Parkhouse Hill.
Parkhouse Hill from Chrome Hill.
Chrome Hill.
Ragged Robin - flower of the day!
Photos supplied by Richard.
Walk stats: Distance: 13.4 miles; Climb: 2080'; Walking average: 2.4 m.p.h.
Time: 7 hours 35 minutes.
Group: Martyn and Richard.
Dressed more for a wet Winter walk at temperatures expected to be below 12 degrees with now hope of sun, we ended up feeling very over dressed. The day turned out to be warm and almost rain free. Two short spells of rain, neither really worthy of putting waterproofs on. The sun was also out for much of the walk.
The walk started from Longnor, still no car park except for the cobbled square. We set off along the Manifold valley heading for Pilsbury. A pleasant walk that took us first past Sheen Hill with its trig point (still not accessible) and then on to the previously missed Pilsbury Castle. Lunch was taken just outside Earl Sterndale with good view of the shark-like fins of Chrome Hill and Parkhorse Hill ahead.
Chrome Hill is a superb little ridge that has totally unexpected aspects. It feels as though your on top of the world with steep slopes falling away on both sides as the path weaves its way between the "fins". This section of the walk will have to be repeated, probably without the section along the Manifold Valley. We thought that we had gone off track as we were forced to cross a stone bridge and onto the Hollinsclough road. In fact we only went wrong in the village where we should have turned left instead of taking the shorter route by going straight ahead. However it did have the advantage that the roadside had many flowers showing, including Ragged Robin, which Richard believes is quite rare these days.
Birds seen and heard today included: Grey Heron, Carrion Crow, Pied Wagtail, Curlew, Goldfinch, Wren, Great Spotted Woodpecker, Magpie, Pheasant, Chaffinch, Mallard, Wheatear, Wren, Kestrel, Jackdaw, Swallow, House Martin and frequent parties girls displaying location stress symptoms on their D of E training exercises.
One or two or even more excellent pints of Hartington Bitter were sampled in the Wilkes Head at Leek. Leek was celebrating Leek 800 and our normal car park was filled with a fair, but it didn't deny us access to the Wilkes Head via the back door!
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