- or should that be Ladybower Polygon?

20 miles and 4,000 feet of ascent

On 9th July 2011, seven people put one foot in front of another for eight hours walking in a circle from Fairholmes in the Derwent Valley. It rained a bit then the sun shone. The day was enjoyed by all. That's the short version!

Now for a bit more detail. South Manchester stalwarts Dave G, John, Duncan and Peter, along with Sheena on only her second outing with the group, were joined by Simon from Dudley, and Rebecca from Selby. A steady uphill climb through Hagg Side Woods soon warmed everyone despite the first of several cool showers. The views over Woodlands Valley and towards Kinder and Bleaklow were clear despite occasional threatening rain clouds forming on the western horizon.

Our first point of call was the massive landslip known as Alport Castles. It was soon after the descent into Alport Dale, and a brief encounter with some small boy scouts struggling with heavy camping gear, that John heard by phone that his father-in-law had died. John later suggested that this report could be entitled 'The blind leading the lame and the bereaved' - a suggestion I'll leave to his editorial discretion (publish and be damned - ed.).

By the time we reached Hope Cross the weather brightened and we enjoyed sunshine from the remainder of the walk. Duncan regaled us with an unlikely account of the origins of Win and Lose Hills based on a battle in which the 'w------s from Wessex' were defeated by Hilda wielding her rolling pin - well that's as much as I can remember. It is a long steady climb to Win Hill but we enjoyed the rewarding views followed by a lunch break overlooking Bamford.

After a pleasant descent through Thornhill we arrived at the picturesque stepping stones by Bamford Mill. In the village we marvelled at the skills involved in creating the well-dressing which depicted, using only flower petals, the recent royal marriage. We tackled the stiff climb from the village onto Bamford Edge and then had a brief route discussion, deciding to follow the edge overlooking the Ladybower to Cutthroat Bridge rather than the longer route to Derwent Edge via Bamford Moor and Moscar Lodge. Once we had crossed the A57 we made for the col below Whinstone Lee Tor.

By now it was 4 o clock and time was running out so we took the descending path rather than climbing onto Derwent Edge and ended the walk via the road on the north side of the Ladybower. The water level in the reservoir was low though the drowned villages of Ashopton and Derwent remained hidden below the surface. The walk was completed just after 5pm.

Article by Dave Gosling; photos by Duncan Smith & Peter Schick

 

---