Howden Edge

I started my ascent on to the moors along a curious feature labelled the Laund on the OS map. It is a small ridge that runs along Laund Clough. There is a track that runs along the top of the ridge wide enough for a vehicle. The map indicates that the track leads to some grouse butts, but I've never actually come across them. The path diverted from Laund Clough and headed up on to the flat top of Howden Edge. This is quite remote moorland, frequented only by grouse, mountain hares and the occasional walker. There were quite a few daddy long-legs today too. Some of the feeling of remoteness is lost with the faint drone of traffic on the Woodhead Pass road (A628), to the north.

I walked eastwards along the broad ridge of Howden edge. Many years ago, small dams had been set up in some of the groughs on the top of the moor. The dams are simple structures of net rolls containing vegetation. These are then pegged into position with wooden posts. They retain water upstream of the dam, enabling a bog environment to be re-established. Due to the recent heatwave, most of these were completely dry today.

Outer Edge

There is a dog-leg in the path as the path heads off southwards towards Outer Edge. There are three boundary stones around here all with a 'B' chiselled on to them. One of them looks as though it had been turned upside-down at some point since the B is positioned backwards.

Looking westwards I could see the Crow Stones. A couple of people were on top of one of the highest stones. The stones are actually quite high and require a scramble to get to the top. The gloomy skies lifted, and sun broke through the clouds as I reached the trig point on Outer Edge. It was the highest point of the day and had a commanding view along the Derwent Valley. 

I set off eastwards on a faint track across the area between Harden and Featherbed Moss. This area can be very wet and so the walk is best done after a dry period. Even today, after our scorching summer, my boots were soaking. In places, the route is less of a path and more of a track where the ATV has tried to avoid the worst of the bog. The route does go near to some tarns and these are good reference points in bad weather. Eventually, the path descends down into the head of the Mickledon Valley. Plastic matting has been laid as a track across the valley, and is now disintegrating. It was put up without planning permission and the case was recently reviewed with the planning authorities. Whatever the conclusion, the decaying mesh is still in place.

Stonechats

There is always the chance of seeing Stonechats in the Mickledon Valley. I always hear them before I see them. They have a distinctive call pretty much like two stones being knocked together (and hence their name).  A male and female followed me for a while along Mickledon Edge.

'There are seven of us altogether'. I'd not seen anybody all day and it was a bit of a shock when the lead mountain biker in the group clattered by me. I counted six and saw them stop at the top of Hingcliff Hill. Eventually the remaining biker flew past me. 'My chain had come off', he explained for his tardiness. He greeted his fellow team at the top of the hill and they disappeared beyond.

After the unpromising showery start, the day had transformed into blue skies and sunshine. It had been a pleasurable moorland walk with great views across the Dark Peak. I reread the Yorkshire Water notice warning of the forthcoming car parking charges. The Yorkshire Water CEO may earn £1,316,000 per year, but I wondered whether she'd prefer walking across the moors rather than sitting in an office all day.