23/05/2020
This was the first DPC Sunday meet since the start of the Covid-19 pandemic in March 2020 and a small party of walkers met at Birchen Clough Bridge car park on the A57 Snake Road. The car park was full – perhaps a reflection of this being the first weekend after the relaxation of the rules on the size of groups for outdoor activities.
Setting out just after 9.30am, the party followed the track above Oyster Clough before taking a brief break in the shooting cabin at the head of the Clough. The Oyster Clough Cabin is in good order, having had a new roof installed within the last year or so. We then followed a line of grouse butts north eastwards to reach Alport Dale. From here, a faint track (no more than a sheep trod) was followed high above the true right of the River Alport. This gave splendid views of one of the finest dales in the Dark Peak and the waterfalls along the course of the Alport.
We next reached the lonely spot known as Grains in the Water. From here the opportunity to cut the walk short by following Hern Clough to join the Pennine Way presents itself. But despite this being the first full-on walk for some following lockdown, all agreed to carry on as planned up to Bleaklow Stones. So we headed north across miry ground well named as The Swamp on the map. As we gained height a sharp shower caught us – was this the rain spreading from the west as forecast? Fortunately, the rain did not last long and we reached Bleaklow Stones in sunshine for lunch at 1pm. Then it was westward along the watershed towards Bleaklow Head. The going along here has been made easier by the re-seeding and other measures taken to secure the peatlands. We reached the Pennine Way a little south of Bleaklow Head, and then headed for Higher Shelf Stones via the Hern Stones. We passed the B-29 Superfortress crash site, seeing many more people here than on the empty moors of Bleaklow. Social media interest has apparently increased the popularity of visiting this spot.
After a brief tea stop at Higher Shelf Stones looking down into the valley of the Shelf Brook, we descended SE towards the upper reaches of Crooked Clough and then followed the path above this before taking a short cut east to join the Pennine Way again. Then by the Doctor’s Gate path to reach Lady Clough. We briefly walked by the A57 before dropping into the Clough to follow the path into the forestry. Extensive tree felling gave this area an unfamiliar look, but we returned to the cars by 4.10pm after a round of just over 12 miles. The weather was better than expected – steady rain only reaching the area east of Pennines by early evening – and it was good to be out again. Hopefully, this walk will mark the return of regular DPC meets that will not be interrupted by further lockdowns as the country eases out of the Covid-19 pandemic.
David A
Derbyshire Pennine Club 