Gardoms Edge and the Ancient Rock

A great start to 2020 with all 4 of us out and about. It was Ike's turn to drive and i suggested Gardoms Edge to look at the ring and cup stone. We parked at the bottom of Clodhall Lane with the junction of Sheffield Road. It only took about 40 minutes to get there and we were 2nd in the car park. We went through the gate at the bottom of the road and walked up towards the edge. We had a couple of wet area's to cross but once passed those it was plain sailing. We stuck to the edge until we got to the old oak tree and then we went into the woods. Following the footpath the first thing we saw was the "Sun Dial Stone" Well that's what i call it for obvious reasons. We just kept going and eventually got to the "rock" we were looking for. I call it a rock but its actually a fibre Glass replica.
First discovered in the mid 1960's the condition of the carvings on the earthfast rock began to deteriorate and it was decided something had to be done to protect them from the elements. This finally happened in 1996 when the original rock was buried and a polyester resin and fibreglass replica was substituted in its place.. We carried on through the woods and came out at a style next to The Three Men of Gardom, the three conical mounds of stone that give the site its name - they are said to commemorate three shepherds (or even drunken priests) who lost their life near here during a storm. Although these only date from the 18th century they are built on top of a low Bronze Age barrow or cairn constructed of boulders. 
We found a little ravine and sheltered out of the wind for our breakfast before slowly walking back to the car. On the way back we passed some fell runners going at a fair rate and one or two looked to be of the older generation. Further on we passed some climbers with crash mats strapped to their backs. 

Geoff

A Raven on the rock

"Sun Dial Stone"

Rob, Ike and Geoff at the Rock

Ike me and Geoff

The 3 Men of Gardom

Breakfast spot

Rob

Rob

Ike

Fell runners

Climbers

Ike crossing over a stream

This was a lovely little walk to start off the new year, blowing away the cobwebs, looking forward to some warmer times in the spring. See you next week.

Rock Art on Gardoms Edge

Only me today, everyone else was busy. I had a bit of a lay in and set off just before 08:00 and got parked up at the bottom of Clodhall lane close to the Sheffield Rd junction. My intention was to go and find the famous rock art on one of the stones on Gardoms Edge. I've looked for it in the past but failed. This time i was armed with the coordinates on my GPS so i was hopeful. Had a great walk along the edge with the temperature at -6 there was lots of frost and ice about. From a photographers point of view i think Gardoms Edge is much underrated with having some fantastic photo opportunities. I got to the Old tree and wall and into the wooded area where my GPS was pointing. Slowly worked around to the Sun Dial Stone and then started following my GPS to the rock art stone. Had a look around but couldn't find it, about to give up when another photographer was walking close by and asked was i looking for something (there is a god) and he told me where it was, i was only a few yards away. After spending a bit of time photographing it i set off back to the car.

It was really cold this morning even the sheep droppings were white over lol. The stone with the rock art is not the original, that was replaced with this replica many years ago although its made fibre glass it looks real.

Hopefully be up to full strength next week.