Bleaklow Stones
DAY 2
SK173952 Take the 6 bridleway on the north bank of Cranberry Clough, ford a burn and start up the nose of Sandy Lee. Near an old quarry, dogleg left to come parallel to Bull Clough and, when the gradient eases, right, onto a broad spur. The path, rougher but still plain, comes near a drystone wall and then away from it to reach the heathery top of Howden Edge. Pass a faint path left and a crossing path to reach an eroded section with a cairn. From here you’ll need your routefinding wits about you.
SK185960 7
To visit Margery Hill trig, turn right into heather and traverse 500m on a faint path on a bearing of 148°. Being roughly 1km out and back, it’s useful to time this detour to ascertain your per km speed (remembering to pause for stops). The trig sits at the head of the wall you met on the way up. Retrace your steps to the path, then cross it to keep a similar trajectory. Harden Moss trig, your next known point, is 1.34km north-west across open moor on a faint path which is easy to lose and hard to find. For this reason, it’s worth setting a bearing for 315° and timing your progress. The pillar is at a path junction and, if needed, marks a good escape point down to the River Derwent and back to Slippery Stones.
SK177969 Otherwise, 8
turn north for 650m going gently downhill on a gamekeeper’s path and then north-north-west for 390m. This brings you to the watershed of Howden and Harden Moors. At SK173979, turn westnorth-west, on the same gamekeeper’s path with managed heather patches on your left and open moor on your right. This section is almost entirely featureless but stay on the high ground and keep an eye on your timings. After 1.8km you’ll come alongside a grouping of three boulders, the Hoar Stones. Another 1.4km trudge west-north-west brings you to the intersection with a path coming up from the Derwent Valley.
SK142986 Turn
9
west-southwest over the plateau through peat hags still on the same faint path. Dip slightly downhill, pass a boulder on your right, cross the tangled head of a stream and then start to climb to a path junction at a fence. Just past this is a rocky clearing. Beyond this, follow a line of stakes west-south-west for 570m. A vague path here turns south-west and then directly south but for slightly easier navigation, continue west-south-west to meet Fair Black Clough.
SK122980 Pick up a 10
path on the east bank of the clough and follow it south uphill. Stick to the main course of the burn as it flows through peat hags in a re-entrant. After about 1km, at SK119971, come to the head of the burn where it is fed by numerous smaller streams. It might be worth filling water bottles up here. Set a bearing for 230° and set off uphill for 1km through peat hags to reach the summit plateau and a grouping of boulders with a path coming in from the east – Bleaklow Stones. Dump your bag with relief.
SK115963 If desired, 11
a 2.6km extension (5.2km round trip) will take you to Bleaklow Head. Go west following a faint path along a line of stakes. Pass boulders on your left and, after 1km, more boulders. Here the path, still vague, turns south-west for 880m. Timing is essential as there are practically no features. Turn west for 600m to the summit then retrace your steps to camp.