Tuesday August 23rd

 David and Paul- a walk on Bleaklow

With our planned trip to The Dolomites to walk Alta Via 2 just over a week to go, we met up at Old Glossop to catch up, get some exercise and do a bit of planning. One of our favourite outward walks from Old Glossop is up above Yellow Slacks, pausing for a break (and Skittles) at Dog Rock before continuing along Dowstone Clough to the Hern Stones. We heard, and saw beaters trying to put grouse up for hunters, but only heard about three shots in the entire walk.

Bleaklow looking north from the Hern Stones (foreground)
Although the plan was to go north to the Wain Stones, there was a bit of chat going on and we ended up plodding up the Pennine Way to Bleaklow Head, where we had our lunch.
The cairn and venerable stake at Bleaklow Head
I was very glad that the banner that had been flying from the stake last time I visited had been removed.

After our lunch, we continued along the Pennine Way until Torside Clough and forked westward towards Glossop Low. The heather was out and in full bloom.

Heather on Bleaklow, with Kinder in the far distance
I had been a little concerned that there might be some seasonal access restrictions as our way was crossed by a couple of lines of grouse butts and it was after "the glorious twelfth of August" but we were in luck. Our return to Glossop was via the board ridge of Glossop Low and via the trig point at Cock Hill- this is slightly oddly placed as, even though it has good views, it is behind a slight rise above the disused quarries- the ideal placement for the trig would have been on top of the rise!

A good walk of 8½ miles with almost 500m ascent... probably about a third of the ascent we'll do on some days on AV2! 


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