Started from Holme Moss Summit parking lot near the Holme Moss Transmitter Station: crossing Twizle Head Moss, to Britland Edge Hill (523m), Whithens Edge to Trig Point (499m) on Dead Edge, to Grains Moss, Winscar Reservoir, Harden Reservoir, West Shaw Edge, to Trig Point on Snailsden Edge (475m), Snailsden Pike End, to Ruddle Clough, to Ramsden Clough. Lightens Edge, back to Holme Moss Summit Car Park. Total Journey Time: 5 hours 41 minutes; Total Distance: 19.07 km; Total Elevation Gain: 571.4m; Total Loss: 616m.
Conducted planning for this walk by reviewing weather reports from Met Office Mountain Weather and Met Office weather for the nearest Hill location: Black Hill (Derbyshire), as well as Mountain Weather Information Service (MWIS) for the Peak District. Weather reports were generally accurate in that it rained all night Wednesday night into Thursday morning, and then clearing by around 8:00AM. However the reports indicated clear skies and sun, and actually it was mostly overcast, but no rain. As I anticipated, the heavy rains of the night before left the moorland with standing water and very muddy. Winds were light in the morning for open moor and edges, but picked up after noon. Temperature averaging around 8C, with a 'feels like' of 3C.
Route planning was conducted using OS maps OL 1 (briefly), but I have started using the OS mapping App on my computer extensively and I printed off sections of the route with detail much easier to read, and much lighter and easier to carry. Also printed the route plan and left it with my partner.
This route was a significant departure from my last walk earlier in the week, where I was walking through narrow Dove Dale with well worn public paths. This was open moorland and edges with virtually no trails. In over 5 hours I encountered only two other people on the moors (not counting the brief walk through Windscar Reservoir parking area). In Dove Dale I did not pull out my compass, only used the map features and contours for navigation. Since this was open access moorland with no established trails I anticipated using the compass often on this journey. I had established my first bearing from the map at home on Wednesday night, and took off on that bearing from the car park straight to Britland Edge Hill, which was not visible from the starting point. Britland Edge Hill was my primary target, and then the two Trig Points and Winscar Reservoir. Because visibility was good I found I did not need the compass as much as I expected because a combination of fence lines and edges made for straight forward hand railing, despite the lack of trails.
Area :
Dark Peak
Is situated between Sheffield and Manchester. The underlying rock is Millstone grit which is often exposed at the edge of the higher peat bogs for which the area is famous.
