Circular walk around Burbage Rocks

Just 3 of us today myself, Rob and Ike and we thought a trip around Burbage Rocks to see if we could spot a cuckoo. We set off at 06:00 and parked up not far from the Toads Mouth at 06:50.
We set off up the track and the first thing we found was an old circular water trough with a crack through it, i wonder if the mason got the sack or even worse. Thirty seconds later back on the track Ike says "Ive left my rucksack in the car" After a few choice words he headed back to the car to get  it while Rob and myself wandered slowly a bit further on to the newt pond. Ike caught up with us at the pond, last time we were here it had lots of newts in but Rob recons it was to cold for them and they are hiding at the bottom somewhere. From there we walked through the remains of what used to be a pine forest that has been managed by the Forestry Commission. I know they have to do this but the area just looks a mess. The footpath through this area petered out and then we were faced with a fence. Rob and myself got over OK but Ike couldn't manage it and in the end our Rob had to give him a fireman's lift over the fence. Walking over this rough land was really tough and sapped the strength from your legs. We got back onto the main track and we saw a Ring Ousel and i managed to get a snap of it, although it was quite a long way off and the quality not very good. From there we got to the Upper Burbage area where we had our breakfast.
After breakfast we started back towards the car but we took the high track along the top of Burbage Rocks. We came across a nice big cairn and then found a spot to have our pic taken by a couple of lads that were walking behind us. Further down the track we found another cracked stone trough, this one was huge and only part finished, and you could see the method used to make them by cutting out around the inside of the perimeter. We passed a quite large quarry and one of the slabs you could see where they had been drilling the rock. Just after this we heard the cuckoo only for a couple of minutes but a great spring sound. It was just a short distance back to the car
.

This weeks route

Rob & Ike booting up

Carl Wark & Higger Tor in the background

Rob & Ike checking out the cracking trough

Ike heading back to the car for his rucksack

Rob at the newt pond

Desolate land after all the trees have been felled

Ike & Rob

Ike

Ike & Rob

Rob & Ike

Ring Ousel

Breakfast time

Bridge at the top of Burbage Brook

Ike crossing a stream

One of the cairns

Ike, Rob & me

Looking down into the quarry

Drill holes on that big slab

The rectangular cracked trough

Good view of Carl Wark and Higger Tor

This was another cracking walk just over 4 miles (4 1/2 for Ike lol) we saw a couple of Ring Ousels, a swallow and a couple of other unidentified small birds. We heard a cuckoo, grouse and a curlew, all in all a pretty good morning. 

See you next week

Higger Tor & Burbage Edge

3 of us this week, me Rob & Ike with Geoff travelling back from his holiday in Scotland. We thought it was a nice morning so it was back up the Peak to Higger Tor.  It only took 50 minutes to get to the official free car park. We've all been on Higger Tor previously but not from this route. We set off from the car park straight up to Higger Tor and had some great views all around. On the way up we spotted a Curlew on the ground but i wasn't quick enough to get a shot. When almost on the top a fell runner came past and then he came back a few minutes later (well he was a lot younger than us). While heading down towards Carl Wark i spotted the famous Kit Kat stones so i had to zap them. From there we skirted around the bottom end of Carl Wark where i had a bit of a mishap. Stepping from a rock i put my foot on what i thought was solid ground but my leg disappeared in a bog past my knee and i really struggled to pull my leg out i really thought i was going to be stuck.After a bit of help i managed to get out. All through the morning we could hear a cuckoo loud and clear and we were getting closer. We wound our way down the hill to the old packhorse bridge and we saw the cuckoo flying in front of us and it landed in the top of a tree. I used my Lumix TZ60 with its huge telephoto range and managed to get two shots off before it flew away. We walked a short distance up the opposite hill towards Burbage Edge and found a pond where Rob & Ike were in their element looking for newts and they found them too. We stopped here for breakfast then continued up to the Burbage Edge. I must say we were all very disappointed to see they have been removing a huge amount of tree's from this area but apparently they will be replanting in the future. On our way up to the edge we followed a water course with numerous little water falls. From here it was just a nice stroll back along the edge to the car park.

Higger Tor & Carl Wark

This weeks route around Higger Tor and Burbage Edge

Rob & Ike

The track up to Higger Tor

On top of Higger Tor

Fell runner passing Rob

Fell runner on his way back

You can see the diagonal track to Carl Wark

Rob

The famous Kit Kat Stones on Higger Tor

Ike setting up his camera for a timed pic

Ike scrambling down through the rocks

Rob & Ike

Carl Wark, note the man stood on the rock left of centre

Ike putting Robs scarf in his bag

Carl Wark from below

I'm looking glum because this is where i got trapped in the bog.

Packhorse bridge

Carl Wark on the left and Higger Tor on the right

Me

Cuckoo

Cuckoo and small bird

Rob caught a newt

Looking for newts

Heading back towards the car

Little water falls everywhere

This rock looks like it has a face

A couple just enjoying the view

180 degree panorama

Looking down Burbage edge

Looking up Burbage Edge

The information board at the top end of Burbage Edge

Burbage brook

Back at the car

 This was just over 3 miles a very pleasant walk seeing and hearing some great birds. Next week we'll be back to full strength and we'll have my mate Geoff back after missing 3 Sundays away in Scotland.
See you next week.