Out & About: Cutthroat Bridge & the Moscar stoops

This week we were heading to Cutthroat Bridge which is just north east of Ladybower reservoir on the A57, so it was another early start.

We arrived on station at exactly 7:30am, well it was still dark so we sat in the car for a few minutes and waited until the light improved.

We set off down the road from the car park and crossed over Cutthroat Bridge to get onto the track.

Cutthroat Bridge is apparently named after a murder which happened 400 years ago. The victim was discovered a short distance away from the site of the present bridge and was taken to Bamford Hall where he died. The present bridge was built in 1821 and there has been another murder there just a few years ago where the victim was beheaded. The culprits from Sheffield were caught and charged.

Cutthroat Bridge

Once over the bridge we followed the track which was initially quite steep, we crossed over a stream which comes down from Highshaw Clough. We thought there would have been a slab bridge here in the packhorse days. You could hear the grouse nearby but only occasionally did they take flight so we could see them. When up close they really are quite loud.

Brook from Highshaw Clough

Geoff climbing down the rocks

When the track levelled out it was a short walk to the first Stoop D3 which is just a small stoop adjacent to a wall. This was about a hundred feet off the coordinates shown in the Stoop Book but easy to find.

Stoop D3 on the right

Rob taking a snap

Ike is really laid back and relaxed!!

D3 - Sheffeild Road 7M

After a few pics we set off towards Moscar House Farm, this part of the track is an old packhorse route which was formerly called Mortimer Road. Again there were lots of birds about including a flock of starlings which did there formation flight before landing in a tree. Although I asked Ike to be quiet he somehow disturbed them but I managed to get a quick snap as they took off.

We arrived at Moscar House Farm and met the farmer who told us we could go through his farmyard. We stopped and chatted for a while and he showed us into one of his buildings which he said were the stables when the packhorse route was in use.

Starlings coming off the tree

Looking south from Moscar House Farm

Who's looking at you?

At the top of the track we crossed over a road and met a twitcher stationed there with bino’s and a chart. He told us he was recording the species of birds coming through on there migration. Apparently this part of the county is a corridor where most of the birds filter through on there journey south.

We carried on towards our second stoop D4 this was a steady walk uphill which gave us some nice views towards Ladybower. We found the stoop OK, another tall pillar with inscriptions on every side.

Ike at stoop D4

Security camera!!

Ike's got his ear stuck to the stoop!!

D4 with Moscar Lodge in the distance

Ike Jim & Rob at stoop D4

A couple of nice pics here especially Ike hiding behind the stoop and a mysterious hand holding a camera. We think this was the security camera to catch Stoopologists when they chalk the inscriptions!!

After stoop D4 we looked for Moscar Cross also known as Humblestone Cross, but apparently it doesn’t exist any more. There are supposedly some stones which formed the base of the cross adjacent to a stile near Moscar Farm.