Much to admire from Redmires.

19/08/2018.

Really nice today...cool and breezy with some lovely skies, so much nicer than those weeks and weeks of hot weather that we had to endure...Decided to go out today to recce my walk that I have submitted to Doncaster Ramblers winter programme, a moderate walk of around 10 miles. The starting point being the road end at Redmire reservoirs, a string of three reservoirs at Fulwood on the western boundary of the city of Sheffield. The reservoirs are filled from streams draining the Hallam moors, but at the moment the top reservoir is completely empty. There seems to be lots of work going on there at the moment to the dam wall,so im not sure if the reservoir has been drained while the work continues or just a lack of rainwater. we set off in light drizzle heading up the track beside the trees bound for Stanage edge..after 10 minutes or so I wondered if I had locked the car door, why do I do that? I couldn't remember, did I or didn't I?..Karen decided to go back to check [bless her]...she looked angry on return...yeah it was locked.

Before long we reached Stanedge pole, a landmark on these moors standing at 1437 ft, the pole marks the boundary between Derbyshire and South Yorkshire. A pole has stood on this site since at least 1550 beside an old packhorse track which followed the line of a Roman road. ...Its an interesting place also said to be the ancient boundary between Northumbria and Mercia...Wonderful history.

Shortly after passing the pole we reached Stanage edge..early in the walk, but this was to be the highlight of the walk,popular with walkers, joggers and Climbers, the Gritstone edge seems to go on forever...There are many of theses edges in the Peak district, far more edges than peaks...walking along it i wondered why they never called it the Edge district instead of the Peak district..i got to thinking of the different edges we had walked and did I have a favourite?...I suppose my favourite would be The Roaches with Stanage coming a close second...but then there is Derwent...Curbar/Froggatt,,,Baslow...Birchin...etc etc etc...whatever the fave it looked beaut up there today.

We walked along the edge, camera working in overdrive, keeping to the very edge wherever possible...reaching the trig point we thought of elevenses..a bit early yet, lets press on a bit further...time for one last photograph first.

Reluctantly we left the edge and headed down to Upper Burbage bridge...where we wolfed down Coffee and Cheese butties...A passing walker with three dogs took a liking to Alfie, and Alfie took a liking to his doggie treats...dryed Liver and dryed heart..i stuck to my Cheese..Alfie licked his lips as he watched his new friends walk off..i passed this way yesterday on my walk we walked along the crest of Burbage rocks, today we took the lower path...the views are just as good and far more sheltered.

Such a popular walking area but strangely quiet today...in fact there were more people climbing the rocks today than those walking the paths...love to watch these climbers

Walking down the path here we recalled that this was Alfies first walk...11 years ago...a little puppy 12 weeks old brilliant white,we remembered he was scared of sheep, he walked round puddles, never left our sides...now look at him, covered in crap ...yes covered in crap but I wouldn't want him any other way....boy do I love that dog....leaving the main path we headed off on a track towards the Houndkirk road.

Enjoyed the path crossing the moors here, much quieter...I like quieter..we reached the Houndkirk road and things got a bit noisy..a few motorbikes, I don't mind motorbikes as long as they stick to the rules...lots of mountain bikers...I don't mind them either....boy am I mellowing or what.. Ahead of us lies the city, I don't mind the city either...

Getting thirsty now...but hurrah, we eventually made it to the Norfolk arms at Ringinglow..Dogs allowed [that's a bonus]...we sunk into comfy chairs by the log burner...not lit today but I might reserve this seat for November when I head this way again with the Ramblers..Wow look they have my favourite..Abbeydales Moonshine..I managed 2 pints...I would have been rude to just have had one...Its a nice old pub..dogs scattered about underneath tables..when in a pub I like to people watch....2 young lads came in, can I have a sip of the cider to try said one to the chap behind the bar...of course..oh that's a bit sweet...can I try the red Rabbit...of course..oh tastes strong.....um...just give me a Carling...what a twat !!!

I could have sat there all afternoon, but we needed to press on....press on down to the Porter brook...So close to Sheffield..but silence

A lovely walk up Porter clough followed..then a walk along Fulwood lane, somehow or other I missed the path back to Redmires..a passing walker told us where the path was..why did I listen to him as he hadn't a clue and we walked a mile that we didn't need too...it was my fault as I had a map in my rucksack but was too lazy to get it out to look at...I will never ask anyone again.

We eventually found the path...a Permissive path over Rud hill..where we followed the enchanting path across the moor back to Redmires..Did the walk work?...sort of...might have to tweak it a bit...bearing in mind that in November it will be getting dark by mid afternoon..im sure it will all work out fine.