Leader: Peter

Difficulty: Strenuous

Start time: 10:15

End time: 16:30

Start and end point (circular route): SK172893 Fairholmes

Distance (in miles): 11.5

Ascent (in meters): 638

Is your walk dog friendly?: No

Full description: 

A modification to an old favourite of mine, this walk starts heading to a quiet corner of Ladybower to climb up Dovestone Clough, walking along the hillside with great views over the reservoir before zig-zagging up to Derwent Edge and its weird gritstone rock formations. Hopefully, the heather will be in flower and the moors will turn purple. Our summit is at Back Tor, where you'll be able to see a gash in the landscape in the distance.
 
Where most other walkers turn back, we continue towards that gash: the enormous and beautiful valley of Abbey Brook. The path clings to the side of this valley for a walk that I've been told looks - albeit briefly – like walking in Scotland. As the valley opens out we'll climb back onto the moor for some last views over Derwent Reservoir, before descending back to Fairholmes.
 
Most of the paths are good, there are a couple of sections with poor or no path, where it may be boggy. Bring good walking boots.

Public transport or car sharing options: 

Sadly there are no buses running to Fairholmes anymore, so please arrange car shares in the Meetup comments.