Ski Club of Manchester Derbyshire Four Edges Walk — Sunday 27th July 2025

Reporter: Helen Richardson

Leaders: Catherine and Brian Beardsall

The rainy forecast for Sunday, 27th July, seemed not to dampen the spirits of four dogs and thirteen walkers, who turned up to enjoy another Ski Club of Manchester Walk. We met at Hay Wood National Trust Car Park on the Longshaw estate close to Froggatt Edge, which is a few miles west of Sheffield. With everyone present ahead of time, we got off to a prompt start, with the usual greetings and chat accompanying the walking.

The Club last walked some of the gritstone edges in this scenic area more than a decade ago, so it felt especially enjoyable to revisit. We set off in a southerly direction, and with a gentle, gradual ascent were soon walking along Froggatt Edge. A steep escarpment overlooking the Derwent Valley to the west ensures superb views all along both Froggatt and Curbar Edges.

Erratics along the broad paths add to the interest and grandeur of the scenery

Next on our route was Baslow Edge. A gradual descent here took us to a stone feature with plenty of space on curved ‘benches’, that made for an ideal refreshment stop.

Shortly after we turned from Baslow Edge to Blackstone Edge, we came to Wellington’s monument. Trees and bushes surround this gritstone ashlar cross, its square pedestal and the natural rock outcrop on which it stands, so that, although it is high, (much too high for a customary photocall with Peddar on top!), we saw it only when we arrived nearby. The monument celebrates victory at the 1815 Battle of Waterloo and is dedicated to the Duke of Wellington. Its inscription was difficult to decipher but see Derbyshire War Memorials website for details.

We crossed a minor road at the northeast end of Blackstone Edge to reach White Edge. A steady climb took us to the highest point on the walk at the trig point at about 365m, from which a short detour from the main route took us to our lunch spot out of the wind. Lunch was amply supplemented with flapjacks, baked by our leaders, and Eccles cakes from Steve, for all of which “thank you very much!”

We made a gradual descent on pleasant paths to the Grouse Inn.

Finding enough space in the beer garden for us all looked like an unsurmountable challenge, but gradually we managed to all sit together, and enjoyed a final chat in the afternoon sun. The anticipated rain had never materialised, and everyone agreed what an enjoyable walk we had had.

I don’t know about anyone else, but I counted five Edges on our Four Edges Walk; Blackstone Edge was ‘a bonus’, barely noticeable as an Edge, but new to me, and not only very pleasant walking but also an essential link between the Edges to its west and east on today’s route!

Our thanks to Catherine and Brian for a splendid walk indeed!