Cold and clear ...

It's just under three months since we walked up Coombs Dale, not far from Calver and Stoney Middleton. It was a cold, very clear day as we set off from Calver and walked up the dale ... soon to be overtaken by a couple of mountain bikers.

It was so cold that some of the grass at the side of the little stream in the dale had frozen ...



We had the dale largely to ourselves though ...









Once we'd got to Black Harry Gate, we swung sharp left to follow the track leading up to the top of Longstone Edge and Bleaklow ...



It was from about here that we had more company ... mountain bikes and motor bikes. In fact it was just after the photo below was taken that we were passed by a mountain biker who then promptly fell off his bike ... and jumped back up as quickly.

 Perhaps he was too busy gawping at Natasha and thinking "she looks like a better looking older version of Halle Berry ..."



Many walkers probably think it's a bit bare around here but I love it.



We stopped for a coffee just as five guys on motor bikes went past. None of them gave us a wave ... or a nod.



Mind you, I don't suppose we waved or nodded at them either ...

Once we'd got beyond Bleaklow we swung left towards Calver and, in the distance, the Edges. I think this is largely Baslow Edge below.



We then swung a little bit further to the left because in the photos below it's Baslow Edge to the right and Curbar Edge to the left ...





Then we were walking above Back Dale Quarry near Peak Pasture ...



Before we knew it we'd reached Calver and were walking back to the car. On the way we passed this large trough [with two more, end on, behind it] underneath a turf and stone overhang.



What is it ?

Date of walk ~ 7th March 2010

Length of walk ~ 5 miles

Total walked so far in 2010 ~ 34 3/4 miles

Total walked since 1st September 2009 ~ 164 3/4 miles

8 of 2010

Black Harry Gate ...

The weather was fine but on the cool side as I walked away from Calver, taking the footpath just up the road from the Garden Centre.







The footpath joins a green lane [which is no more than a footpath though it looks as though it should be a bridleway]. This green lane climbs for over half a mile towards the crest of Longstone Edge ...







Once I'd got to Longstone Edge, I followed the unclassified county road towards Bleaklow Farm. At the entrance to the farm there's a biggish quarry. It amazes me that there's still any stone still there to take away ...



   You can see a couple of guys standing in the bottom of the quarry and one of the lorries carting off a bit more of Derbyshire on the top.

There's a warning to keep clear ...



I followed the track towards Black Harry Gate ...





  Black Harry Gate has changed over the 30 years I have been walking ~ there didn't used to be large lorries trundling past back then. They have rather messed the place up ...





As you can see, my boots didn't look so good after trying to avoid the deepest bits ...



I walked down Coombs Dale ...







Further down the dale a new pool has been created ... and there's another warning ...



... but the water doesn't look too deep.



Further on the surface of the path gets easier. There are fewer large-ish stones to turn an ankle on and the scenery changes character too, becoming more wooded ...



When I got back to Calver crossroads I went into the cafe at Outside, the outdoor shop. I treated myself to an all day breakfast. I did show some self control and just had the small breakfast, five items for £3.50 ~ I didn't think I would be able to cope with the ten item breakfast one.

Date of walk ~ 19th October 2009


Length of walk ~ 5 1/4 miles.


Total since 1st September 2009 ~ 58 1/2 miles