Upper
Goyt Valley - Part II
Return
to Part I
The whole of this area is
a magnet for leisure activities. In the picture below you can
see two fly-fishermen on Errwood where dinghy sailing also takes
place on a Sunday and sometimes mid-week. The paths and tracks
around the reservoirs and the surrounding hills see regular traffic
from walkers and runners of all degrees of enthusiasm. Swimming
is not allowed but if it were there could be hundreds here in
the hot weather, whenever that might be. :o) As we will see there
are also other enthusiasms slaked on the surrounding hills.
The dam wall of Errwood
Reservoir and beyond Fernilee Reservoir which was built in 1938.
This steep length of straight(ish)
road running up from the Errwood dam wall was from 1831 to 1892
the 1:7 Bunsall Incline of the Cromford and High Peak Railway
where railway waggons were hauled up to the top by a fixed steam
engine before continuing their journey with a locomotive. The
railway line connected the Peak Forest Canal's terminus at Whaley
Bridge with the Cromford Canal south of Matlock, Derbyshire.
Not much use for the overflow
in these dry times but come winter the water will be cascading
down the 'steps'.
Looking south to the head
of the reservoir and Whetstone Ridge on the farthest skyline,
with the Cat and Fiddle nearby. Can you make out the hint of the
radio mast below the lowest white cloud?
Looking north along the
2km length of Fernilee Reservoir. The outfall from the Errwood
Reservoir is alongside the control building/valve house in the
foreground.
From the Fernilee dam wall
looking south. Above the white of the outfall water the smooth
grassed slope of the Errwood dam wall rises. The track of the
old railway runs level along the bank on the left and its continuation
incline is visible above the trees and running over the skyline.
We are halfway round our
walk now. Beyond Fernilee farmland fringes the forest not the
moorland of higher up the valley. Our route today only takes in
fringes of woodland and runs over the skyline on the RH edge of
the trees.
Nearly up on the ridge again,
looking north-west to Kinder Scout. Kinder Downfall is the light
streak down from the skyline over the saddle of Chinley Head.
Not only up on the ridge
but also atop the aptly named Windgather Rocks - a playground
for rock-climbers to hone their skills.
Looking north, back down
the ridge to Windgather.
Beyond Pym's Chair and above
Cats Tor the inflatable nylon wings of the hang-gliders swooped
and hovered in the updraught.
Looking back to Cats Tor.
A clearer view of the hang-gliders, even at this distance, as
I'm not shooting into the sun.
Looking east from the ridge,
up Wildmoorstone Brook to Burbage Edge where the RH side of the
valley is showing the 'camouflage-pattern' of repeated annual
burnings on different patches of land.
The cotton grass is more
prolific here on this normally soggy broad shoulder.
Almost back at the car,
Shutlingsloe from above the 'Dish and Spoon' ...
... and the roads back to
Macclesfield.
Back
to Top
Collections
Home
.