Peak District Walks
White Edge & Curbar Edge
Date: 8th March 2014
Distance: 8.1 miles
Ascent: 950 feet
Time: 3 hours 50 mins
With: Lisa
Start Grid Ref: SK255776
Walk Summary:
A walk incorporating four of the eastern Peak District's gritstone edges including Curbar Edge and White Edge.
Route Summary: Hay Wood - White Edge - Swine Sty - Wellington's Monument - Baslow Edge - Curbar Edge - Froggatt Edge - Hay Wood
Photos: Click on the photos below to enlarge.
Walk Detail: This was my first walk in the Peak District since a two-day visit to the Buxton area the previous summer. The main reason for my visit on this occasion was the weather forecast which was for a cloudy start to the morning clearing from the south with good spells of sunshine. My reasoning was that if I could head as far south as I could I'd enjoy more of the sunshine.
Of course these things never work out like that and when we arrived at Hay Wood it wasn't just cloudy but thick with fog. Thankfully this lifted by the time we'd reached the northern end of White Edge but the sun failed to make an appearance and in general the day remained fairly murky. This was particularly frustrating as this was the first time Lisa and I had been able to enjoy a walk, just the two of us, for almost three months.
Whilst the weather disappointed the gritstone scenery on offer certainly did not. The route from Hay Wood incorporated four 'edges'. In order these were White Edge, Baslow Edge, Curbar Edge and Froggatt Edge.
White Edge, sat on the moor above the other three edges was the highest of the walk but perhaps the most modest in terms of its gritstone features. The top of White Edge was however adorned by a trig point and there were fairly extensive views across the dreary looking, and fittingly named, Big Moor.
In addition to being a fine gritstone edge, Baslow Edge also had some other interesting features including a memorial to the Duke of Wellington, a giant rock called the Eagle Stone and even some resident Highland cows. A fell race was also taking part and we were passed by a number of the stragglers.
Following Baslow Edge we walked up on to the even more impressive Curbar Edge. Forsaking the main track we traced the edge itself on a thinner path. There were some superb outcrops and I'd have to say it definitely rivals Stanage Edge as one the finest in the Peak District.
We saw less of Froggatt Edge, this was mainly because it was partly screened by a growing number of trees and in fact the final mile or so back to the car was along a popular but very muddy path through a wood back to the National Trust parking area at Hay Wood.
This was an easy and enjoyable walk which, despite the disappointment with the weather, had much to recommend it.
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