The Dragon's Back

Because of my seemingly never-ending ticklist, any chance that presents itself is seized with the goal of reducing the list.  But a club day out on a September Sunday had some relatively unknown but shapely peaks as the summits of the day.

My breakfast of a cream tea at the Longnor coffee shop was an indulgence but I felt I could justify it ahead of the day’s exertions.  A leisurely start had us following quiet country lanes to a path traversing slowly up to the ridge of High Wheeldon.  The ascent gives the impression that the skyline will be met by a defined ridge but at the top there is a gently sloping plateau of farmland which gives no impression that you are on high ground.

A descent to the BMC managed Aldery Cliff was followed by a stroll along the lane to Earl Sterndale where a welcoming road sign states that “Peas drive carefully”!  We had heard a rumour about “The Quiet Woman” without elaboration but the mystery was soon solved!

And so should you!

Mystery solved!

Parkhouse Hill and Chrome Hill

After crossing some fields we found ourselves at the bottom of the most challenging of the day’s ascents – Parkhouse Hill.  It didn’t take long to reach the summit but the choice of descent required some thought before our lunch stop at the bottom of Chrome Hill.

Instead of a direct ascent we followed the road through Dowal Dale before turning south to walk up the north-west ridge of Chrome Hill.  Some of us took the opportunities for scrambling when the terrain allowed before walking down the south-east ridge back to our lunch spot.  The last couple of miles to Longnor took us across farmland and when we reached the coffee shop our persuasion kept it open long enough for my second cream tea of the day – and I wasn’t the only one!

Despite its name, the Peak District is not famous for its peaks; many, including me up to today, are unaware of their existence with the moorland plateaus, gritstone edges and limestone crags attracting the attention of visitors.  I’ll admit that the hills took me by surprise and although their height doesn’t rival many well-known summits of the land, they are well worth seeking out.