Dark Peak National Park

Stanage Edge & Redmires Reservoir

10.5miles 1500ft

Setting off across Hallam Moor in the weak early morning sunshine

Starting the climb onto Stanage Edge, one of the many gritstone ridges in this national park

Arriving on the long almost flat ridge edge

There were a number of these large holes in rocks, they were carved 100 years ago to collect rain water for the grouse

Looking west into the high central peak district

Ladybower reservoir in the Derwent valley

Looking southeast to what I think are Lose Hill & Mam Tor

The Derwent valley again with Hathersage village in the distance

Zooming in on Hathersage

High Neb trig point 1503ft the highest point of the walk

From near the trig point a path descends to a parallel path just beneath the edge....

....Looking back along the lower path....

.....and ahead to where it climbs back onto the edge

Back on the summit a good path leads across the moor to Stanage Pole at 1437ft. This has marked the boundary between South Yorkshire & Derbyshire since at least 1550

Leaving the pole behind I descended to Redmires reservoirs

It was a lovely route down with an abundance of heather & wild flowers

Standing on Quarry hill just above the reservoirs is this distinctive war memorial in the local Sheffield steel

The Rowan berries at their beautiful red best

A Red Admiral butterfly feeding on heather nectar

Nearing the final descent to the A57 cross Pennines route....

....and my car!

After all the rain in the north west I drove south east and found not only very dry ground underfoot but also some sunshine! It also proved to be a great walk with lots of interesting features....I'll be coming back!!

 Return to the 'Dales 30'

(Fells over 2000ft in the Yorkshire Dales National Park)

Fountains fell & Darnbrook fell

9miles 1500ft

After parking on the minor road between Ribblesdale and Littondale, I followed the Pennine Way east.... 

....to start the climb up Fountains fell still covered in cloud

Heading north on the Pennine Way I met Mathew who was walking this long distance path. He had spent the night camping out on the fell in some pretty bleak and wild conditions! "Hope you made it to Hawes Matthew as intended." It seemed a very long walk to me!

Gaining height but still in cloud at this point....

....and still misty as I reached the summit plateau with a mine shaft warning, however...

....as I walked across the summit to the highest point the cloud lifted off Pen y Ghent to west...

....and as I reached the summit cairn 2192ft it also cleared to the east

Zooming in on Pen y Ghent

One of the many mine shafts warned about earlier

 After heading north across the boggy summit I arrived at Darnbrook fell summit trig point 2047ft. The peat around the concrete pillar support had completely eroded leaving the pillar well above ground level

Starting the descent to Littondale with Plover fell and Pen y Ghent across the dale....

.....and again

Pen y Ghent House 

The return walk was a just a lovely gentle stroll of 3 or 4 miles along this good bridleway....

Arriving back at the car. 

Once back here I drove the short distance to Malham tarn.... 

....where I had my lunch by the waters edge

Two more of the 'Dales 30' completed. Just numbers  29 & 30  left to climb. They are Yockenthwaite Moor  and Birks fell

 Swindale to Mardale & Return

11miles 1750ft

Setting off from Swindale Foot on a lovely summer's morning

Crossing Swindale Beck into.....

....the RSPB nature reserve

Passing through the reserve I saw a Common Buzzard on a hunting mission....

....and this beautiful large Golden Ringed Dragon Fly. They can have tails up to 8.5cm long which this one seemed to have. They don't sting but can bite, fortunately they're unable to break the skin!

At the head of Swindale are Forces Falls, a series of waterfalls descending from Swindale Common.... 

....and again

Leaving the falls I passed through the glacial drumlins heading for the 'Old Corpse Road' from Mardale

Looking back down the 'Corpse Road' as I climbed towards Mardale. 

I didn't fancy foraging those for my tea!

Reaching Mardale Common the fells above Haweswater appeared....

...including High Street & Kidsty Pike....

....and now Harter fell above Mardale Head. The ruins of the village of Mardale have been under the water at the head of the reservoir since the valley was flooded in 1957. They appear sometimes in very dry spells.

The Rigg at the foot of Riggindale crags almost divides the reservoir in two

Two fell runners stopped to admire the view...

I did the same here to have my lunch...

This Mountain Ash tree in front made a lovely silhouette with the blue of the water

....continuing along the side of the reservoir I stopped briefly at the rather nice Haweswater Hotel...

....with tables overlooking the water

On reaching the dam I then began the short climb back over to Swindale passing through....

....Naddle farm where the RSPB are working hard to encourage a variety of wild life back to the area. Here they have planted lots of tree seeds, the seedlings from which will be planted back into the area. 

Finally the last descent to the car back in Swindale

Another beautiful summer's day and a delightful walk with plenty of interest and magnificent views!