Birchen Edge - Peak District Walk
Tuesday 10th April 2007
Birchen Edge is one of the shortest of the edges but it does give some wide-ranging views even on a dull day like today. Although it is popular with climbers most walkers seem to just walk below it rather than make the short scramble to the top which means that they miss out on some great views.
Start: Hell Bank Plantation (SK 2869 6804)
Route: Hell Bank Plantation - Gibbet Moor - Birchen Edge (TP) - Jack Flat - Baslow - Chatsworth Estate - Rabbit Warren - Hell Bank Plantation
Distance: 11.25 miles Ascent: 488 metres Time Taken: 4 hrs 55 mins
Weather: Grey and overcast but warm with a light breeze.
Pub Visited: None Ale Drunk: None
Harland Edge.
Birchen Edge from Gibbet Moor.
Birchen Edge from Gibbet Moor.
Gibbet Moor from the top of Birchen Edge.
Nelson's Monument and the 'Three Ships' on Birchen Edge. The monument was erected in 1810 to honour Nelson's victory at Trafalgar.
The path in the background highlights the location of Curbar Edge.
The 'Three Ships' each inscribed with (L-R) 'Victory', 'Defiance' and 'Royal Soverin'.
Looking along Birchen Edge from Nelson's Monument, with Gibbet Moor in the background. The path most walkers keep to is visible below.
The trig point marks the point where you need to descend from the edge in order to rejoin the path below.
Curbar Edge across Bar Brook valley. The higher ground to the right is White Edge.
Whenever I have walked along this path on Jack Flat there has always been some of these cattle somewhere along it.
Wellington's Monument.
The Eagle Stone with Curbar Edge behind. Tradition has it that the young men from Baslow had to climb to the top of the rock to prove that they were fit for marriage. I think these young lads are a little too young to be worrying about marriage just yet but they did have a good go at trying to climb it.
Chatsworth estate from Wellington's Monument.
Deer in the grounds of Chatsworth.
Water tumbles over the aqueduct in the woods on its way to the Cascade in the gardens of Chatsworth.
A brief view of Chatsworth house and gardens from the woods behind the house.
Calton Pastures from Rabbit Warren.
Looking across Eaglestone Flat to a sunlit Curbar Edge from Rabbit Warren.
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