
Combs Moss circumnavigation and Iron Age Hill Fort. Started and finished at Chapel-en-le-Frith rail station. Trail starts directly from stepping off the south side rail station platform. Hiked up to Bank Hall Lodge and then up onto the Moor at the "Combs Moss Hill Fort," an Iron Age fort that is a scheduled monument. A triangular fort with double defensive ramparts on the south side and gritstone escarpments on two sides to the northwest and north (overlooking Combs Reservoir. The interior of the fort is 2 acres in size. Completed the full circuit of Combs Moss walking west from the Fort to Hob Tor, then south on Black Edge to the Triangulation Pillar (507m) overlooking Dove Holes to the west. Continued south to Flint Clough and continuing to the north side of Buxton. The trail turns west at Moss House Farm. continued along the moor edge Comb Edge. and back to the "Fort" at the northwest corner of the moor. Then back down to Chapel-en-le-Frith. Total Time: 5 hours 45 minutes; Total Distance: 10.75 miles/17.53 km; Total Elevation Gain: 1,647 ft. Partial clouds with periods of sun. Light breeze on the moor. Focus of the days was on plants, primarily mosses, lichens and liverworts, since I had taken an MTA short course during the week. Beautiful August day with the heather in bloom creating swathes of lavender color, and the Bilberry with splotches of red. Due to recent heavy rain, the several off trail side trips to photograph plants revealed boggy ground that was difficult going. This circular walk is a hidden gem. For the first 4 hours of the walk I saw no one else on the trail. Near the end of the walk (at the north gritstone escarpment) I encountered a few people near the climbing walls near the Fort in the Northwest corner of the moor.
Area :
White Peak
Lies to the south of the Dark Peak where the underlying rock is limestone - hence the name. Tends to be a little lower in altitude and also may be known as the Derbyshire or Staffordshire Dales.