Stanton Moor from Winster

Took a run out to the recently discovered Stanton Moor, parking at the free car park by the school in Winster.  Have headed out of the village west before and worked my may around to Birchover, which would make for an excellent circular, but on this morning I headed off to Clough Wood and incorporated some out and back between it and the Moor.
 Forecast had it as a cloudy day, but I had been out the day before when the forecast said sunny spells and it had been miserable so who knew.
Driving over I had left the mist in the valley and had hit a gloriously sunny morning,

Watt's Engine House

Going down the road from the car park its only 100 or so metres before there is a stile on the left hand side and a path which takes you through several fields and works it way down to the brook and into the woods.  Pretty soggy along the woodland paths down at the bottom so be prepared for wet feet if down there out of the dry weather. Taking a sharp left as you leave the woods briefly, takes you past the remains of an old Pump house and then back into the trees.

Climbing up through the woods and taking the right fork at a meeting of the paths, will bring you out onto Clough Lane.  Taking a left and continuing to climb out of the valley for about 500m brings you to a cross roads of footpaths, with the path to the right being the one to take you up to Stanton Moor.

Taking the path up the field, seen in the picture on the left, and down the next brings you to Barn Farm where there is a campsite and, on a previous visit, quite a number of peacocks, but no sign of them on this occasion.  The footpath is clearly signed and brings you out onto the road.  Turning right here for a couple of hundred metres will bring you to a stile and a path leading up onto the Moor.

Earl Grey Tower

Stanton Moor has enough in it to warrant a visit on its own.  Plenty of different paths winding through sand stone quarries, Stone circles and even its own tower.  There are terrific views across the Derwent Valley and to Matlock, though not for me as the cloud has rolled in at this point and the best of the weather for the day is behind me.
I have taken an anti clock wise loop of the Moor, taking in the views to the East before meeting the Earl Grey tower, which I had not seen before, and then moving on to the 9 ladies stone circle and completing the loop in and out of the quarries and passing the Cork stone before retracing the path back the the road.

Looking back to the Nine Ladies from the King Stone

The Cork stone at the southernn end of the Moor

Tracing my route back through Barn Farm, along Clough Lane and back into the woods, I have taken a right at the fork in the path to take a different route through the woods, remaining high for some time before dropping down into the valley and back up to Winster to come out on the road just a 100m or so up from the car park.
I have read that the bluebells are particularly good in Clough wood so this certainly demands another visit in the spring.

Bamford Edge-Ladybower-Win Hill walk

 

I always like to get out for a walk on New Year’s Day.  Bit of a tradition, and so often it’s a cracking day weather wise.  Well this year wasn’t one of them but it was certainly good enough to make the trip out worthwhile.

I’d never been up to Bamford edge before, but having seen many photos taken from there I was determined to make it at some point and when I heard that the sinkholes were just starting to overflow the route choice was decided.  

And what a route!  It’s certainly one I’ll do again as it has so much of interest, so many photo opportunities, and some great views of the peak district.  It almost felt a bit greedy having it all in one walk. 

After parking in Bamford just below the excellent Angler’s Rest Pub and Rest Café we picked up a quick coffee to go and headed up Bamford Clough.  Here we were greeted with a road closed sign but assumed that did not mean pedestrian access and carried on.  I would describe the Clough as a track at best and it is a steep climb to the top but the quick height gain can be appreciated by the expanding views. 

 

Looking back down Bamford Clough

From the top of the track (where looking back it says footpath closed – might be worth checking out if attempting to follow this route) it’s over the road and onto Bamford Edge.  You can stick to the main footpath but must work your way over to the rocks on the edge at some point to pick up the vista which includes Win Hill and much of Ladybower.  A classic Peak District View.  In the picture, you can just see the white water of the overflow in the corner by the dam.

We carried on walking along the edge until when reaching a wall cutting across the path, we took the path leading down the left which leads through some moss covered woodland and eventually over a stile into the wood, where you can then work your way through to the main road and the dam at the bottom of the reservoir.  

Again, having no recollection of seeing the sinkholes in action this is a real treat and plenty of photos taken at either end of the dam.

 

Taking a right at the end of the dam and then a left fork begins the climb up to Win Hill.  There are various path options on the way up, but we managed to pick the correct path which leads out of the woods via some steps and brings us to the heather that covers the north side of the hill.  A tremendous sight in the autumn when the purple flowers cover the heather.  Still a lovely brown on this New Year’s Day and the sun is making its first appearance as we make our way up the paths that cut through the heather and up onto the ridge.  Then the final ascent onto the rocks and the fantastic 360 degree views.

After a quick bit of cake and a drink it’s the descent back down towards Bamford, and it’s here that route choices started to work against us slightly but made for an entertaining finish to the walk.  Firstly, about half way down we had a choice of dropping straight down to the valley or taking the slower descent across the fields to Thornhill.  The Thornhill route proved to be a pleasant route with good views until we arrived at the sign post.  After that is was an absolute mud slide down to the Thornhill cycle way at the bottom.  Son number two kept us entertained with a comedy fall and the rest of us managed to just about keep our feet with much slipping and a sliding.

 

 Once at the bottom we made a cut across the fields to complete our walk by crossing the Derwent river by the picturesque Bamford Mill.  But what I hadn’t banked on was that the crossing was half bridge and half stepping stones and that the second half of the stones would be well under water.  Half an hour later when round the other side I did watch a man in wellies easily make the crossing but with a guarantee of some very wet feet and the fast-flowing water, meant that a retreat was in order and, as the route shows, a detour via the Thornhill way back to Bamford.  Still no issue as the café was still open and drinks and cakes were enjoyed by the fire as the rain that had pretty much held off all day began to pour down.  Perfect timing.