Having taken the gate onto the moor, I initially follow the path close to the fence and the view is dominated by the edges. Here looking across to White Edge, Froggatt Edge and Curbar Edge.

As you start to cross the moor the view changes as you head towards Higger Tor.

Heading across Eyam Moor I was pleasantly surprised to see that the path was fairly dry and there was very little bog-hopping involved.

I soon reached the old gate posts where tradition, or habit, means I must take a shot across to Higger Tor.

Once I've passed the old gate posts I start to drop down to the road with Bamford Edge now in view.

As I reach the first bend in the road Win Hill comes into view.

As we are so close to Easter I was expecting to see the cross on High Low, but there is no sign of it.

Ahead of me Abney Low comes into view.

Heading along the path towards Highlow Wood, where I was soon to meet one of the very few people I would see on the walk.

Just before entering the final field before Highlow Wood I passed a runner who told me the wood wasn't too bad. He was the last person I would see until I was on Sir William Hill Road.

This section of the walk was the only section where gaiters were required. As usual there were several very boggy stretches to negotiate. Despite the recent dry spell, after all the rain earlier in the year, it was still a case of picking a side, holding onto the fence and treading carefully or you could be ankle deep in mud.

Safely through the wood it was time to deviate slightly off the route to get a shot of Highlow Brook. My route was on the other side of the brook, heading uphill.

Heading uphill through the wood, along a nice and dry path.

At the top of the wood I come back out onto the moor. My route doesn't follow the path uphill, but heads back downhill.

Abney Low comes into view again as I head back downhill.

After crossing another brook I head uphill again. Well I did say I wanted a walk with several sections of ascent.

Another short section of descent takes me down to Stoke Ford.

The bridge at Stoke Ford is out, although it has been out for a quite a while now. I did go over for a closer look, and it has certainly deteriorated since I was last here. A near miss as I had thought about heading uphill to Highlow Hall and returning to Stoke Ford via one of the paths that would have meant crossing the bridge.

From Stoke Ford I take the path that heads steeply uphill to Eyam Moor.
My reward once the climb was over would be lunch.

The climb is short and steep, but you are soon out of the trees and able to look across the valley to High Low and Highlow Bank.

Across Abney Clough Abney Moor is also in view.

The plan was to have lunch sat looking along Bretton Clough, but once I was out of the trees the wind was heading straight for me and it had rather a cold edge to it.

Looking down on the path through Bretton Clough, which I really must visit again soon.

The final stone stile is in sight, after which I will take advantage of the wall to have my lunch sat out of the wind.

With the wall protecting me from the wind I enjoyed my lunch looking across the Derwent Valley to Stanage Edge.

I could also look across to Abney Moor and Smelting Hill, although where one starts and the other ends remains a mystery to me.

Lunch over I start uphill again heading for Sir William Hill. Looking back to my lunch spot I can see across Abney Low to the distant Kinder Plateau.

Ahead of me is the ridge and trig I am heading for, which is located parallel with the mast.

As I gain height Win Hill comes back into view.

The trig point soon comes into view and all that I need to do now is complete the easy stroll across to it.

Looking back I can just about make out the gate where I sat having my lunch. Sadly the earlier brightness has also disappeared, along with any clear long distance views.

Looking towards Stanage Edge from the trig point. As I'd approached the trig I could hear voices, but it turned out they were from a couple walking across Eyam Moor, so I had the trig to myself.

Looking west from the trig point I can't pick out any landmarks, although I know on previous visits I have been able to pick out Wardlow Hay Cop.

All that remains now is to make my way back to the car, so I follow the path down to the stile onto Sir William Hill Road.

A final look across Eyam Moor, just before I cross the stile.

Doing the route this way means that thankfully the final stretch along Sir William Hill Road is nice and short and even better, all downhill.

 

<<Back to top>>

All pictures copyright © Peak Walker 2006-2026