STANAGE AGAIN

One of our frequently visited walks this week as we are on a tighter than usual time schedule, and Stanage fits the bill perfectly. 

We meet up in the car park at Burbage Bridge and spend a while in the car catching up with important news and eating chocolates (a pre-Easter present from Mollie). We also bemoan the chill here, which neither of us felt when we left our respective homes. So it is on with the layers against the chill.

Suitably fortified with chocolates we set off up the road a little distance then cross over onto the path leading to Stanage Edge.

The weather isn't brilliant, but it isn't raining and there is the odd glimmer of sunshine. There are also a lot of people out. Yes, this is a popular spot, but it is maybe also an indication of the looming Easter holidays. Some people are clearly already enjoying the break.

The one thing you can guarantee on Stanage is the view in all directions. Of course, Mollie isn't interested in the view, only in the dog biscuits in my pocket!

It's a short stroll up to the trig point and surprisingly there is no one else there - at the moment, anyway. So we walk over to it to enjoy even more views.

We are on the very tip of the Edge here and although we have walked its entire length in the past we won't be doing that today.

Today is an easy day; lots of talking and no need to even bother with the map. 

As usual, it is very windy up here (when isn't it?) so we hunt for somewhere to sit that is reasonably sheltered. Eventually we find some rocks that are close to the edge but away from the main path. We enjoy a nip from the secret flask, then a superb coffee before eating our lunch.

Just before we are about to start our pudding course we are joined by a climber who has had a bit of a scary ascent of the rocks (or so he informs us as he stands at the rocks just behind us). We don't feel it would be fair to start pudding yet, so we wait until he has finished talking and moved away.

Out come the puddings; pots of profiteroles - choux pastry, fresh cream, caramel sauce and chocolate sauce. So yummy. And they must look good to Mollie too as she is drooling, until she is allow an almost empty pot to lick clean.

Suitably replete we walk on, continuing a little further along the length of the Edge.

There are so many people about now, though. And Mollie makes a fuss of everyone, thoroughly enjoying the attention she is getting.

Eventually though, with our eye on the time, we turn back the way we came, retracing our steps until we find the path before the trig point that leads down.

Within a few paces we are on a level again, with no one else on this path being a bonus.

On the Edge to our left, and on the ground too, we find abandoned mill stones all cut and ready to move when the market for them dried up. A sign of the industrial past in this area.

 We continue along the path until it meets the road, then cross over and through a very tight kissing gate (difficult with a rucksack on) which leads us across the land between this road and the next. We are very close to the roadside edge of Higger Tor now.

Once again we go through one gate, cross the road, then back onto moorland through another. Now it is a straightforward walk following the contours of the roadside fence until we are back at the car park. 

We have timed it perfectly, we are back with 10 minutes to spare.