Saturday 3rd October Burbage Edge

A blustery October weekend brought not only the first real taste of the autumnal cold but also a favourite walk along estate tracks and gritstone edges. The walk starts and finishes in front of Longshaw Lodge on the National Trust Longshaw Estate. With easy access for public transport and parking, this is one of the most popular areas for walking in the peak district national park.

The Longshaw estate has an interesting history, once a shooting lodge, frequented by royalty; it now serves as a focal point for the natural history of the area, with talks and guided tours being carried out throughout the year.

The walk starts by taking you into the depths of the estate by following a well designated path to be found to the left of the lodge and along a ha-ha. This is not a laugh, but a centuries old device for keeping livestock away from the house, whilst maintaining the illusion of a continuous sward of grass. The pasture land in front of you is where the annual Longshaw Sheepdog Trials take place. Continuing on through a gate you cross moor land to reach a road. Turn right and then re-enter the estate taking a path down through marsh land a woods to reach a lane via the back of a house. Walk down this lane and cross the busy Grindleford road at Nether Padley to reach the railway station at Grindleford. The cafe at Grindleford station is somewhat of an institution particularly for its notices telling you what you may or more frequently may not do. Do not be discouraged, the food is cheerful and plentiful and a pint mug of tea is just the order on a blustery day. You can drink your tea whilst watching trains arrive through the Totley Tunnel and why not, you have just spent the last hour or so walking all over it.

Having being refreshed you walk across the road bridge to enter Padley Gorge, first stopping to admire the small chapel, all that remains from a manor house of the 14th century The area more recently was testament to the days when this area was thronging with people working in the local quarries producing the distinctive gritstone grinding wheels for the cutlers in Sheffield. A steep climb up a well made lane brings you into the wooded gorge and what a treat this is. Numerous waterfalls of Burbage Brook tumble down the gorge from your starting point. The area is on of Special Scientific Interest for its flora and fauna so take care where you put your feet. A clear path over rocks and stones leads the way to the top where a small bridge takes you back to the Longshaw. However, we turn left through a deep gully to reach the Sheffield to Hathersage road at Owler Tor.

Whilst here a small detour to the left is rewarded with a breathtaking and unexpected view down the Hope Valley to Castleton. It is no coincidence that this is called Surprise View and certainly seems to be for many speeding motorists.Turn immediately right at Owler Tor and walk across heath land on undefined paths. You may have to pick your way through, but you will also release the smell of heather, which in autumn is wonderful. You are aiming for a well trodden path that takes you up to the iron age fort of Carl Wark, to be seen on the horizon for miles around. A brief climb brings you into the fort and you can spend time wondering what it must have been like back then when this was occupied. If it was anything like today, very windy indeed. Looking up you will see what appears to be another fort on the horizon. This is Higger Tor a natural feature and your next waypoint. Follow the clear path between the two to attain the summit.

Once at the road, ignore footpaths to the right and go straight ahead across the road, more moor land and reaching another road; follow this down until you reach a car park. From the car park walk along the valley bottom until you reach another road, where a footpath to your right takes you through woodland and up a stiff climb to bring you out on Stanage Edge.On reaching the top spend a moment to take in the panorama that is before you, in the distance you can see Mam Tor and beyond the Kinder plateau. Behind the Don and Dearne Valleys of industrial South Yorkshire. To your left, Burbage Edge, Higger Tor, Froggatt and Curbar Edge and in the far distance the Chatsworth Estate.

Stanage Edge Climbers

Turn right heading back towards the Longshaw Estate, soon you will come to the Stanage Pole, a little off the path to your left. It is worth a small detour if only for a sit down and a photo opportunity. Stanage Pole is a marker for the ancient driver’s road that went from Cheshire to Sheffield. Back on to the path this is a simple ridge walk past some beautiful scenery and giving stunning views. You will be joined in the area by a plethora of climbers. This has been a breeding ground for some of the best climbers in the world and continues to be so, although it is strange to see so many walking to the rocks with mattresses on their back!! Keep walking until you pass a trig point and come to a road. Before you is Burbage Edge and below that is the wooded valley that separates the edge from Higger Tor and Carl Wark. To your left is an ice cream van, which is much more important on a hot day, hopefully the van will be selling 99's with a flake.

Take up the trail again along Burbage Edge and follow this until you see the main Sheffield to Hathersage road again. On the way, notice the small but perfectly built stone bridge over Burbage Brook in the valley below, beneath Carl Wark. Now cross the road and regain the Longshaw Estate, taking the rising path through the pasture and arriving back at Longshaw Lodge and the National Trust visitor centre and cafe. If you have timed the walk well, you will be able to sit at the outside tables, drink tea and eat scones and cream, ice cream van permitting!!, whilst gazing out to Higger Tor and Carl Wark.

This is a wonderful walk and can be broken in to several circular routes that would be ideal for families especially those with small children.

On a fine day you will have experienced moor land, heath land, rocks, gorges, waterfalls, ancient history not to mention ice cream, egg and chips and large mugs of tea.

Have a good week all of you.