Curbar Edge

 4th November 2020

CURBAR GAP, BASLOW EDGE, OVER END, CURBAR, RIDDING HOUSE FARM, BEE WOOD, FROGGATT WOOD, HAYWOOD, GROUSE NN, STOKE FLAT QUAGMIRE, FROGGATT EDGE, CURBAR EDGE, CURBAR GAP, CURBAR ROAD LAY-BY.

Distance: 10 miles.

Difficulty: Mostly easy with one particularly tough hill climb

Weather: Dry with sunny spells

Walkers: Andy Blease, Tom Cunliffe with Daisy, Chris Owen, Jock Rooney, Dean Taylor, Dave Willets

Alternative Walkers: None

Apologies: Mickey Barrett, Peter Beal, Alastair Cairns, George Dearsley (in London), Mark Gibby, Hughie Hardiman, Alan Hart, Howard Jones, Julian Ross.

Leader: Cunliffe. Diarist: Cunliffe.

Starting point: Curbar Road Lay-by along

Starting time: 9.45am. Finishing time: 3.00pm

From an early morning exchange of texts between Colin and me I was informed that the Alternative Walkers would not be participating today, apparently, Laurie’s Mrs (the lovely Wendy) had contracted Coronavirus sod Laurie was duly isolating himself. We wish Wendy a speedy recovery

A fantastic wander through the Derbyshire Dales with something for everybody, open fields, sleepy villages, woodland paths, a hill climb, open boggy moorland and the majestic views afforded us by an incredible edge walk. Spendicious!

As the good doctor had ordered (so to speak), we had a turnout of six wanderers, and with magnificent vistas from our parking places we picked up the footpath directly opposite the lay-by. We travelled in a southerly direction along Baslow Edge whilst being continually treated to magnificent views of Baslow and the wider area.

Our party crossed a number of fields and stiles all in a downward direction before picking up a metalled road heading SW. Continuing downhill we entered the tiny and unremarkable hamlet of Over End. At a junction we turned right and headed north through the village which ran parallel to Curbar Edge, eventually the lane turning in to a farm track, through Gorse Bank Farm and then more footpath. Eventually we entered the village of Curbar (a dormer village where nothing really happens). Crossing the road and continuing, we turned right at Warren Cottage way marked with a finger post, we crossed a field and kids playground for about 400 metres. At the top of the field we passed through a stile where we were presented with a collection of low level gritstone rocks which proved to be an ideal spot for pietime.

Suitable refreshed we continued through a couple of stiles before entering Bee Wood, the first of our woodland paths. After a mile or so we reached Froggatt Road and turned right, on reaching Woodbine House we turned sharp left and once again downhill before picking up the footpath on our right into Froggatt Wood.

Apart from the occasional stretch of crappy mud we duly entered Haywood, before turning east and starting our one kilometre head-dripping, lung-busting, heart-stomping, thigh-burning climb out of the wood to reach a stile. With the pub in our sites we quickened our pace across the field arriving at the Grouse Inn. We took a table outside before realising how chilly it was in spite of the bright sunshine, we decided to move inside. Here, we enjoyed pints of cider and Wainwright bitter at £4 a pint. On this occasion there were no complaints about the price since we were so grateful for our much needed thirst quencher.

Finishing our drinks, we left the pub turning right along the road before crossing over to pick up the footpath on our left, (mistake, big mistake). Why oh why didn’t I consult my map??

Through the gate we proceeded along the path which appeared to veer off to the left, intuitively I knew we should be going to the right. Rather than defer to my map and head back to the road, I rather foolishly decided we should go off piste and head across the moor to pick up the Froggatt Edge path.

Oh my giddy aunts, what a cock-up; with ankle deep water, mud, clumps of rock hard grass/reed our ankles were being twisted in all direction. All of a sudden we came to area which appeared more watery than we would like, Dave chose discretion over valour, he and others turned away looking for an alternative route through this crap, of course I knew best! Leaping on to what appeared to be a solid looking clump I sank in the water and mud up to a mid thigh depth whereupon my testicles shot upwards entering my stomach for protection. As I felt myself slowly sinking further in to the quagmire my whole life flashed before me as I thought I was about to meet a watery grave and an inglorious end to my life, I cried out for help but my chums couldn't do anything for laughing. Only Jock showed any kind of concern but he remained rooted to his little island of terra firma. Somehow and with almighty strength, determination and a will to live, I managed to extricate myself from the clawing mud and impending doom. Once ashore and with my chums still laughing and my dignity in tatters, we continued on our merry way with my boots squelching, marking- time with every step. As Fleetwood Mac once said….Oh well.

Once we had reached the correct path we were treated to amazing views for the full length of Froggatt Edge and then Curbar Edge occasionally punctuated with enormous outcrops of gritstone lauding it over the valley below. In the distance we could see the omnipresent chimney of the Hope Valley Cement Works, a blot on this wonderful landscape and no mistake.

Eventually we reached the end of Curbar edge, we descended at Curbar Gap, on reaching Curbar Road, we turned right arriving back at our cars. We all went home, no pub!

Next week's walk, 11th November, will start at 9.40am from Danebridge where Chris will lead us up to Croker Hill and back. Sadly, no pubs.

Important Notice Fellow Wanderers - in order to comply with the law of the land, we must walk in pairs, if more than 2 people turn up we must remain in pairs and walk at a respectable distance of say 10 metres.

Happy wandering !