8th April 2018 - Ladybower
The A walk, led by Jim, is the classic round of Derwent Edge from Fairholmes car park. Crossing under the dam, the route heads north alongside Derwent Reservoir before ascending alongside Abbey Brook then Sheepfold Clough to reach Lost Lad. Following the path SE the highest point of the walk is soon reached at Back Tor and a paved ridge path followed to Dovestone Tor, White Tor and Wheel Stones.
At the next junction there is the option of a shortcut around the catchment of Grainfoot Clouge to reach the reservoir road back to the car park. The video below shows this route. However continuing down via Whinstone Lea Tor the route reaches Ashopton on the way to the A57. There is another shortcut from here following the reservoir road back. Alternatively continuing across the bridge the route ascends past Crook Hill to Lockerbrook Farm before descending back to the car park.
14 miles with 2300 feet of ascent gpx downloads: Main route Shortcut 1 Shortcut 2
The B walk, led by Brian, is a circular from Fairholmes car park starting with an ascent to Lockerbrook Farm and on to Alport Castles, then west to Alport Castles Farm before descending to cross the Snake Road near Alport Bridge. Then south east to cross Blackley Clough and eventually north via Hagg Farm back to Fairholmes.
8.5 miles with 1500 feet of ascent
The C walk is a flat anticlockwise round of the reservoir from Fairholmes car park of around 6 miles.