Thursday 24th July 2008

Although it appears that the rest of the country has been on holiday for weeks it was the first day of the school holidays in Derbyshire and the number of people I saw on the walk today certainly reflected that fact. This is a walk which, done mid-week, normally means plenty of solitude. Today the main paths were all busy and Burbage Brook was full of young children paddling in the water whist adults picnicked or barbecued next to it. With so many people about I was pleased I had decided to follow the path below Higger Tor to Fiddler's Elbow where I managed to escape the crowds for a short while.

Start: Surprise View car park (SK 1940 6445)

Route: Surprise View car park - Mother Cap - Over Owler Tor - Hathersage Moor - Burbage Brook - Upper Burbage 
            Bridge - Burbage Rocks - Burbage Bridge - Owler Tor - Surprise View car park

Distance: 6 miles     Ascent: 312 metres     Time Taken: 3 hours 30 minutes

Terrain: Easy paths, some across moorland.

Weather: Muggy with a thick heat haze.

Pub visited: None         Ale Drunk: None

Mother Cap.

Over Owler Tor from Mother Cap.

Over Owler Tor.

Looking across Hathersage Moor, from Over Owler Tor, towards Higger Tor.

Stanage Edge is just about visible through the thick heat haze.

Looking back to Over Owler Tor as the party that had followed me from the
 car park starts to explore the rocks.

Higger Tor.

The defensive wall on Carl Wark.

The path to Higger Tor from Carl Wark, which I would not be following today.

The start of the path I was going to follow alongside Burbage Brook.

Fiddler's Elbow comes into view.

Burbage Rocks, my return route.

Following the path through the ferns to Fiddler's Elbow.

Looking across the valley from Burbage Rocks to Carl Wark (L), Higger Tor (C) and Fiddler's Elbow (R).

The path along the top of Burbage Rocks.

Burbage Rocks.

Carl Wark (L) and Higger Tor (R).

Zooming in on Carl Wark.

The only shot I could get of Burbage Brook that didn't have someone's children in it.

Walking through this grough whist colourful, was
 extremely unpleasant, as it was so hot.

Owler Tor.