Sunday July 10th

 Alport Castles

A lovely, hot sunny day so off we went to do the Alport Castles walk. We first did it in March 2015 and hadn't done it since November 2016. The route starts opposite the Fairholmes car park (David resisted a veggie sausage bap this time...) where a track is signposted to Lockerbrook. It climbs through the Hagg Side Woods on a combination of paths and tracks somewhat reminiscent of long-distance Dolomite walks in the sunny weather.

Winding our way up through Hagg Side Woods
Eventually, we passed the Lockerbrook Farm Outdoor Centre and the top edge of the Hagg Side plantations. On reaching a saddle, we got great views of The Great Ridge.
Lose Hill, Back Tor and Mam Tor- The Great Ridge
Turning right, there was a more gentle ascent to open moorland with great views over to the northern edges of Kinder. The path crosses Rowlee Pasture and leads up to the Alport Castles with views over the Alport Valley. The castles are a dramatic sight with gritstone crags and The Tower rising above the loose boulders and grassy mounds of the hillside.
The Tower with the Alport Valley and Kinder in the distance. Lose Hill just visible
We retraced our steps to the southern end of The Castles and worked our way down to the perimeter of of Alport Castles Wood. Across the footbridge, passing Alport Castle Farm and then Alport Farm- not a great deal of imagination in naming the farms! At the end of the Alport Valley, we made the familiar crossing of the busy Snake Road, Jacinta braving the ford with David this time. Then we had the steady climb from Upper Ashop across Blackley Hey, with an eye out for the mountain bikers coming down at speed.
Working our way up Blackley Hey. Alport Valley in the distance
After rounding Blackley Clough, the ancient highway descends to the crossroads just east of Crookstone Barn. We stopped here for a well-deserved drink and snack.
The crossroads east of Crookstone Barn and just above Edale Cross. A well-deserved break
The journey back took us through the woods- damp, stoney and at times difficult to follow- before veering right to cross the River Ashop at Haggwater Bridge.

The sting in the tail is some uphill at the end of the walk- first up to the Snake Road and then the track to the east of Hagg Farm. The end of the walk involves retracing earlier steps past Lockerbrook Farm and down through the woods.

A very good walk with some great views and excellent weather. 11.2 miles, 63m ascent.


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