Leader: Peter

Difficulty: Strenuous

Start time: 10:15

End time: 16:30

Start point: SK204864 Ladybower Inn

End point: SK172893 Fairholmes

Distance (in miles): 10

Ascent (in meters): 590

Is your walk dog friendly?: No

Full description: 

An old favourite of mine, this walk starts with a steep ascent up to Whinstone Lee Tor and then along Derwent Edge, with great views over Ladybower Reservoir and the 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. Eventually we'll come out of the end of the valley and either follow the easy path along Derwent Reservoir, or climb again to the ruins of Bamford House, before finishing at Fairholmes.

Most of the paths are good, but beware the first climb that's been severely eroded by mountain bikes in recent years, and there also is a short distance on the moor with no path. Bring good walking boots.

Public transport or car sharing options: 

Catch the 257 bus leaving Sheffield Interchange at 09:45. Return buses run hourly. The finish point is around 3 miles from the start.