Thursday walk 4 August 2022 – Report

It was perfect walking conditions: warm, dry, mainly sunny
with a bit of a breeze. 10 members started from the lane
between Monsal Head and Little Longstone. We walked down
to the latter, leaving the road just before the Packhorse
Inn. The path led across fields and over numerous stiles,
leading us gently uphill to Chertpit Lane. After a short
distance along the track we doubled back uphill on a
delightful rising traverse where we found a coffee break spot
with a great view. After the break we continued uphill until
we reached the cairn at the highest point of Longstone Moor.
In spite of the almost 360 degree panorama from here, there
was no trig point, but this is an Ethel. The wide grassy path
led across the moor; we left it on a narrower path which
reached a gate, the other side of which was a steep descent
through woods to Moor Lane coming up from Great Longstone.
After a short road walk we took a path parallel to and below
the road. Lunch was taken on a bank overlooking Great
Longstone. Our birding contingent were busy observing the
avian life. After a slight uphill, the route was down
through woods then across a field and through a delightful
though short limestone dale. I was asked what the name of
the dale was but it is not named on the OS map. In Great
Longstone we passed through the churchyard before taking a
path (more fields and stiles) to Little Longstone and so
back to the start. 5.3 miles, 860 ft of ascent.

Andy & Rosy