Tuesday October 4th

 Wildboarclough and Axe Edge

This was an extended variation of our familiar walk from Wildboarclough to Three Shires Head and back, made a little more interesting by the slightly convoluted navigation combined with rain making the guidebook pages stick together!

From the Clough House car park we walked up beside Cumberland Brook and the river bed to the great track which took us to the Cat and Fiddle pub, where we had a coffee stop.

Shutlingsloe from the walk to the Cat and Fiddle

We then went on to Derbyshire Bridge and up the track to the back of the car park rather than the track to the left, where we'd walked before. Having lost some height, we walked back up to the A537 and crossed over to Axe Edge Moor. We passed a few disused coal-mining shafts, marked with notices from The Coal Authority- the last dregs, probably, of the NCB. 

A relic of coal mining days

Having crossed the moor, we reached a minor road and turned left on it to reach Dane Head after about 150m. We followed the path to a couple of gritstone boulders, described in the guidebook as "an outcrop" where we stopped for lunch. Here, the heavens opened and remained so for the rest of the walk! As a consequence, the pages of the guidebook stuck together and it was difficult to refer to it, particularly with gloved hands. The book directs you next ot Oxenstich and then Oliver Hill, but despite setting out in the right direction, David was distracted by something that looked more like an outcrop and tracks/paths that seemed to tally with the guidebook. Unfortunately not, and together with a label for Three Shires Head on the Harvey map, we took a bit of a detour. We eventually reached the Three Shires Head which is a delightful place.

The bridge at Three Shires Head... and rain!
The way back to Wildboarclough is familiar as we've walked it many times- a mix of rocky gritstone tracks and boggy fields. Eventually, you reach a minor road and then pass the impressive Crag Hall. The guide says of this last section: "Wonderful open views are your companion on this final stretch across the gorgeous variety of the Wildboarclough landscapes and habitats". This is true and, in addition, there were many soggy sheep and pheasants dashing about the fields. Jacinta saw a hare as well, earlier in the walk.

A great day out, despite the damp. 11 miles, 600m ascent.


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