Valentine’s Day walk Bradwell – 14 Feb 2013.

Andy Smith
Feb 15, 2013
A vaguely heart-shaped circuit from Andy & Rosy’s house. They were
accompanied by four other members: Linda & Dave, Martin & Pat. It was
mostly cloudy and mostly dry. The recent snow was melting fast but it
still felt a bit cold in the breeze up on the Moor. The six of us set
off up the lane to Newwall Nook, past the usual barking dogs to Outlands
quarry, the first of the industrial sites of Bradwell to be encountered
on the walk. The path skirted round the quarry and we soon reached Moss
Rake quarry. An ascent of Green Dale and deep soft snow in places, led
to Batham Gate, the old Roman Road from Glossop to Buxton. After a short
ascent on the road we came to where a footpath normally heads off to the
right. We found that this part of the old quarry was being landscaped
and we had to cross newly bulldozed ground before picking the path up.
Here, the old open cast workings provided some shelter for a quick
coffee break. Heading down across Bradwell Moor, we reached a wall near
Potter Barn, the bottom of the ‘V’ in the heart shape. We then headed up
next to the wall, trying to avoid the deepest snow drifts, not always
successfully. After a few stiles, one of them quite tricky, we arrived
at the top of Dirtlow Rake, the site of the old Hollandtwine mine. From
here the route dropped down the Dirtlow Rake track with some deep wet
slushy sections. At the road we opted for tarmac in preference to
continuing wading through the deep slush on the track. A stroll downhill
brought us to the top of Pin Dale, where a boulder provided a seat for a
picnic in a reasonably sheltered spot. From here, a bit of involved
route-finding led down to a stile and the track through Pindale quarry
past the old lead veins (Scrins) to Black Rabbit cottage. From here we
took the public right of way through the Hope cement works (formerly
LaFarge but recently bought by Mittal Investments) to arrive back in
Bradwell. The walk was followed by tea and cakes, a Valentine’s Day quiz
and an Antarctic slide show.

6.9 miles; 1130 ft of ascent. Andy
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Andy Smith – Bradwell, Derbyshire, England; andy@…