Walking in the Peak District, Derbyshire, UK -
White Edge, Froggatt Edge and Curbar Edge. |
A short-medium length circular walk in Derbyshire's Dark Peak moorlands.
Grade: |
Easy -
Moderate |
Distance: |
9km |
Altitude Gained: |
< 100m |
Duration: |
3 hours |
On the edge of Dark Peak are the long gritstone crags of Froggatt and Curbar
Edges - ever popular with rock climbers. Above the crags lie the windswept
heathery moorlands of "Big Moor", with White Edge traversing the moors
North-South.
From the top of White Edge, huge panoramic views are to be had, which stay with
you for most of the walk.
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Above: Gritstone outcrops at Froggatt Edge near Hathersage, Derbyshire.
© Mat & Niki Adlam-Stiles, 2010
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Walk in brief:
An easy to moderate circular walk with
minimal ascent on clear paths throughout and far-reaching views for a large
proportion of the walk.
The walk starts from the small pay-and-display car park at Curbar Gap, SK263747.
There is also a small amount of free road-side parking nearby.
From the car park entrance, a gate leads to a small green lane running
near-parallel to the road (East) for ~300m. As the lane swings left, a track /
footpath carries on heading North East and to the right-hand side of some
enclosures with dry-stone wall boundaries.
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Following the dry stone wall (on your left) you cross a small foot bridge before
climbing up towards White Edge. As you reach the end of the wall, the path
turns to the North and continues you climb a little more, taking you onto White
Edge itself, and a well-trodden path.
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Along White Edge:
White Edge is hardly a ridge walk - those seeking Blencathra-style adrenalin may
be slightly disappointed - but the views are magnificent. The moorlands
extend to the North and East - you can see as far as Sheffield on a clear day,
and to the South and the West, the gentler White Peak hills contrast
beautifully.
Continue North along White Edge. Navigation is simple, with the only scope
for a detour being the small loop to take in the trig point at SK264758.
After a while, the A625 will come into view (ahead/left) and on it you'll note a
lone building - the Grouse Inn.
After ~2.5km you reach a large dry-stone wall and a junction. Turn left
here (it is signed to the Grouse) and follow the wall downwards, through a small
area of silver birch trees, to arrive at the Grouse Inn.
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Above: Sparse Birch woods above Froggatt Edge, Hathersage, Dark
Peak Peak
© Mat & Niki Adlam-Stiles, 2010
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Froggatt Edge and Curbar Edge
Cross the road and turn left. Just passed the pub car park a signed path leads across two
open fields, dropping down to Hay wood.
Enter the woods and follow the path left, bringing you back towards the Longshaw Estate
car park. As you reach the car park access road, a less-obvious path runs roughly parallel
with the access road at first (to the right of it) and then takes you via a small gulley
and stream crossing back up to the A625.
Cross the road and take the obvious path on the opposite site. At first you walk through
silver birches on a clear track, before the views open out as you approach the top of
Froggatt Edge.
A broad path now runs South for the entire length of Froggatt, then Curbar Edge. Much of the
path is a few metres from the edge of crag tops, but there are plenty of opportunities to walk
close to the edge should you so choose. The views throughout are superb. After ~2km a path
on the right gives you the option of descending into the woods below Curbar Edge. Our
preference though, is to stay on the tops and enjoy the view. Eventually a fork in the path
is reach. The larger, left hand route taking you back to the starting point at the car park.
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