Carl Wark & Over Owler Tor

After a couple of weeks away the Blackbrook  Four were together once again. Ike still has a bit of trouble with his knee and Geoff had a bad back so we thought a nice easy ramble would be the order of the day.
After a brief discussion we headed north on the A6 up to where we parked a couple of weeks ago when we went to Longshaw.
We thought Higger Tor and Carl Wark on Hathersage Moor would fit the bill. Carl Wark with its 3 vertical cliff faces and prehistoric embankment has been interpreted as an iron age fort. Higger Tor is just a high area of Rocky outcrops.

It looked a bit murky as we walked down to the first bridge over Burbage Brook and followed the brook up all the way to the main road bridge at Toads Mouth which is just inside Sheffield City limits.
We crossed the road, over the style and eventually got onto the main footpath after tramping through very damp grassland.

View from the car park over Burbage Brook

Lower Bridge over Burbage Brook

Upper bridge 

This is the A6187

Toads Mouth Rock

Crossing over Toads Mouth Bridge

Higger Tor with Burbage Brook

We went off the footpath for a while on the way to the old packhorse bridge but were rewarded with some interesting pics.

No way over the brook here.

The 200 year old bridge nestles in the valley.

Packhorse bridge with Carl Wark in the background

From the packhorse bridge we legged it uphill to Carl Wark. There was a lot of off path stuff through the heather and Ike was moaning about his knee, muttering something if he knew it was like this he wouldn't have come. Mardy bugger!!!

The way up to Carl Wark

View from Carl Wark

This water trough could have been carved out over  2000 years ago by the pre Roman  Brigantines

Some of these blocks of stone in this wall are over 3 feet long.

The path from Carl Wark to Higger Tor in the murk.

Geoff with Higger Tor behind

This gap is called Winyards Nick!!!

From Carl Wark we trekked across some open heather until we got back on the track and skirted around Higger Tor to Winyards Nick and then to Over Owler Tor where we stopped for breakfast.

First encounter with Over Owler Tor (OOT)

Feeding time

Me on the edge with Higger Tor in the background.

Views from OOT with Bamford Edge and Win Hill off in the distance.

Views from OOT

Brother Rob on top of OOT

Bit of gritstone just down from OOT

After breakfast and having a wander around OOT we started down towards Mother Cap and then through the woods across the road and down through the old packhorse route to Burbage Brook and back to the car.

A bit of sunlight catches OOT

Climbers on Mother Cap

This looks like a lizard of some sort to me

Geoff snapping the heather

Some whit has written "Fire Escape" on this rock

This is the old packhorse route down to Burbage Brook

Although we have done part of this walk before we wanted to see the heather when in full bloom and this was the closest spot to see it.
In all this walk was just over 3 and a half miles and very pleasant, although Ike was moaning a bit.
A bit of blue sky would have been nice, but at least in was dry.
See you next week
cheers

The Longshaw Pole & Little John's Well

Unfortunately Ike fell over in his garden and had a badly knee so there were only 3 of us this week. I have been told it definitely had nothing to do with whiskey!!!

We travelled north up to the Longshaw estate to have a look at the Pole and Little John's Well.

We parked on the B6521 and from the road had some great views of Higger Tor & Carl Wark.

Longshaw Pole

The footpath from the road went gradually uphill, past the information cabin and then up through the woods to the pond.

Higger Tor & Carl Wark

Longshaw Pond

From the pond we trekked across to one of the Derbyshire Guide Stoops and got a few pics. The last time we were here it was a misty and dull day so this was an opportunity to get some decent pics.

Guide Stoop dated 1709 

Modern  companion stone with the original in the background.

Appreciation post to Dr. Ballard CBE
Founder of the Co op Rambling Club.

After the stoop we walked on up through some more woods until we came out at the Longshaw Pole.

The Pole is another guide post which travellers have used in centuries gone by. There is a stone tablet at the base which has a date of 1778 on it. The pole is periodically replaced by the National Trust whenever the old one is past its sell by date.

Typical footpath through the estate.

Rob taking a pic of the pole. The lone building in the background  is  White Edge Lodge  and is a holiday cottage belonging to the National Trust.

The Longshaw Pole is another guide post which travellers have used in centuries gone by 

Another view of Higger Tor

Because this was in a cow pat I've called it a TURD STOOL

Breakfast stop.

Look at the size of them cow pats.

 From the Pole we walked back along the track, had our breakfast then carried on towards Little John's Well which is basically a water trough fed by a spring. There several are steps down to the trough. There is a local connection with Little John with his grave being in Hathersage church yard just a couple of miles away.

Little John's Well

Little John's Well

Geoff photographing Little John's Well.

Steps up to the Dukes Seat

Rob taking in the view above the Dukes Seat.

Geoff

Me

The Dukes Seat

3 wise men on the throne

Rob & me.

Final shot of the day, Higger Tor & Carl Wark

This was a cracking little walk mostly on the level and took in some brilliant views.
Hopefully back up to full strength next week.
Cheers