The Totley Tunnel Air Shaft

It was Geoff's turn today and he wanted to visit the air shaft over Totley Tunnel, so we set off at 06:00 and headed up the A6, through Chatsworth Park and then through Baslow and onto the bottom end of the Longshaw estate. We got there about 06:50 and set off through the Longshaw estate, past the lake and on up to the Dukes Seat. We sat there for a while then carried on up to the road and we could see the air shaft on the horizon. The moors were featureless apart from the odd tree hear and there and some nice swathes of heather. The track to the air shaft was quite flat and weaved its way close by then we had to find a way the last few yards across the rough ground to get up to it. It was a brick construction about 8 feet high and 15 feet across, it once had a door which has been bricked up and was covered in graffiti. We had our breakfast here then carried on up the track until we got to a junction on the path and we turned left to follow it. The terrain changed slightly to open moorland with some tall grasses and bog grass. From here the path was all downhill across fields with some stunning views across to Higger Tor and Hathersage Moor. We eventually got onto a road then followed this down to the Longshaw estate and back to the car.

Higger Tor & Carl Wark

The route to the Air Shaft on Totley Moor

The Longshaw lake

Harry Potter tree roots

Walking through the Longshaw Estate

This is in the grounds of Longshaw Estate

View behind the Longshaw visitor centre

This calf looks a bit big to still be feeding off mum

Steps up to the Dukes Seat

Rob

Geoff, Ike and Rob sitting on the Dukes Seat dated 1830

Ike hurrying to catch up after leaving his backpack behind again.

You can just see the air shaft on that mound on the horizon.

Ike and Geoff

Rob

Ike and Geoff coming up to the shaft

Great graffiti 

Great views from the mound

Rob lost in the grass

Ike & Geoff

Thought this one looked good in black & white

Fox House

This is one of the old Stoops on Longshaw Estate with the modern one behind it

Looking at the old packhorse route across Lawrence Field

Back at the car

 It was a nice morning but no sun, it was a steady climb for the first mile after that it leveled out. Part of this walk 3 of us have been on before in August 2012, Ike being the one missing out. We haven't been to the air shaft before and the return leg was new as well. We walked just over 5 miles and very enjoyable it was too.
See you next week