Miles: 6 Difficulty: Easy-Moderate Duration: 2 hours 30 min-3 hours
A picturesque moorland hike covering Froggatt Edge, Curbar Edge and White Edge. There are views across the expanse of Big Moor, a chance to spot Adder and Red Deer. Take a break halfway round for a pint or 2!
Kickoff: Arrive at Curbar Gap Car Park S32 3YR, If you get there before 4pm there is a great coffee and snacks van within the car park so you can grab a few provisions before you head off.
Step 1: From Curbar Gap car park, head east through the gate onto a vehicle track.
Step 2: You will reach a fork in the track, take the right path towards Sandyford Brook. Cross the bridge over the brook, with the dry-stone-walled fields on your left.
Step 3: Walk up the slightly steep steps, following the wall on your left to the top of the bank and the corner of the wall. In the spring and summer months you might be lucky enough to spot Adders in the long grass, treat them with respect as they are venomous but rarely pose a threat and would rather seek an escape than to attack!
Step 4: At the corner of the wall, a well-trodden path leads you north along White Edge. The Gritstone Edges were once quarried for their rough, coarse stone. At this point you will be quite high up and on a clear day you can see miles of countryside making it an excellent spot for your binoculars.
Step 5: Make a quick detour to the trig point on your right for a chance to spot the UK's largest land mammal the Red Deer. Take in views across the expanse of Big Moor, with the old Barbrook Reservoir in the background. Head back to the path and continue for some distance along White Edge to the hole in the wall (literally its a hole in a disused dry-stone wall you won't miss it!)
Step 6: Turn left at the hole in the wall, where a disused dry-stone wall leads from here through fields down to the Grouse Inn pub.
Step 7: The next section of the route leads you across the fields behind the National Trust car park at Haywood.
Step 8: From Haywood car park, head south over a small brook and carefully cross the main road to the gate that bares slightly to the right leading to Froggatt Edge.
Step 9: Here the terrain flattens out becoming a small woodland, follow the track leading to another gate, preceded by another brook. As the woodland opens out – there are serene views across to the limestone of the White Peak – you dcan also see the remains of a small ancient stone circle on your left. (We stopped here for a sandwich break)
Step 10: Follow the track along the full length of Froggatt and Curbar Edges. If your into rock climbing or bouldering this is the spot for you. There is also a great view of the towns below. Get your camera out and grab a few shots!
Final Step: At the end of Curbar Edge, a small gate leads back to the car park at Curbar Gap.
