Home Start Point Peak District Text Only Diary

Summary

The walk starts at Crowden, walks down Torside Reservoir before crossing to the opposite bank and proceeding down the Longdendale Trail towards Hadfield. Before Hadfield you cut up to Padfield and then cross rolling farm land to Old Glossop. The journey onto the moors starts here up a good track, then up onto Yellow Slacks and upwards to Higher Shelf Stones. You then cross moorland to Hern Stones and ascend to Wain Stones and Bleaklow Head. Here at the highest point you drop down on the Pennine Way to Torside Clough where you leave the path and traverse down the eastern side of the Clough to Torside Naze. You then turn north east and follow the southern edge of the Etherow Valley to Stable Clough. From here you descend to the Longdendale Trail, track back to the Woodhead/Glossop Road before returning along the banks of the Torside Reservoir to Crowden.

For the first part of the route up to the top of Yellow Stacks the paths are good and the route finding easy, as is the descent from Stable Clough and the walk back to the car park. However, the remainder is over moorland that is generally pathless with the exception of a section from Bleaklow Head on the Pennine Way. Having said that, unless the visibility is poor route finding is not difficult; in poor visibility though a great deal of care is needed especially on the section from Yellow Stacks to Bleaklow Head

It's an excellent walk if the visibility is good, so choose a clear day. You will appreciate the views of the Dark Peak from the tops and of the Etherow Valley. On a good day you can see Snowdonia. The walk up to Yellow Slacks gives good views that are worth the climb

It's quite a desolate walk in places although you will meet people on the PW and the Longdendale Trail but few other places.

The Dark Peak is a good place to visit in the summer. Good views are complimented by the beauty of the moors, as they are covered in cotton grass and fauna plus there is lots of wildlife.

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