Ashopton and Ladybower
We parked in the layby just east of the Ashopton Viaduct- there were very few cars there compared with weekends, and it was easy to park. The walk begins by taking the public bridleway past Ashopton's cottages and then the forestry track which climbs through pines and larches, the latter changing to their autumn colours.
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| Forestry track through pines and larches up to Lead Hill |
The path climbs up the bracken slopes of Lead Hill, eventually getting up to the summit of Whinstone Lee Tor. Here, the walk started in earnest. We were keeping a weather eye open and the view between us and Win Hill gave us an idea of how it was changing.
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| View to Win Hill; sometimes clear, sometimes misty- warning of rain on the way |
At Lead Hill, we kept to the summit ridge until we came to the signposted path linking Ladybower to Moscar. We descended to the west towards Ladybower with a view of persistent cloudlet over the woods opposite. It would be great to understand why clouds persist like this, particularly on breezy days!
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| Persistent clouds hovering over woods |
We followed the path past a conifer plantation, through a gate and crossed the stream in Grindle Clough.
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| On our way down to Grindle Clough and the restored barn |
We stopped for lunch in the restored barn in a little cluster. We always like to visit this, especially because of the drawings of sheep, bats and flowers done by Year 6 at Bamford Primary.
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| Flock drawn by Year 6 pupil at Bamford Primary |
The barn has a handy bench with bird's head armrests.
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| Bench with bird's head armrests |
The return to the car was via the path running along the east shores of Ladybower Reservoir. We hadn't done this walk for a long time and, although it's only 5 miles long, it's well worth doing, despite the continuing wet weather.
