After last week’s annual Warts’ visit to Odin’s Mine, we followed a week later with another annual visit this time to the diametrically opposite corner of the Dark Peak, to a very windy and almost light Windle Edge; is spring on its way? In past visits here, there was usually only one car full of Warts so a maximum of five of us but tonight there were about five cars and about ten of us, maybe a record? This annual pilgrimage was to check the condition of the “three sheeper” sheepfold, if indeed it could be found somewhere near the upper (very) Derwent River in the Swains Greave/Head area and close to a fence.
After our nightmarish crossing of the Woodhead Road and a delicate barbed wired scramble over a minimalist stile, we finally reached some less dangerous swampy ground by the River Etherow for the climb to the 1894 rock, a notable point on the Watershed. It was on the way there that the right and left navigation system came into play. Many of the Warts, including me, are very dependent on our leaders for route plans and the navigation for them, so thanks and appreciation to Andy, Bob and Tom. A bearing of 195⁰ was planned and followed, initially, until it was thought expedient to minimise the crossings of Near and Middle Small Cloughs by going due south. Given we ordinary Warts are sheepish at the best of times and we had all somehow missed the Watershed path, there was a bit of confusion about which way to go next. One way was to the left, another to the right and we sheep were left dithering in the middle. Though it turned out we ditherers were wrong, we headed straight on to Dean Head Stones, missing 1894, but still worth a visit nevertheless.
Though some distance downstream, the River Derwent is worthy of the description, mighty, it could hardly be called that where we crossed not far from its source on Barrow Stones. We climbed to the amazing, large collection of boulders there which were duly inspected in detail by climbers Tom and Bob. Here, possible alien lights were seen in the distance somewhere near Round Hill. In fact, the aliens turned out to be the south western Dark Peakers, John and Moz, who had come from the other side, hoping to meet us at Barrow Stones but a strong wind and a torch failure had prevented progress there.
The exact location of the “three sheeper” has remained a mystery to me, and even now it still remains so. Lagging behind the group descending from Barrow Stones, I suddenly found myself joining all the head torches at the sheepfold, small and tumbledown but still there. The precise (?) location is near the River Derwent source and a fence. What could be easier to find? Often river source areas are blessed with swampy, reedy going and our way out from the Stones manifest that tendency. The reeds had been bent over and there was the uncertainty of whether it could hold firm whilst we crossed; deep mud, streams and holes were just some of the delights awaiting us under the reeds. The escape to the Watershed path was a bit of a relief, for a short time, until the remarkably slippery peat path down Far Small Clough. Here, we were in very alien territory with a string of lights on the Woodhead Road and the two vertical lines of red lights of the Holme Moss and Emley Moor masts. But, we were seen! Ian W was returning from some outdoor course he was taking when he saw lights on the hillside near Salter’s Brook and whilst his first thought might not have been aliens, other drivers may well have had such first thoughts about us.
Two years ago, I reported on my apparent hallucinatory experience when I’d suggested that the Dog and Partridge had changed its name to the Beaters, I was half right. The pub name remains and so does the Beaters restaurant, in the same building, and with its same sign. No hallucinations then but it had nevertheless, provided some entertainment for other Warts. We were made welcome and warm in the pub, and as always, the conversations after a stimulating windy night out, were wide ranging, The Book of Trespass, Jim Paxman’s Ashop Round race,……..So, another grand night!
Graham