Walks With Nellie ~ Lead Hill ~ By Sally Mosley

With the title of Lead Hill you could be thinking that Nellie and I had been a walk in the White Peak. Far from it! This was a wander over heather-clad moorland with not a disused mine or capped shaft to be seen.

Less than 4 miles in length, this hike was hardly a stroll however, especially when I encountered the descent of a badly eroded and steep path. It was certainly worth it though as the views from up there were stunning. Wow!

We went early morning to get a free roadside parking place on the A57 close to the Ashopton viaduct, then headed up the drive to a cluster of surviving houses from this little village that was mainly demolished in the early 1900’s to make way for Ladybower Reservoir. Our route then became a bridleway behind Ladybower House.

We passed through a gate to enter Ladybower Wood Nature Reserve which is owned and managed by Derbyshire Wildlife Trust. Designated as SSSI it is a nationally important site. Evidently it is one of the few remaining examples of upland sessile oak woodland in the Peak District and is said to contain 44 species of lichen. The information board also advises visitors to keep an eye out for the giant tachinid fly which is one of the largest of its kind with a black thorax and a bright yellow head.

We emerged from woodland onto moorland adorned with purple splodges of heather in bloom. Away to our right I could see the top end of Stanage Edge, whilst down below I could hear traffic wending its way around the bends on the busy main road.

We arrived at a junction on a rise above Cutthroat Bridge which reputedly got its name from an event in 1635 when a traveller was found close by with his throat slit from ear to ear. Here we followed the track around to the left and shortly afterwards, Nellie had a quick paddle and a slurp in the stream running down Highshaw Clough before we began a gentle ascent of Derwent Moors.

We were on track to do a circuit of Lead Hill where sheep were dotted about and grouse occasionally called out in dramatic style. The higher we went the more far reaching and wondrous the panoramic views became. In the distance Win Hill appeared like an active volcano spewing out purple lava from swathes of flowering heather on its slopes. A small aircraft was flying low on a flight path down the Derwent Valley. It reminded me of the time many years ago when I sat up there for two hours with my old dog Alfie, patiently waiting to see the last Lancaster bomber in the UK make a commemorative flypast.

Eventually Nellie and I arrived at a junction of ways with footpath sign No 504 for guidance. Our route was to head back to Ashopton, descending to the left of the National Trust sign for Whinstone Lee Fields, on a particularly steep and challenging path. Each step was carefully positioned as this is most definitely not the best place for a twisted or sprained ankle.

Across from us was Crook Hill with twin peak summits whilst an aerial view of the valley below showed how low the water level was in Ladybower, appearing more like a giant puddle than a reservoir. According to the Severn Trent website it was half empty at that time. There were several boats out from Ladybower Fisheries and I couldn’t help but wonder whether there is more chance of having ‘tight lines’ with not so much water for the fish to hide in?

Thankfully the path soon levelled out before passing between deep and dark areas of coniferous woodland. We then undulated beside tall banks of bracken, crossing two dried up stream beds, before returning to the main road and parking place.

Sally Mosley

FOOTNOTE BY NELLIE: You all know by now that I have some funny ways, but have I told you about my sofa surfing? When I come in from a walk I rub myself around the bases of both sofas in our lounge, going backwards and forwards several times. Don’t ask me why. I think it’s to get rid of the smell of outdoors and to make myself scented with home again. As you can imagine, both sofas now have a tidemark scuff which mum is fed up of trying to clean so she has been off to the shops to buy new ones. The new sofas are coming soon and I’ve had strict instructions that there is to be no more surfing when they arrive. What’s she going to do I here you ask? Lock me in the kitchen or anchor me down I suspect. Oh heck, I think I might be heading for the doldrums! xx