Great Hucklow, Abney RFM Blue Line
RFM Blue Line
29/07/2025
The starting time in the pretty village of Great Hucklow was a little late at 9.30 but I was trying to avoid the early rain and I am glad to say I did, it was a rain-free walk.
Leaving the village I headed down an extremely narrow lane with large overhanging trees towards Grindlow. I had to climb the verge to let a van pass.
The slope to get to the woods at Hucklow Edge was difficult to cross as it was overgrown with feet tangling briars and stinging nettles. It was also wet from the early rain. In contrast the woods were easy to go through though they were dark and atmospheric.
I followed the road round to the gliding club. There were no gliders active.
It is beautiful countryside and I could see right down the valley towards Grindleford hidden in the distance.
Abney Moor is a bit off the beaten track and I was looking forward to crossing it. There were lots of Skylarks.
I love these upland views and I could make out the distinct outline of Whin Hill in the distance.
Much of the heather is starting to flower.
The glider whooshed over my head.
As I was crossing the moor I could see groups of Duke of Edinburgh kids in the distance.
Even from this unusual angle Whin Hill is still unmistakeable.
As I entered Brough Lane I met a group of the intrepid kids. They were doing the Gold Award 6 days and nights everything they need in their packs. They were on day 4 and still full of beans. The only complaint they had about Derbyshire was it was a little hilly. Made me chuckle.
As I headed towards Rebellion Knoll I was enthralled by the views over Hope Valley and over to Mam Tor and Kinder Scout. I was in heaven.
Just
Leaving the village I headed down an extremely narrow lane with large overhanging trees towards Grindlow. I had to climb the verge to let a van pass.
Turning off the road I went through Rose Farm and started to climb the hill. At this point I realised I was following the route on the map in the wrong direction. No worries I thought it will change to the direction I am heading in as it did last time I did it. I couldn't see the point in retracing my steps so I continued.
I passed a few horses but none were in the fields I traversed. It was quite steep but nothing too bad.
As I climbed the views started to get better.
As I climbed the views started to get better.
The slope to get to the woods at Hucklow Edge was difficult to cross as it was overgrown with feet tangling briars and stinging nettles. It was also wet from the early rain. In contrast the woods were easy to go through though they were dark and atmospheric.
I followed the road round to the gliding club. There were no gliders active.
A Stonechat was calling 'chat chat chat' on the ferns.
It is beautiful countryside and I could see right down the valley towards Grindleford hidden in the distance.
Abney Moor is a bit off the beaten track and I was looking forward to crossing it. There were lots of Skylarks.
I love these upland views and I could make out the distinct outline of Whin Hill in the distance.
The glider whooshed over my head.
As I was crossing the moor I could see groups of Duke of Edinburgh kids in the distance.
Even from this unusual angle Whin Hill is still unmistakeable.
As I headed towards Rebellion Knoll I was enthralled by the views over Hope Valley and over to Mam Tor and Kinder Scout. I was in heaven.
Just Before I got to the Knoll there were a lot of Willow Warblers flitting around.
These 2 panoramic views can be seen side by side to cover the whole horizon from the west to the north. I really like these shots and will use the function again on my Lumix. Definitely an experiment that worked.The hill on the far right is Whin Hill from yet another angle.
From Bradwell at the base of the hill to the cement works that dominates this area to the far hills of Mam Tor and Kinder Scout the Knoll delivers.
These 2 panoramic views can be seen side by side to cover the whole horizon from the west to the north. I really like these shots and will use the function again on my Lumix. Definitely an experiment that worked.The hill on the far right is Whin Hill from yet another angle.
I couldn't help trying to imagine what Rebellion Knoll referred to: Jacobites, Luddites and Pilgramage of Grace all came to mind but Google gave me nothing except referring to the ancient earthworks.
Peter might remember this hillside as it is the one we climbed when we ascended from Bradwell a few months ago, it was a killer hill.
No idea what these flowers are but they were very pretty.
Coming off the hill this is where my navigation went wrong. I checked my route and I assumed the arrow had turned round to indicate the direction I needed to take, it hadn't. I didn't realise I was retracing my own tracks as everything looked different without the long views towards Kinder Scout etc. I genuinely thought the app had caught up and reversed the routes direction indicator as I was expecting it to do.
I found a nice bench for a coffee break and managed to get one final view of Kinder in the clouds.
The moor filled the horizon, gliders occasionally flying overhead and sheep peeking out from behind the heather. I had no idea I was retracing my own steps. I was totally at ease with the moor.
As I crossed over the moor I started to see the horizon and thought that it was very familiar from this morning. I just thought the route would be just along the same valley. By the time I got to the road I realised my error but it was far too late to go back so I after a quick look at the map I slightly altered the route I would take back to the car. I remember thinking thank goodness Peter wasn't here but then I thought no he would have picked the error miles earlier. Anyway it didn't detract from a great walk.
No idea what these flowers are but they were very pretty.
I found a nice bench for a coffee break and managed to get one final view of Kinder in the clouds.
The moor filled the horizon, gliders occasionally flying overhead and sheep peeking out from behind the heather. I had no idea I was retracing my own steps. I was totally at ease with the moor.
As I crossed over the moor I started to see the horizon and thought that it was very familiar from this morning. I just thought the route would be just along the same valley. By the time I got to the road I realised my error but it was far too late to go back so I after a quick look at the map I slightly altered the route I would take back to the car. I remember thinking thank goodness Peter wasn't here but then I thought no he would have picked the error miles earlier. Anyway it didn't detract from a great walk.
After leaving the moor I crossed the fields instead of going round the road as I had done earlier.
All what was left to do was drop through the woods and I was back in Great Hucklow.
A big error of a walk from a navigation point of view but it was still a wonderful adventure. I'm just a little embarrassed that it took me so long to realise I was retracing my own steps, just shows the mind doesn't always move in sync with the body.
A big error of a walk from a navigation point of view but it was still a wonderful adventure. I'm just a little embarrassed that it took me so long to realise I was retracing my own steps, just shows the mind doesn't always move in sync with the body.
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