The 9 Edges in question Derwent, Stanage, Burbage Upper, Burbage Lower, Froggatt, Curbar, Baslow, Gardoms and Birchens. The start point was going to be Fairholmes at Ladybower then the eventual end point was Robin Hood near Baslow. My girlfriend Lisa very kindly offered to give me a lift to the start point, so that was all the pieces in place.
[caption id="attachment_1352" align="alignnone" width="600" caption="Derwent Dam Wall"]
[/caption][caption id="attachment_1361" align="alignnone" width="600" caption="Derwent Reservoir"]
[/caption]I arrived at Fairhomles at around 10:00 and didn't waste any time in getting on my way. I set off from the car park and headed off towards the Derwent Dam wall. I took the path off up towards the walls eastern side and then joined the road heading north. I then begun the climb up Walkers Clough at SK 17369090 towards my first edge of the day which is Derwent Edge, more specifically though my first peak which was Back Tor.
[caption id="attachment_1354" align="alignnone" width="600" caption="Walkers Clough"]
[/caption][caption id="attachment_1353" align="alignnone" width="600" caption="Lost Lad"]
[/caption]The views today were stunning, I had been really lucky with the weather thankfully and the views in all directions were great. I arrived at Back Tor in no time at all, there was no time to hang around at all today so I was tramming along at full speed.
[caption id="attachment_1355" align="alignnone" width="600" caption="Back Tor - Derwent Edge"]
[/caption][caption id="attachment_1363" align="alignnone" width="600" caption="Derwent Edge"]
[/caption][caption id="attachment_1362" align="alignnone" width="600" caption="Derwent Edge"]
[/caption]After Back Tor I begun heading south along towards Doverstone Tor via Cakes of Bread. Once again no stopping today so I moved straight on from there towards the Wheel Stones and then I swung south east towards Moscar. After a short little section eastwards along the road I turned back to the south again to begin the second edge of the day which was Stanage.
[caption id="attachment_1372" align="alignnone" width="600" caption="Stanage Edge"]
[/caption]Stanage is the longest edge of the challenge, a haven for climbers and a very popular area especially at weekends. I decided to have a quick lunch break for 10-15 minutes on High Neb, I sat just off the main path on the edge and admired the views across Bamford Moor down to Bamford Edge.
[caption id="attachment_1373" align="alignnone" width="600" caption="Stanage Edge - High Neb"]
[/caption]As i'm the sort of person the likes to have the hills to himself (selfish) I tend to avoid walking at weekends. I'd never been to Stanage at a weekend before and I was surprised at just how many people were out enjoying the outdoors today. There were hundreds of climbers tackling the numerous routes up this world renowned Gritstone Edge today, the jangling of clips and carabiners was a constant back drop to my wander along Stanage. There is some serious climbing to be had along here, I do believe that when doing the official 9 Edges Challenge climbers have to tackle a route on each Edge. I'm very in awe of anyone who can climb well, its something i've never had the oppurtunity to try seriously yet. I'd love to give it a go so would welcome an invite from anyone who wouldn't mind a total newbie tagging along :)
[caption id="attachment_1371" align="alignnone" width="600" caption="Stanage Edge - Climbers"]
[/caption][caption id="attachment_1374" align="alignnone" width="600" caption="Upper Burbage"]
[/caption]After Stanage my next edge of the day was Upper Burbage, I was making great time as I'd been going at a good pace for the last hour or so. I crossed the road at SK 26038300 at the Bridge over Burbage Brook and then joined Edge number 3. these next 2 edges are pretty short indeed. It was very long before I'd finished Upper Burbage and was heading on to number 4 which is Lower Burbage. I had been toying with the idea of stopping for a coffee or some form of refreshment at the Fox House Inn, As I crossed the boggy moor towards the pub I didn't feel the need so I just kept going. I crossed the road and then headed down into the Longshaw Estate.
[caption id="attachment_1369" align="alignnone" width="600" caption="Lower Burbage"]
[/caption][caption id="attachment_1368" align="alignnone" width="600" caption="Lower Burbage - Quarry"]
[/caption]It had been a long while since I 'd last visited Longshaw, If I think back now it must have been back in 1997 while on a field trip with school. We had come to take depth measurements along the River Derwent and had made a side stop here. Longshaw was pretty busy today too but it wasn't something I minded, the more people who visit the more work the National Trust can do to keep this area in good order.
[caption id="attachment_1367" align="alignnone" width="600" caption="Longshaw Estate"]
[/caption]A short dash through Longshaw then I was back out on the road at SK 25947817, thankfully it was only a small road section down past the Grouse Inn. I then joined the footpath at SK 25407762 to head towards edge number 5 of the day which is the short but sweet Froggatt Edge. The midges were out in force in the forest leading along to the edge and I dashed through them quickly so as not to get eaten alive :-)
[caption id="attachment_1365" align="alignnone" width="600" caption="Froggatt Edge"]
[/caption][caption id="attachment_1364" align="alignnone" width="600" caption="Froggatt Edge"]
[/caption]I stopped for a short break on Froggatt Edge at the point where it eventually turns into Curbar Edge. The remaining edges of the day are all pretty short so I knew that the challenge was in the bag as I felt in top shape.
[caption id="attachment_1359" align="alignnone" width="600" caption="Curbar Edge - Highland Cattle"]
[/caption][caption id="attachment_1360" align="alignnone" width="600" caption="Curbar Edge - Highland Cattle"]
[/caption]Curbar came and went pretty quickly, the only obstacle here was the herd of Highland Cattle that blocked the path. I saw it as a blessing as I'd been meaning to get up here and take some pictures of them.
[caption id="attachment_1375" align="alignnone" width="600" caption="Wellington's Monument - Baslow Edge"]
[/caption]The 7th Edge of the day was the very short Baslow, there was a small group of Climbers and a couple of people Bouldering on the rocks below. At the bottom of edge number 7 I swung towards the east and headed straight for Wellington's Monument at SK 2642 7369. A short burst of rain had arrived by the time I got here so I was pleased to be heading down through the forest at this point. I worked my way down until I came to the bridge across Bar Brook, the house at SK 26827346 has a very cool looking bridge over from the road.
[caption id="attachment_1366" align="alignnone" width="600" caption="Gardoms Edge"]
[/caption]I crossed the road just as the rain had decided to turn to hail, no bother though as It was short lived as I marched on up to the 8th Edge of the Day. Gardom's Edge was the penultimate Gristone offering of the Challenge and it was totally deserted, not a soul about as I made my way along it before heading down towards Robin Hood.
[caption id="attachment_1356" align="alignnone" width="600" caption="Birchen Edge - Forest"]
[/caption][caption id="attachment_1370" align="alignnone" width="600" caption="Nelson's Monument - Birchen Edge"]
[/caption]In what seemed like no time at all I was down at the road and heading along towards the Robin Hood Inn. I passed by the pub and headed up the path just after it towards the final edge of the day, Birchen Edge. As I walked up the hill at the base of the edge I passed another herd of Highland Cattle before climbing up to the top. I walked the last few hunded metres along to the finish point while listening the Mark Knopfler's song "Piper Till The End". The heavy dark clouds all around me suddenly begun to part and the sun broke through in spectacular fashion, it was a perfect way to end what had been a thoroughly enjoyable day. I'd never been to Nelson's Monument before and I lingered there for a while while recording some video and another piece for the Peak Routes Podcast.
[caption id="attachment_1358" align="alignnone" width="600" caption="Birchen Edge"]
[/caption][caption id="attachment_1357" align="alignnone" width="600" caption="Nelson's Monument - Birchen Edge"]
[/caption]What a great day indeed. I'm not 100% sure how my route campares to the official challenge route but I did the distance and ticked off all the Edges. The day had passed so quickly and it seemed like a lifetime ago that i'd set off from Fairlholmes. According to ViewRanger it had taken me 6hrs 37minutes, covering a distance of 32.6km and with 994metres of height gain. If you would like to have a go yourself then why not download the route in the form of a GPX file here.... [wpdm_file id=5]
Thanks for reading the blog post, If you would like to listen to an audio account of the day then why not download the "Peak Routes Podcast – Episode 3 – 9 Edges Challenge".
https://twitter.com/PeakRoutes/status/214759405110038528
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