Day 4 - Stanage Edge

Colder last night but the promise of a clear day. Breakfasted, washed and out by 10.30 and drove to Upper Burbage to park at the start of a walk where the top of yesterday's ended. The route took us to Stanage Edge, a bouldered gritstone cliff with a partially wooded valley on one side and flat moorland filled with noisy grouse on the other. After an easy incline the views were soon stunning especially as the sun began to break through onto the fields below.

Saw the Cowper stone and a couple of natural caves before dipping down an ancient road and stopping on a flat boulder for lunch halfway down the valley. Fortified we continued on over a stony path and around a small copse before we came to a tarmaced track for the homeward stretch. With a different perspective on the Edge from the valley, a slow meander up hill past sheep and streams in the warming sun was glorious.

We passed cyclists and saw climbers on the rocks, all drawn out by the weather (although still chilly in the breeze and shade). S took an uphill scrambly path back whilst we girls kept to the road. The car was a welcome sight for G! Drove back down into Hathersage for home-made cake and tea at Cintra's tea rooms and bought a couple of postcards before heading home for hot showers.

7 miles, 4 1/2 hours.

Hot showers and we were out for supper to the Cheshire Cheese pub in Hope. A really cosy place complete with a roaring fire by which we sat. Venison, cottage pie and steak & onion pie with Bakewell bitter, Buxton pale ale, Peak Nick bitter on tap. All home made food and extremely good. Shared toffee cheesecake and a cheeseboard for pudding before home for wine and Scrabble: J wins (3-0).




Words by J