Three Heads Are Better Than One
Saturday June 27th 2009
Gradbach Car Park
Members of the Longdendale and Glossopdale Footpath Society headed away from Glossop toward Buxton, from where their route took them over Axe Edge to the remote village of Flash. The highest village in Staffordshire was shrouded in hill fog but the mist abated as they descended to the River Dane and parked up at Gradbach.
The walk commenced from outside the youth hostel at Gradbach, a former silk mill. A steep path lead to the Eagle and Child Farm. From the farm with its eighteenth century date a moor-land road crossed over toward Wildboarclough. As the weather was clearing rapidly there were views ahead to the hill of Shutlingsloe. The paths lead down to the stream flowing through Wildboarclough and a side valley Cumberland Clough was followed toward the Cat and Fiddle.
As the party ascended the rough road through Cumberland Clough they passed the scout hut at Cumberland Cottage. A lunch break beside the clough was cut short because of the biting midges rising from the stream margins. The path climbed higher onto Whetstone Edge from where a bridle road lead back into the Dane Valley.
Walking a section of the Dane Valley Way took the ramblers down through old quarries, past an old forge chimney, beside ancient coal mines and down to Three Shire Heads. A final break was enjoyed beside the meeting of waters where Derbyshire Staffordshire and Cheshire come together, finally tracks on the high ground over looking the Dane lead back to Gradback.
David Frith
