Sunday 12th June 2022 – Bamford Edge – Derbyshire Peak District
The walk started with a climb gaining 200m of height up to Great Tor on Bamford Edge and the highest point of our walk at 1375 feet. A panoramic view of Ladybower Reservoir and distant peaks and Win Hill summit was impressive. We faced a strong wind on the high level footpath but our walk leader knew of a sheltered place for the coffee break. I was pleased to see swifts flying past low above us and a surprise find for those at the front of the group was a Lizard scurrying across the sun-warmed, sandy path.
For our lunch stop we were seated around a cricket green with a club match in progress. Afterwards we arrived at Heathersage where some of the group spent their 30 minute refreshments stop at The George Hotel, well-known for a visit by Charlotte Brontë who wrote Jane Ayre in 1847. The walk carried on, arriving at Arla Open Farm where there were various stalls and an ice cream parlour and free packets of cheese made it an interesting place to visit en route to the end of our walk at Bamford.
- Start and finish point – A linear walk from Ladybower Reservoir (SK202 859) to Bamford (SK207 824).
- Walk leader – David Torrington.
- Number of walkers – 31 (and no non-walkers).
- Distance – 7.5 miles / 12 kilometres.
- Terrain – Undulating, along dry paths and tracks.
- Highest point – 420 metres / 1375 feet
- Weather – Fine and dry, with sunny spells. A fresh breeze at the summit of Bamford Edge. Warmer in the afternoon.
Club news – Jean T had no announcements. After an initial full coach of names there were 18 empty seats on the day and costs to the club were only just covered.
Credits – David Torrington (leader) and Dave Tyson (back marker) were thanks for making the walk possible. Vivienne Dales provided photographs, supplemented by some of my own.
Author’s memo – I was carrying a knee ligament injury so this was a challenging walk for me up and down hillsides, but was lucky to have help over stiles from kind Wanderers. Splendid views across the Derbyshire Peak District made it all worthwhile.
