the other side of the pond on 2 previous walks called Middleton Moor and Calver High Ridge. He will remember it as the area of Dew Ponds.
I was lucky enough to find this Peacock butterfly on the path in front of me as I rounded the pond.
I stopped for a moment close to our sandwich stop when we had done the Middleton Moor walk. Its strange walking in Derbyshire without Peter but I was determined to test out the back pack weight on proper hills.
From the road heading off the moor northwards I could see the ridge of Kinderscout on the horizon.
I left the road and crossed the pasture with all its humps and bumps through sheep fields and past shire horses on to the small village of Wardlow. This bumpy landscape needed interpreting but I do not have the knowledge. Its was very interesting if mysterious.
The little chapel at Wardlow was beautiful and also had a seat which made it perfect for my breakfast stop. I had covered the best part of 4 miles without a stop which was silly with this load, I should have had a stop earlier. However I enjoyed the rest. A couple of hikers passed me and exchanged greetings. I was unexpectedly a little jealous of their small packs.
A limestone wall delineated a narrow lane up towards the lip of Cressbrook Dale. I tried to see if it could be Roman but it wasn't straight or the right width, just a lane then. The cows looked more Guernsey than Rome.
From the lane Wardlow looked picturesque.
I could see the 2 hikers in the bottom of Cressbrook Dale heading up the dale towards Peter's Rock.
On our walk up the dale we had re-routed up the deep valley on the left towards Litton to avoid having to use the road at the top of the dale.
Looking south down Cressbrook Dale towards the extensive woods.
I spotted a few of these orchids in the grass. No idea what varieties they are but they were very pretty.
Looking down into Cressbrook Dale to the path we had used to get down to the valley bottom on a previous walk, (named Litton Mill) was a bit of a surreal moment for some reason. It is always a little bit weird looking from the heights over a previously walked path and I don't understand why.
I nearly avoided climbing to the top of Wardlow Hay Cop due to my heavy rucksack but I decided I would regret it if I didn't do it. On the way to the top I could see the lower extent of Cressbrook Dale almost hidden in the landscape. Before reaching the top I came across a couple coming down and we discussed the area and its beauty. Its near the busy Monsal Trail but so far from it. The chat was good as it was the first people I had seen to chat with and it gave me a 5 minute rest.
From the triangulation point on the summit I could see for miles even as far as Hope and the nearby Wardlow. This was a great spot and there were even a couple of Belted Galloways on the eastern slope.
As I descended from the Cop I looked back and saw the very pleasant view of the hill whilst wondering why it was a Cop when I had always thought that was an Afrikaans term. I passed a girl on her way up worried about the farmers sign warning of a bull. I re-assured her I hadn't seen one only the quiet Belted Galloways and she went on her way.
Just before the road I met a couple of blokes my age who were from Stoke. We discussed the Pennine Way as they had completed it. More people in half an hour than I had seen all day.
The steep sided wood lined road down Hay Dale was long but easy and I soon came out at Monsal Head.
I had my second stop at the bridge over the river Wye another picturesque spot.
The path was steep as it climbed towards the Monsal Trail. My route went under the trail and I was tempted to join the trail deviating from my route but there were loads of people and bikes on the trail so I stuck to my route.
This was really steep and I soon was much higher up than the trail. The going however was very rocky.
The views across the valley showed landslides on the steep valley sides.
I joined the Monsal trail at the viaduct over a small valley.
Cresswell Tunnel came and went and was lovely and cool.There are so many bikes and pedestrians you are advised to keep to the left. People were passing me deep in conversation with each other like pedestrians in a city centre. Bikes clattered past. I stopped saying hello to passersby because there were just too many and they were too distracted. Not my type of hikers but hey I admire anyone out walking or cycling so everyone to their own.
I passed through deep cuttings and to be fair as the gaps between walkers started to appear longer and longer it was easier to greet people who responded positively.
I arrived at the platform at Great Longton near to my journey's end. I saw a program in which this station was discussed and though fascinating its too long to relate. Just to say the owner of the big house at Great Longton built his own personal railway station separate from the public one.
Finally crossing a few meadows I arrived back in Great Longton and made my way to my car.
This walk was just over 9 miles in length and ascended 1325 feet and took 3 hours 25 minutes of walking time. It took over 23,000 steps. The pack weight had slowed me down but not by as much as I had imagined. I loved the walk and as a blue line walk it connected to several others which is always good.
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