Walk Summary
Enjoy one of the best 360 degree views in the Peak District on the top of Crook Hill. Do the walk in Autumn and enjoy the wonderful woodland colours. Visit the remnants of Derwent Village and enjoy some flat, scenic walking alongside the Ladybower and Derwent Reservoirs.
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Date: 05/11/2021
Length: 10.188 miles
Height Gain: 578 m
Terrain: Boggy paths, rocky paths; lightly used roads, fields, woodland
Navagation: Good. Good signage
Start: Fairholmes
Route: Fairholmes, Lockerbrook, Crook Hill, Ladybower Viaduct, Mill Brook, Howden Dam
Map: OL1 Dark Peak Area
Weather: Cloudy and drizzly
Walkers: Nun
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Reservoir Drainage
Captain's Log
Derwent Drainage?
My car thermometer had reported a meagre 4 degrees, but when I started walking it felt surprisingly mild. The woods were a colourful display of autumn browns and greens. At one point I heard a heavy pattering and I thought the rain had arrived. I was just about to take off my rucksack to get my waterproofs when I realised the sound was actually being made from many leaves falling from trees. The wind had caught the trees at their tops and dislodged a rain of sorts. The whole valley is covered with reservoir artefacts; some still functioning and others relics of the past. A bridge passed over part of their draining mechanism. I presume this is part of the mechanism that transfers water from the River Ashop (on the Snake Road), to the Derwent Reservoir. This system syphons water from the River Ashop, drains through a 974 metre tunnel through the hill and then runs through a 696 metre watercourse (what I was looking at) to discharge into the Derwent Reservoir.
Crook Hill
I'd gained some height as I left the woods, and I greeted a light drizzle. After the steep climb through the woodland, the path was now fairly flat to Crook Hill. Near Lockerbrook Farm Outdoor Centre a man passed me saying that it was chilly. I politely agreed, although I was cooking after the recent climb.
Crook Hill consists of two little peaks. The highest is a mere 382 metres, but what they lack in height they more than compensate with superb 360 degree views. Derwent Edge, Ladybower Reservoir, Stanage Edge, Bamford Edge, Win Hill and Kinder Scout. There is supposed to be remnants of a megalithic stone circle between the peaks, but my unlearned eye couldn't spot it. On my ascent I'd watched somebody wandering about an area towards the Derwent Valley. Occasionally he'd stoop down to look at something and then move on. Curiosity nearly got the better of me, and I was tempted to go across and ask what he was searching for, but I thought it might look a bit intrusive.
Crook Hill
Ladybower
Ladybower Reservoir
It didn't take me long to make the descent from Crook Hill to the Ladybower viaduct. My arrival coincided with the sun making the first appearance of the day. The woodlands and hillsides glowed at its touch. I didn't last long though; within twenty minutes it had disappeared again. Well, twenty minutes is better than nothing. The route followed the reservoir track along the east bank. The weather really closed down now with the hill drizzle meeting the valley floor. It had cleared a little by the time I got to Mill Brook. The reservoir was very low exposing some of the foundations of the Derwent Village that was flooded when the reservoir was created. I took a wander out to the foundations. By the time I got to the foundations I felt I was actually standing in the middle of the reservoir. A board informed me that Mill Brook was named after the water power it provided for the local mill.
Ladybower Reservoir
Ladybower - Looking From Mill Brook
Mill Brook
It was a steady climb upwards on the Mill Brook path. There was a wonderful view back along the valley. I was taking. As I was taking a photo three women stopped near me to admire the view as well. While one of them extracted something from her rucksack, another took a picture with her movile phone. 'Hope I've not ruined your photo', said the rucksack-rummaging one. 'Don't worry I'll edit you out', replied the photographer. Photography is getting much easier nowadays.
Eventually the path levels out into flat moorland walking. I heard the rumblings of helicopters; the military using the Derwent Valley for training runs. I readied my camera in anticipation of getting a good shot, but they flew so low that I never actually saw them over the brow of the moorland.
I spotted a man stood on the path a quarter of mile away. He was still there as I approached. 'Are you waiting for the sun to come out?', I asked. He had a camera around his neck. Yes, I don't think it will be too long. The mist is slowly moving on the hill over there'. I look over to the misty Alport Moor and tried to hide my scepticism. 'Good luck', I offered. I looked back to him, 10 minutes later, and he was still stood there.
Derwent Reservoir
The path descended towards the Howden Dam. There was a tremendous view of the dam and the valley ahead. The colours and misty air gave a mystical, painting like quality to the view. The walk back to Fairholme was along the Derwent Reservoir track.
Howden Dam
Derwent Dam
When I reached the Derwent Dam I could see the entry point into the Derwent Reservoir of the watercourse I'd seen early this morning.
Although there are two climbs in this walk, they don't feel difficult, and there is actually quite a lot of flat walking. The views are some of the best in the Derwent Valley.