FOUR EDGES
July 10, 2024
CURBAR GAP, BASLOW EDGE, WELLINGTON’S MONUMENT, BIG MOOR, WHITE EDGE, GROUSE INN ON A625, FROGGATT EDGE, CURBAR EDGE
Distance: 8 miles Ascent/descent: 1,080ft
Difficulty: Easy
Weather: Cloudy but dry, and breezy
Walkers: Peter Beal, Mike Cassini, Chris Owen
Alternative walker: Jock Rooney with Milly
Apologies: Andy Blease, Alastair Cairns, Julian Ross (all on outside broadcast assignment at Spanish golf), Tom Cunliffe (hospital appointment), Alan Hart (getting burst blood vessel in eye checked), Dean Taylor (diabetic review), Keith Welsh, Simon Williams (unspecified), Cliff Worthington (away), Mark Gibby (visitors)
Leader: Beal Diarist: Beal
Starting point: Curbar Gap
Starting time: 10.00am Finishing time: 2.37pm
A combination of medical appointments, other commitments, and in the case of Andy, Alastair and Julian, an exciting engagement at a golf tournament in Spain, saw our numbers reduced to a mere three for today’s outing.
I have dubbed the route the Four Edges walk, taking in as it did Baslow Edge, White Edge, Froggatt Edge and Curbar Edge in a scenic circular trip from Curbar Gap. Occasional rain was forecast, but as so often it never happened, except for a few isolated drops.
White Edge is the least known of the edges, lacking any striking rock formations the others offer, or any reputation among the rock-climbing fraternity. But it is the highest at just over 1,200 feet and rewards the gentle climb with panoramic views over the Derbyshire and Yorkshire hills.
Our small band rendezvoused at the three lay-bys close to each other just below Curbar Gap and set off in the direction of Baslow Edge. We stayed a short distance away from the escarpment and after passing a lone prominent boulder took a track on the left which soon brought us to the gritstone cross of Wellington’s Monument (20 minutes).
This modest edifice was erected to commemorate the Duke of Wellington’s 1815 victory at Waterloo by Dr Wrench, a local Army man. It was intended to complement a memorial to Admiral Nelson on Birchen Edge, just over a mile to the east.
At the time it seems the two monuments could have been seen from one another. But trees and bushes have obscured the Wellington memorial so it only becomes visible from close-up. Some of the fading lettering on the base can still be made out, with the words ‘Wellington. Born 1769 Died 1852. Erected in 1866 by E M Wrench.’
Leaving the monument we followed the track across the open moorland, passing highland cattle with two very young calves, and crossed the minor road that runs between Curbar and Chesterfield to the east (38 min).
Your diarist made a mental note here to do his best to try and comply with the sign requesting walkers to do as little as possible to disturb the adders that apparently lurk on this moorland – Big Moor.
We followed the path, vague in places where it had become overgrown, up a steady climb of around 400 feet to reach the trig point on White Edge, a short distance from which we declared pietime, delayed because of our rather late start (80 min).
Resuming, we continued along a more distinct path along the edge, towards the true top of the moor around half a mile distant at 1,204 feet. Splendid views were on all sides and the outskirts of Chesterfield and Sheffield could be made out to the east.
As we made our way along the edge Chris decided to throw in one of his customary bursts of speed and disappeared from view, not to reappear until the bar of the pub shortly after.
Around a mile-and-a-half from the top of the edge we reached a broken stone wall where a sign marked Grouse Inn pointed downhill to the left. We followed down a distinct track.
Some way down here your diarist suffered a rather crashing face-first fall after tripping on a rock. He was scraped off the floor by Mike, suffering nothing more serious than a badly bruised finger. This, he lately discovered to his alarm, badly affected his ability to clutch a pint glass.
After a short, rocky stretch down through a copse we came to a field, on the other side of which was the Grouse Inn, across the A625 (125 min). Chris was awaiting us and we were soon joined by Jock and Milly, who had walked along Froggatt Edge.
Beers were Marston’s Pedigree (£4-80) and, we later discovered hiding around the bar, excellent Farmer’s Blonde from the Bradfield Brewery near Sheffield (£4-60). Chris most generously supplied out second round of drinks.
Under way again after a 75-minute break, we turned right down the main road for a few hundred yards, taking a footpath sign to Froggatt Edge on the left at a lay-by. This soon led to the start of Froggatt Edge, where we swung left to follow it and then Curbar Edge for
just over two miles of mainly level walking before reaching Curbar Gap a short distance away from the cars (202 min).
Next week’s walk will start at 9.45am at Ashford-in-the-Water. This can be reached on the A6 through Buxton, or following the A623 through Peak Forest and following a sign to the right down the B6465, fairly soon after the Tideswell turn. The meeting point will be outside the church in Ashford-in-the-Water. There is usually street parking opposite or nearby. Or there is a small car park next to the WCs round the corner (£2 donation).
We will walk for around 8 miles through Monsal Dale and up through Deepdale, calling at the Cock and Pullet in Sheldon. Further refreshment is possible at the Bull’s Head in Ashford.
Happy Wandering!
At the time it seems the two monuments could have been seen from one another. But trees and bushes have obscured the Wellington memorial so it only becomes visible from close-up. Some of the fading lettering on the base can still be made out, with the words ‘Wellington. Born 1769 Died 1852. Erected in 1866 by E M Wrench.’
Leaving the monument we followed the track across the open moorland, passing highland cattle with two very young calves, and crossed the minor road that runs between Curbar and Chesterfield to the east (38 min).
Your diarist made a mental note here to do his best to try and comply with the sign requesting walkers to do as little as possible to disturb the adders that apparently lurk on this moorland – Big Moor.
We followed the path, vague in places where it had become overgrown, up a steady climb of around 400 feet to reach the trig point on White Edge, a short distance from which we declared pietime, delayed because of our rather late start (80 min).
Resuming, we continued along a more distinct path along the edge, towards the true top of the moor around half a mile distant at 1,204 feet. Splendid views were on all sides and the outskirts of Chesterfield and Sheffield could be made out to the east.
As we made our way along the edge Chris decided to throw in one of his customary bursts of speed and disappeared from view, not to reappear until the bar of the pub shortly after.
Around a mile-and-a-half from the top of the edge we reached a broken stone wall where a sign marked Grouse Inn pointed downhill to the left. We followed down a distinct track.
Some way down here your diarist suffered a rather crashing face-first fall after tripping on a rock. He was scraped off the floor by Chris, suffering nothing more serious than a badly bruised finger. This, he lately discovered to his alarm, badly affected his ability to clutch a pint glass.
After a short, rocky stretch down through a copse we came to a field, on the other side of which was the Grouse Inn, across the A625 (125 min). Chris was awaiting us and we were soon joined by Jock and Milly, who had walked along Froggatt Edge.
Beers were Marston’s Pedigree (£4-80) and, we later discovered hiding around the bar, excellent Farmer’s Blonde from the Bradfield Brewery near Sheffield (£4-60). Chris most generously supplied out second round of drinks.
Under way again after a 75-minute break, we turned right down the main road for a few hundred yards, taking a footpath sign to Froggatt Edge on the left at a lay-by. This soon led to the start of Froggatt Edge, where we swung left to follow it and then Curbar Edge for
just over two miles of mainly level walking before reaching Curbar Gap a short distance away from the cars (202 min).
Next week’s walk will start at 9.45am at Ashford-in-the-Water. This can be reached on the A6 through Buxton, or following the A623 through Peak Forest and following a sign to the right down the B6465, fairly soon after the Tideswell turn.
We will walk for around 8 miles through Monsal Dale and up through Deepdale, calling at the Cock and Pullet in Sheldon. Further refreshment is possible at the Bull’s Head in Ashford.
Happy Wandering!
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