Leaving the car park and heading for Deep Dale.

The first obstacle is negotiating the rocky section around the stream to the stile.

Just before I head up the dale I can look back to Fin Cop, which is where I hope to be standing later in the walk.

The one thing I hadn't expected to see today was snow and ice, so I was quite glad I didn't start out as early as I'd wanted to.

Sadly I hadn't been walking long enough to need to use this bench in Deep Dale.

Despite the snow and ice it was warm in the dale and I made rapid progress along it.

I was soon at the head of the dale and heading for Wheal Lane, the track that would take me to the road.

Looking back towards Deep Dale from the road and Wardlow Hay Cop is now in view.

Magpie Mine comes into view and I'm pleased to see there are no cows in the fields I will need to walk across.

The closer I got to the mine buildings the more people I passed. Clearly the mine is a focal point for lots of walkers, although we all came and went in different directions.

From the mine I could look across the fields to Carder Low.

I spent a bit of time looking at the old mine workings, but didn't hang around for
too long as there was a group sat having their lunch.

The last time I was here I was doing some astro-photography whilst another couple of lads were trying to do some light painting.

Looking back to the mine as I head for one of the stiles out of the mine area. In fact the stile I was heading for is now a gate, which shows how long it is since I last walked here.

As I head down the lane towards Sheldon Longstone Moor comes into view.

The snow on the slopes meant that the western moors stood out as I headed down the lane.

Heading down the track towards Sheldon, with what was to become a fixture of the walk, Longstone Moor ahead of me.

On the other side of the track I could look across to the Edges.

I take the gate which leads to the paths downhill, one of which heads through Little Shacklow Wood.

Instead of heading into the wood I head across the hillside for the path I prefer down to Ashford in the Water.

This way offers far nicer views, here looking across to Longstone Moor.

Dropping downhill with a view across to the Edges.

Looking along the Wye Valley to Manners Wood as I head steeply downhill.

Before I reached the bottom of the hill I found a sheltered spot where I could enjoy my lunch with views across the valley.

Lunch over I was soon at the bottom of the hill and heading towards Ashford in the Water.

A quick diversion off my route to take a shot of the bridge across the River Wye at Ashford in the Water.

The view from the bridge as I head across it to walk through Ashford in the Water.

I'm soon heading uphill again, cutting across the fields above Ashford in the Water towards Pennyunk Lane.

Once I reach Pennyunk Lane there is no need to navigate as I will just follow the lane until I reach Monsal Head.

As I head uphill I can look back to The Edges.

As I head along the lane Longstone Edge is a constant companion, but now I can use it to judge how close I'm getting to Monsal Head.

As I head uphill more of the Derwent Valley comes into view.

It isn't long before I leave Pennyunk Lane and reach the sign for Monsal Head, but I want the path that is heading for Fin Cop. The path heads through the woods above Monsal Dale and whilst perfectly safe I wasn't stopping to take photos as I was watching where my feet were going in the sticky mud.

For the majority of the path there are no views, but there is one break in the trees that allows you to look across Upperdale to Wardlow Hay Cop.

Once I was out of the wood I expected to cross a stile, but the stile has now gone.

The closest point you can access to the summit of Fin Cop is marked by a cairn.

The actual summit is on the other side of the wall marked by this post, which I reached across and touched with my pole. There was no way I could reach across and touch it with my hand without getting caught in the barbed wire.

Looking down on Deep Dale from Fin Cop.

Looking across Monsal Dale and Brushfield Hough from Fin Cop.

The view down to the Headstone Viaduct as I retrace my steps back to Monsal Head.

Wardlow Hay Cop from the same spot. It's a shame the path to and from Fin Cop is in the trees as the views would be spectacular if the trees weren't there.

Looking down on the Headstone Viaduct as I follow the path towards Monsal Head.

Before I reached Monsal Head I take the path downhill towards the weir in Monsal Dale.

It is such a shame that they have fenced off the weir, but at least you can still get down to take a decent shot from this side of the river. No doubt more H & S rubbish has resulted in all the fences on the other side of the river.

Once I cross the bridge I head along the valley towards the car park. Along the way there were plenty of muddy sections to negotiate, just what I wanted at the end of my walk, muddy boots.

The sunshine from earlier in the day had disappeared, but then it has already lasted far longer than the weathermen had predicted.

One final look back along Monsal Dale, just before I head across the stepping stones to the road and car park.

 

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