DATE 16.01.2023 |DISTANCE approx 17.7KM| HIGHEST POINT 484M
Posted by Matt | Filed under peak district
On the 1st of January 2023, the weather report said it would be a dry day. 3 hours later in the car and we arrived at the upper derwent visitor centre to a downpour. that was the end of those plans. jump ahead 2 weeks later and we attempted the same hike. sunny weather was forecast and for the most part, was fairly accurate. We got ourselves a few snow flurry's, but i wont ever complain about those, forecast or not.
we hiked along the side of derwent and howden reservoirs before making our way up onto the moors, over to alport castles. too card to hang around for long, we made our way along rowlee pasture, dropped down through the woodland at hagg side and back to derwent dam.
All parked up at the Upper Derwent Visitor Centre and heading towards Derwent Dam.
derwent dam constructed in 1902 and the reservoir was filled in 1914 with it's first overly in january 1916. 106 years ago!
the dam was used for training by the historic dambusters of world war II. Not that i am in any way proud of the missions that followed this training.
leaving the dam, heading up the staircase to the reservoir above.
the dam from above
heading north beside derwent reservoir
hang on! this wasn't in the forecast. nice though!
howden dam just visible through the snow flurry
within 10 minutes of snow it was already becoming interesting. we saw very few walkers today. a litter picker passed by, having given up for the day.
howden reservoir near clough wood
looking across to ronksley moor
coming to the end of heading north for the day. shortly after we would be looping around the other side of howden reservoir.
i picturesque bridge at slippery stones
howden moors in the distance. I'll explore there another day.
the road to the west of the reservoirs has been closed for a while now. no problem today because we break away from the road just before the closure.
footbridge at slippery stones
the snow has stopped and the skies have cleared.
catherine ahead near nether wood plantation on the edge of howden reservoir.
breaking away from the road into ditch clough plantation
the bridge at ditch clough plantation
a gorgeous spot to walk made even more pretty after this morning's flurry.
the track beside ditch clough climbing up the moorland ahead.
looking back to ditch clough plantation
alport castles. thought to be the largest landslide in the uk.
catherine to the left at alport castles
the tower. a fun scramble if you have the time. i usually access it via the ridge at the left. be warned though, it is from a landslide so potentially unstable.
another view
heading along rowlee pasture
heading towards woodcock coppice. win hill in the back right.
into woodland at hagg side.
a winter wonderland in hagg side. once out the bottom we were back to the upper derwent visitor centre.
This site is my way of documenting the few walks that I have done so far with my camera either alone or dragging along some of my misfit friends. Within this site you will find Photos and Route maps detailing my days spent at high places. I hope this will help you in planning your own adventures. Learn more...
