Stanage Edge Pole RFM Blue Line Walking with Max
RFM Blue Line
Walking with Max
14/07/25
Only got Max for company today. This promises to be a tough 10 mile walk up and down the hills to the East of Hathersage. Its about 1700 foot total ascent and the majority of that is in the second part of the walk which always makes it harder. Max is getting stronger the more he hikes but I still think this will be a test. To be fair it would be a test for any new hiker.
The views from the parking spot at Upper Burbage Bridge are fantastic because it is such a high point to start at.
The path along Fiddlers Elbow is well worn and it doesn't take us long to start putting distance between ourselves and the car. At this point a small figure of a seasoned lady hiker who had passed us as we were setting off was disappearing into the distance. Max and I were well impressed and wondered what her route for the day would be but as we never saw her again who knows.
Higger Tor was the first high point on the route and this was on the so called downhill section. These tors are emblematic of the Peak District along with the edges and are one of the joys of crossing this landscape. Natural piles of rocks on small hills high above the valleys occur elsewhere but will always shout Peak District to me especially the Dark Peak.
The top was flat but the views just delightful.
Max found the giant's seat as we clambered off Higger Tor and took a minute to take in the view. Its not really called the giant's seat but it should be.
The next one Carl Mark Fort is reckoned to be an Iron Age Hill fort. As we approached it looked like an ideal location for a defensive structure
We could definitely see the attackers having problems taking this structure. The area of the structure was surprisingly large and some of the ramparts, obviously man made, were in good nick. The photo shows the best of the man made rampart left standing. I can imagine it would have been really impressive when complete especially with a stockade on top. I threw one of my nuggets at Max suggesting that when the fort was in use any battles would have been small scale in modern terms with only tens of people on both sides and defeat meant death not a shake of the hands like in cricket.
Our route took us down close, but not to the road at Burbage Bridge, through a sea of bracken which we crossed, at times, without a path as the way was very difficult to follow due to the plethora of paths.
Heading back up towards Winyards Nick we almost circumnavigated Carl Mark Fort which again impressed from this lower level. The Bronze Age scheduled monument of Winyards Nick proved elusive as we could see nothing unusual in the vegetation. Perhaps we needed help seeing what was there. But as I said to Max its still good to know that it is there even if we couldn't see it. If that makes sense.
We had our first coffee stop of the day on this bench with views of the fort behind us and the valley below us towards Padley Gorge.
We passed an oldish couple with a pair of friendly spaniels as we traversed through Winyards Gap.
We crossed the open fields below Higger Tor and circled the top of the valley above the road at Mitchell Field.
We crossed the road and headed along a contour towards Callow Bank. This was a narrow but reasonably well walked path so the vegetation wasn't too difficult to get through.
Interesting bumps and hollows below the currently being renovated house at Callow above Mitchell Field. I would think Peter and Katie would remember the hill down and up from Mitchell Field as it was a killer hill.
Above the road at Dale Bottom we found a precarious bench for our second stop of the day. We didn't stay long but the view was refreshing. Max and I discussed some of the features in the landscape including what looked like a hidden track in the bracken not featured on the O.S. map.
I assured Max we were still on the downhill section of the walk but the steep upward track to Toothill farm seemed to defy that.
The farm itself was dotted with abandoned caravans, cars, vans and really old rickety corrugated iron structures. Everyone to their own, I guess. The views were cool but we were still a long way above the base of todays walk.
The path down to Hathersage's Camp Green seemed to go down a field but at the bottom of the field we had to crawl under the barbed wire to get onto this lane in the left photo.
The ramparts of the Norman Ringwork were clear to be seen. We had to pause on the roadside to let a post man drive past. I explained to Max I had seen this postie on loads of my walks through this area of Derbyshire.
We reached the church which was locked. The church of St Michael and All Angels dates back to the C14th and it is the second time a walk of mine has passed through its grounds. The first time was with Lacey when we encountered a scary bull as we crossed the field adjacent to the church. However although the church is beautiful and worth a visit it is not the reason we were there. In the graveyard there is the grave of Little John of Robin Hood fame and it is only fair that Max should also see it.
Max said he didn't realise that Robin Hood was real so I had to explain that it was a myth and this is unlikely to be the 'real' Little John.
Leaving the church yard we came across the post man again on foot this time and I mentioned I had seen him many times before on my walks. We had a brief chat and he hurried away delivering his parcels and letters.
Down the hill from the church we finally came to the nadir of the walk at the bridge over a small stream. Max had a brief sit down before we started our ascent.
We crossed the parched empty grassy fields towards Cow Close. They were very steep. Stanage Edge on the horizon looked very high up and a long, long way away.
Hathersage Church below us was a lovely sight. The shaded path was welcome as the days heat began to rise. It was meant to be the end of the heat wave but it still felt really warm here.
The Edge was getting closer but if anything looked even more forbidding. These hidden sheep were not leaving the shade even though we nearly stumbled into them.
At this point we stopped and had a chat with a small walking group the members of whom all looked to be 80 plus, hiking sticks being the order of the day and their progress was slow but sure. After leaving them Max and I admired their grit and determination because these hills were not easy. They had come up from Hathersage so deserve full credit. I hope I can do the same at that age.
As we joined the road below Cattis Side we found a rock with a view down the valley over a horse training ring and took our third break of the day. We still had a long and more vertical way to go.
The road up to North Lees was a punishing short sharp killer hill. Looking back down the valley below is starting to look a long way below us. North Lees Hall an interesting building within a complex of buildings and stone walled lanes.
The parched valley below was a picture. The brooding Stanage Edge still looked a long way away and a long way up.
I was interested to see the Bronte connection and love the idea that this hall could be the inspiration for Jayne Eyre. I love that book and can really believe it was. Walking in the footsteps of Charlotte Bronte, seeing the buildings she explored and the views she saw is like a shared experience. Go Charlotte.
The other cool thing about this place is literally the cool shade welcome on this rapidly warming climb.
We paused for a few minutes to rest ready for the next upward section.
This next section through the wood was steep and unforgiving but thankfully shaded.
We reached the road below Stanage Plantation and to be honest the crags still looked formidable.
We caught up with a group just before these woods. One of their dogs which had slipped its lead was quite carefully chasing a sheep down the hill. They recovered the dog and I believe the sheep was OK. I expressed my disapproval to the group and though not apologising they seemed contrite. Indeed we saw them on top of the Edge later and the dog was on a lead and a makeshift harness, I expressed my approval.
Going through the woods I had to encourage Max as his resources were on the limit. Thankfully he was strong enough to respond.
Emerging from the plantation we were there practically at the base of the crags which suddenly looked so much closer.
We leisurely absorbed the scenery, feeling both refreshed and satisfied.. Stanage Edge doesn't have the dramatic views of Bamford Edge but they are still awesome. However this day was not done and we still had to get to the pole and back to the edge and back to the car. 21/2 miles still left to cover.
It was a short walk over the moor to the pole with long views of Sheffield in the distance.
The pole with Max showing how tall it actually is.
Then across the moor to the car park and home.
A gutsy walk by both of us as that is some ascent, not for the unfit that is for sure.
10.26 miles
1774 feet ascent
4.42 hours mins walking time
2.18 mph
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