14 at the station, incl. 1 up from London for the day, 1 taking a bus shortcut to pick up the route at the Forge Dam, 1 joining from his hotel en route, 1 starting from the alternative start point at Grindleford and meeting us at the lunch pub, ie 17. One of those ran most of the route.

It was a day for layering of clothes, as it was sunny with occasional clouds and fierce wind on the tops . A couple of diversions were needed in the Victorian Cemetery and at Firge Dam, both for refurbishment works (Friends of the Porter Valley have finally raised enough funds to clear the Dam of decades of silt buildup). The parks and the Porter Valley had some bluebells (not quite at their best), still some celandines and loads of wood anemones in very good condition. Also swathes of wild garlic, some in flower.

2 took the across Burbage Moor shortcut, the rest reached the Fox House Inn at 13.15 and most ate there. Some picnickers joined us and we commenced together, only for half then taking the route over Carl Wark and Higger Tor instead of the norm route.

Views from the edges were fantastic today and plenty of rock climbers were to be admired, but the cold wind kept moving us on so to avoid getting too cold. In Bamford, half went to the Anglers Rest, the others got the 17.42 train.

Sheffield stayers: if your accommodation is off route, luggage drop-off near Sheffield Station can be found and booked on leftit.co.uk or radicalstorage.com

Just 2 starting from Sheffield, with 1 more taking the connecting train to Grindleford and walking up Padley Gorge to pick up the route at Carl Wark. 1 car driver started at the Ladybower Inn and walked up to Bamford Edge and then Stanage Edge to pick up the route there. 1 took a later train, intending to start from Grindleford and join at the Fox House Inn, but train delays stifled that plan and we don't know what he did next.

The weather was overcast to about 13.15, then we had the first of several rain/and or hail fronts moving through, combined with a biting wind. After the recent wet weather, the Porter Brook and Burbage Brook were quite lively, and there were some amazing cloudscapes visible from Stanage Edge in the afternoon, made more special late on when lit red by the setting sun.

Having had a couple of nourishment stops in Sheffield and lunch at the Fox House, we arrived at the LB Inn just after 7.

A tremendous day, assuming one had functioning waterproofs.

4 overcast initially then with showers

This may be of interest

Many a different approaches to this walk today: 10 started the full walk from Sheffield station, 6 took a bus to the Forge Dam Cafe to pick up the walk there, 3 took a connecting train to Grindleford, meeting another 2 there, and climbing to the lunch pub from there, 2 had overnighted in Sheffield and started at different times, 1 took a later train, took the bus to Forge Dam and joined the other shortcutters there.

So in total 24 in initially overcast then sunny with cool breeze weather.

Having done this walk on the exact same weekend last year, what was the biggest surprise was how different the heather wasbon the moors: a riot of purple and pink, for kilometres on end, easily the best heather display I have ever witnessed.

Lunch was quick and fine, at the Fox House Inn. The views stunning in the afternoon across the Hope Valley to the Kinder Scout plateau.

Everyone seemed to have enjoyed the walk, and all paid the Anglers Rest a visit at the end, some having dinner. Then everyone dispersed to their destinations, be they London, Edale, Hathersage or Sheffield. Or so we thought. The next Sheffield was cancelled, a supposed replacement bus never materialised, so 6 of us had a 2 hour wait for the scheduled bus service. And that was one of the highlights of the day, as it was full of testosterone filled and alcohol fueled village youth on way to their Saturday night out in town. Noisiest bus journey ever?

Oh... 2 of the 6 were supposed to connect to London, but the last train had gone. Supposedly they were taxied down to the Smoke...

Yes confirm that two found taxi waiting at Sheffield and back to London around two am. Adventurous end to an excellent day. Sylvia

To Karen,Thomas and all the participants - thank you so much for a great week-end in the Peak District.

20 stayed on to do a Sunday walk up from Edale station up onto Kinder Scout. Nearly all of us took the tough but exhilarating route up Grindsbrook Clough. Seven then went on to do a twelve mile walk around the perimeter of the vast plateau, descending via the Nab, while ten of us did a much shorter section of the plateau edge and descended to the valley via the Pennine Way. At least two did a reverse version of this, hoping also to climb Mam Tor on the other side of the valley in the afternoon, but time ran out on them. The weather started sunny, got cloudier but then was sunny for a time in the afternoon. Lots took evening trains back to London.

Only six of us remained to walk on Monday, a few other having peeled off due to blisters, other social engagements etc. It was cloudy but got sunnier as the morning developed. The afternoon was rather greyer (though with a patch of sun always on the Hope Valley) but threatened rain never materialised. Our route took us along the Grand Ridge along the south of the Vale of Edale - across Lord's Seat, Rushup Edge, Mam Tor, Hollins Cross, Back Tor and Lose Hill, then down to the village of Hope. After tea or stronger drinks, two got the 4.40pm train from there, others the 5.40pm. And so back to civilisation.

and, this is the perfect time to try out this new and interesting walk, as the heather on the moorland should be in full bloom......

Update: to my knowledge, at least 12 people have booked, about half staying in Sheffield, some in Hathersage, the rest returning to The Smoke

hi Thomas i have booked for the Friday night as well as Sat. do you know if there are bus links back to sheffield city at the end of Saturday's walk please ?

cheers

am interested in this expedition.

sounds really good.

Where are people staying in Hathersage/ JFK

reg. bus back: see the pdf under 'Transport'...from Bamford there is the hourly train to Sheffield, but also a bus, from Moscar Lodge there is only a bus (last at 18.46)

managed to get ticket to Edale for £16 on 12thAugust jfk

I see we have to ford a stream, so does that mean boots rather than walking shoes essential?

Boots, definitely. Because of the gritstone and some bouldery stretches. It's WILD up on them moors... The fording is a doddle.

Have to had to cancel due to illness and hoping to sell on my cheapo discount tickets ? outward journey mid morning FRIDAY and return Sunday evening. The thing is --tickets have to be used with a RAILCARD OF A CERTAIN ILK -- otherwise they won't work unfortunately.

any interest pls post here soonish. Thanks

Re the post below, how much are the tickets please and which railcard do they need to be used with, Senior or Network Railcard?

£31 total but sorry Anon they can't be used with either of those railcards

Which Railcard can they be used with?

skyisblue251@gmail.com

Hope to see some of you in Hathersage Saturday evening.

jfk

Intend going.

18 dry sunny overcast at times better than expected

The majority of the the group rendezvoused at the station (at least one popped up later in the walk.) We made our way through the suburbs of Sheffield, passing interesting graffiti, Victorian mausoleums, emerging hipster enclaves and eventually through busy parks with interesting histories. A brief pause at the Forge Dam cafe and then on to the countryside that quickly delivered steep inclines and dry stone walls. The highlight of the morning section was long meandering path through Lady Canning's Plantation. The heather was in bloom and it was simply gorgeous. A delightful three kilometers through this gorgeous landscape surrounded by purple and greens, greys and browns, and a lovely blue sky.

Lunch for most at the Fox House Inn. Service was prompt and the food was good. Everyone was well set up for an afternoon of skipping across moors and rocks. An initial steep climb, and then fairly flat, but across rocks to Cowper Stone where everyone paused to admire the views. This walker was a first-timer to the area and was beyond impressed with the landscape. (Might be a different story on a wet day...) Moving on from Cowper Stone, for a few kilometers, you could enjoy the views and the landscape without worrying about consulting directions. Keep the drop on your left and you should be OK....

Most regrouped at the recommended pub in Bamford. Some returned to London, others to other villages nearby and and 9 returned to Sheffield. Drinks at the Sheffield Tap, dinner at Pizza Express and then back to hotel rooms with a meeting-up time of 09:45 at Sheffield Station the next morning. (To be continued...)

An interesting introduction to the Peaks from the Sheffield side.a trifle challenging . However managed to recuperate by visiting Chatsworth on sunday and listening to lovely Silver Band music in the Rose Garden and wandering the Estate grounds partly in a chariot drawn by beautiful shire horses.

jfk.

For any one interested in doing this a bus goes up to Chatsworth from Sheffield every half hour and manages to jump the car parking queues and a lot of the traffic.

Memo for future postings of this walk: with elenvenses, (shortish) pub lunch and plenty of stops for admiring the views, we could have all gotten the 18.42 train from Bamford, had we wanted to.