Gradbach to Three Shires Head

 Friday 13th September

The sunrise through the window was spectacular, just before 7 am.

We had breakfast and set off from Snipe Cottage soon after 9 am. The car park at Gradbach had plenty of room at this time, and we started walking just after 9.30. 

We did the route from February in reverse - this way is better, as the climbing is done more quickly and of course more steeply.

We walked back along the road for about 100 yards, before turning left, over a footbridge.

We followed the footpath by the river Dane to a minor road.

Shortly after the cottage there is a footpath to the right. It climbs steeply, through woodland

with ferns and gorse.

We reached an even more minor road shortly before Bennetsitch Farm and followed the road uphill until we reached a footpath on the left which leaves the road quite steeply, just past a farm building, and opposite Hole Edge Farm

The footpath joins a track past a small cottage. 

The sign, barely legible says “Beware of the Dog.” We saw and heard nothing.

As we climbed  higher there were great views over towards the Roaches,

and also to Shutlingsloe.

We met no one until we reached the high point on the moors. The footpath joined Knarr Lane just behind a cottage, and then our route took us over the road to the track to Three Shires Head. We paused for a coffee by this track.

We met a group of walkers and a lone mountain biker on this track. At Three Shires Head itself, there were at least a dozen people, many of them in the water.

It was quieter on the other side of the bridge.

The descent was along the stony track, then downhill over fields far less muddy that in February.

The gentle slope is far better as descent than ascent.

We arrived back at the cottage by 1pm for lunch. 

Almost 5 miles, but quite strenuous, with uneven paths, some bog, and almost 600 feet of climbing.

The cloud cover increased as the morning progressed.

Rudyard Lake - clockwise

 Wednesday 11th September 2024

We went out after coffee and started walking at 1pm . Much quieter than last time we were here, and few dogs this time.

Rudyard Lake circular in the opposite direction from 20th October 2023. So we walked the western, hillier, more scenic side first.

This worked well today as the weather was bright and sunny,

before the rain clouds came over,

as we were walking beneath the trees on the eastern side,

next to the miniature railway track. 4.5 miles.

We had a couple of pauses, one for a Twix at the northern end on the bridge near the bird feeders,

and one on a bench near the dam.

We bought a hot drink at the cafe before returning to Ridgehead farm.

We saw a buzzard, swallows dipping over a grassy field, a couple of blue tits on a feeder, and later some sand martins near the cafe.

Buxton Country Park, Solomon’s Temple and Pavilion Park.

 Thursday 12th September 2024

We went into Buxton, and after the farcical impossibility of paying in the Pavilion car park - machine out of order and phone app not playing - we parked at the country park, and even there had to pay inside the visitor centre! 

A cup of coffee and a scone later we walked up to Solomon’s Temple, and back round to the Visitor Centre.

We followed the short route up the steps and steepish paths through the woods.

We couldn’t resist these two characters from the past.

We made our way up to Grin Low and Solomon’s Temple.

Back across the fields above the camp site, and down through the woods.

Afterwards we walked into Buxton Pavilion Park, where one or two of the trees are beginning to show an autumn glow.

We had a coffee in the cafe there - its ’freshly made sandwiches’ turned out to be pre-packed, so we left lunch until we got back to the ranch.

As we walked back up to the car there was a very loud peal of thunder, but the promised storm didn’t materialise. remarkable views of landscape and clouds along the A53.

Somewhere around 4.3 miles in all. We covered the same ground as our walk last October, with variations.

Gradbach to Lud’s Church

 Tuesday 26th September, with Harry.  Three and a half miles wander with 480 feet of ascent mainly on woodland paths, some of which were a tad muddy. 

We followed signs from the car park at Gradbach, which was busy at lunch time on a September Tuesday.  We walked along the road to our right coming from the car park, and turn to go past the Mill, whose cafe is open only at weekends, close to the scout camping area.

No detailed directions here as we meandered a little, but the place is well worth a visit with its dramatic walls covered in mosses and ferns, lush green and damp at the moment.

Lud’s Church is 18 metres deep and 100 metres long. it was used as a secret place for worship by the Lollards, followers of John Wycliffe who were persecuted in the fifteenth century. There is also the story that Robin Hood and Friar Tuck once used it as a hiding place from the authorities.

It has been suggested as the location inspiring the medieval poem Sir Gawain and the Green Knight.

Earl Sterndale to Hollinsclough, via Chrome Hill and Hollins Hill

 Monday 25th September 2023, with Harry.  

A circular route of just over 6 miles, involving 1050 feet of ups and downs. Steep climbs at that and slightly slippery in places. Muddier underfoot than when we were last in the area.  The weather was fine, so we seized the day. It was pretty gusty on the tops.

We set off at 10.30 and took the path just after the Quiet Woman. 

The pub is being renovated, with plans for some holiday accommodation, and the path has been diverted slightly.

We followed the route behind houses and across the shoulder of Hitter Hill, heading northwest, then west, with good views of the Dragons Back

The path swings southwest to cross the road between Glutton Bridge and Glutton Dale. Glutton Farm is on the right. Today we didn’t climb Parkhouse Hill, but followed the lower level path.

 This goes more or less west, and turns right (north) along the minor road at the point where a bridleway/track heads west.

The footpath for Chrome Hill (1394 feet) goes off to the left, and we followed it directly up the hill, through a wooded section, then open grass and rocks.

 At one point we saw a kestrel hovering.  Lots of flowers still, harebells, hawksbit, yarrow, gorse…Views back to Parkhouse Hill are dramatic.

The wind was noticeable at the top but we found a sheltered grassy patch to indulge in a coffee.

The way down was slightly tricky in one or two places, mainly because of dampness underfoot.

We took the path through a gate and headed north alongside a wall, going quite steeply uphill. The path turns left and and goes gently downwards, curving west then south. We turned left after passing Booth Farm and the entrance to a track (labelled ‘No access to Booth Farm’. 

The path next to the drystone wall.

A short steep climb to the top of Hollins Hill, a tumulus, at 1480 feet, and a long gentle slope downhill, with a drystone wall on our right. 

Chrome Hill and Parkhouse Hill

This took us down to join a track to the footbridge over a brook and into the village of Hollinsclough.

 The cafe is not open on Mondays, but we sat on a bench nearby to eat our sandwiches. We’d done 4 miles by now, though it felt more. Definitely not my usual Northants terrain, nor yet the New Forest.

Along the road towards Longnor for a short distance. We passed some vociferous ducks in the brook, and saw lots of house martins flying around, feeding for the long flight south.

To return we decided to follow the bridleway/ track back to the track round the bottom of Parkhouse Hill, and retrace the footpath back to base. 

At the start of this track is Hollinsclough Honesty shop, where we bought some Staffordshire honey and a piece of cake each.

A surprisingly strenuous walk.