I'd not got up as early as planned, but headed off for Bridge End Car Park hoping there would still be space. In fact, it's been turned into a home for logging vehicles. Plan B was to park by Fairholmes, so I utilised the empty spaces by Derwent Dam and headed up the path towards Lockerbrook. The temperature guage on my car was telling me that it was below freezing, but the stiff climb soon resulted in me taking off the ski jacket and making do with a thin fleece.
Beyond Lockerbrook, the path climbes up to Alport Castles, where it levels out quite nicely. The views along the way take in the Edale Valley, the Snake Pass and Alport Farm. There were a few people around, but not many. I stopped for a brief chat with one of the park rangers, but otherwise just lost myself in my thoughts and my ipod!
Had the day been longer, I'd have liked to have carried on to Bleaklow, but decided to be content with making it as far as the Westend Moor trig point. Initially I decided not to return by the same route, and tried to hack a path down towards Black Clough - but eventually common sense took over and I headed back to the path I'd come on.
My timing was impeccible, arriving back at the car just as the last bit of light was disappearing. As you would expect at this time of year, I had been deep into the bog, so was glad of zip-off legs for the drive home!
(Technical Data: distance = 17.5km, ascent = 550m)
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