I had a bit of a ramble from Ashford-in-the-Water yesterday.
Walked up to Monsal Head and from there onto Fin Cop (access land) via the concessionary path above the dale. Had lunch on top of Fin Cop and wandered to the far side of the summit.
I had planned to go back down into Monsal Dale the way I'd come, cross the A6 and up into Deep Dale but there was another stile and a clear path heading downwards. I assumed it was another concessionary path providing a way onto the access land from the south.
When I hit the woodland about 3/4 of the way down the path started to peter out until I was fighting my way through a grim tangle of bramble, hawthorn branches and other annoying stuff. I couldn't bear the thought of re-ascending so I persevered and came to a riverside path. Hoping to find a bridge I followed this over stile after stile, aware I was no longer on a PRoW or access land, until I eventually came to a gate that I had to climb to get out onto the A6.
It had been a private fishing path I'd been on by the river but there was no warning at the top of the hill that you couldn't get down this way - some signs might help! I was way off my route now and didn't fancy regaining it by walking along the busy A6, so I crossed over to a nearby footpath up to Great Shacklow Wood.
I was a bit grumpy now and couldn't be bothered going back to continue up Deep Dale. So I decided to change my route and head directly back to Ashford via this woodland path and have a beer. Except the pubs were closed by the time I got there. I had a wander round waiting for my bus and headed back to Buxton, where a consolatory pint was guaranteed and gratefully enjoyed.
A few phone pics, not sorted the ones on my camera yet. I won't be blogging this one since I was accidentally and unwillingly trespassing for some of it!
View across Monsal Dale, with Wardlow Hay Cop on the horizon.
Wardlow Hay Cop (left), Headstone Viaduct in the dale, and Longstone Moor (right)
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Lunch (cheese and marmite) looking across to Deep Dale before things went awry.
Aaahhh...
It was still - mostly! - a pleasant few hours walk but be warned not to head south from the summit of Fin Cop, inviting though it may look!