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Higher Shelf Stones, Bleaklow Head & Doctor's Gate Path from Old Glossop

Higher Shelf Stones, Bleaklow Head & Doctor's Gate Path

from Old Glossop

Start/Finish

The turning circle at the end of Shepley Street in Old Glossop. From Glossop, take the Snake Pass road. Go through the first roundabout then take the next left at the Commercial Inn which goes up Manor Park Road. Higher up, the road seems to go right which is Shepley Street (there is a street sign). Follow this to its end at a turning circle just after a large factory on the left. Do not park in the turning circle but park sensibly close by.

Distance/Time

12 km.     About 4 – 5 hours.

Peaks

Higher Shelf Stones, 621 m, SK 088 947.

Bleaklow Head, 633 m, SK 092 958.

OS Outdoor Leisure 1: Dark Peak.     OS 1 : 50 000 Sheet 110.

Introduction

This is a shortish but fine walk in the Dark Peak which, in good weather has good views of the surrounding countryside including Bleaklow and Kinder. Some of the going is boggy, even in a dry spell, and gaiters are recommended. This walk can easily be accomplished on a short winter's day. It is recommended when the ground is frozen as that makes it less boggy! Because of the nature of the terrain, this walk is best undertaken in clear weather. In mist, the higher terrain can be very confusing and the limited vision can suggest going N which is off route. The path helps but it does not take much snow to hide it!

Route

(1) Walk up the track alongside Shelf Brook which is the continuation of Shepley Street beyond the turning circle. After about 800 m and just after crossing the bottom of Small Clough (the bottom of Small Clough is named as Shittern Clough on 1 : 25 000 maps), there is a gate across the track with a small gate to the left. Do not take the path through the small gate as it leads up the Yellow Slacks ridge (this route is posted separately), instead stay on the main track. Further on, a path goes right for Doctor's Gate but ignore that too and stay on the same track and soon pass a large stone building, in good condition. By now the Shelf Benches ridge should be obvious ahead and to the left. Pass the corner of a wall then pass through a broken wall. Soon after, a path goes off left heading for the top of the Shelf benches ridge. Ignore this and stay on the grassy track and follow it up. Further on, ignore a right fork and continue ahead. Further on, the track starts to bend around to the right, E, and becomes a path. Follow this up, crossing a simple stile, on to James Thorn then continue, roughly E, on the path which now has little gradient and weaves around looking for the best ground. Even so some boggy hollows have to be crossed. The final section of the path goes S to the trig point which is the summit of Higher Shelf Stones, 621 m.

(2) The Hern Stones are the only outcrop between Higher Shelf Stones and Bleaklow Head and lie about 600 m NNE of the trig point. However, it is worth walking a little to the E of this line to look at the well scattered aircraft wreckage. A bearing of 53 degrees (ignoring any magnetic correction should take one into the heart of the wreckage which is about 250 m from the summit trig point. One can then resume walking, on a reasonable, but boggy, path towards the Hern Stones which stand on a small mound. Unless one really wishes to visit the Hern Stones, the best, least boggy path lies about 200 m to their W. If visiting the Hern Stones, you are better on this path until level with the stones then walking E to the stones then retracing back to the path. From here, walk almost due N, faint boggy path, to soon reach the Wain Stones, an outcrop with three prominent boulders, two of which are very close. These two are known as “The Kissing Stones”. Close by is a cairn (seemingly demolished on 11/11/16) from where a path can be followed to a large cairn, with a stake in it, which marks the summit of Bleaklow Head, 633 m. A stone marker post is at the cairn for those following the Pennine Way down to Torside Clough but that is not part of this route.

(3) Head S on the fairly obvious Pennine Way. Small marker stones, similar to the one by the summit cairn, will be passed to confirm you are on the right route. The path is quite rough and boggy in places, following the upper section of Hern Clough once the summit is left behind, and wanders a fair way to the E of the direct line back to the Snake summit, where lots of cars are usually parked, but eventually does lead there. However, about 500 m before the road, reach a crossroads with a tall marker post. Turn right, for Glossop. This is the Doctor's Gate path and it is soon quite boggy. It soon reaches Crooked Clough where it passes through a gate then descends down the S side of the clough on an obvious path which is unpleasantly boggy in places. Reach the valley floor, cross the bridge and continue to soon reach the outward track by the barn.

Notes

(a) This walk took place on 11th November, 2016.

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