The Wheel Stones.
Start. Ashopton.
Route. Ashopton - Lead Hill - Whinstone Lee Tor - Hurkling Stones - Grouse Butts - Wheel Stones - Grouse Butts - Grainfoot Clough - Grindle Clough - Derwent Village (ruin) - Ashopton.
Notes. Derwent Edge a fine millstone grit escarpment rising from the eastern shore of Ladybower Reservoir, forestry and sheep pastures guards the lower slopes giving way to bracken then heather, adorning the plateau a number of grit stone outcrops. Sculptured by wind and rain with names such as The Cakes and Bread, Salt Cellar and the one that drew our attention The Wheel Stones.
Beneath the beauty of Ladybower Reservoir lie the remains of the old village of Ashopton, all that remain today, a few houses above the main road and a splendid viaduct bearing the name of the drowned village. The lay-by on the east side of the viaduct marked our starting point, we ascended the lane opposite passing the remaining cottages, when the track ended a finger-post invited us to Whinstone Lea Tor, we obliged, a forest track guided us between pines and larch, on escaping the woodland we were gifted with views over Ladybower and the vast sprawl of Bleaklow. Our route continued uphill a dry stone wall to guide us, on reaching an old fence the path wound uphill to the coll between Whinstone Lee Tor and Lead Hill, from the coll it was a short pull to the summit of Whinstone Lee Tor.
The peaty ridge now guided us north, passed The Hurkling Stones, across an unnamed summit with splendid views then beyond to a footpath sign, this was our route off the hill but first a short diversion, the next feature on the ridge, a real people magnet the 25ft high Wheel Stones. After spending sometime exploring we re-traced our steps to the footpath sign, turned down hill to descend to a gate, we then passed through said gate to continue, along the edge of the forestry we descended, after fording Grindle Clough's stream we reached a lane leading to some peat huts, from the peat huts a pitch path descended through fields to reach the track running along the east shores of Ladybower Reservoir, left takes us back to the car but first another slight diversion. To the right only 400yds away nestling at the foot of Millbrook Clough lays the remains of Derwent village. I was a bit disappointed but what's 400yds between friends. We turned our backs on the sad remains, with a well graded track under foot we wandered south along the edge of the reservoir, after passing through mixed woodland a metal gate allowed access to the lane that had guided us in earlier.
Seen from the parked car, Ladybower Reservoir with Stanage Edge to the left.
Views to the head of the Derwent Valley.
Gain a little height and the twin summits of Crook Hill come into view.
From the steep ascent to the coll between Lead Hill and Whinstone Lee Tor, views to Win Hill.
Sue soaks up views over the Upper Derwent Valley.
Stanage Edge as seen over a purple sea of heather.
Win Hill as seen from Whinstone Lee Tor.
Wonderful views the length of the Derwent Valley.
Looking down on the Ashopton Viaduct with the heather covered upper slopes of Win Hill dominating the skyline.
Sculptured by wind and rain, The Wheel Stones.
Our little guide book described these buildings as barns, I'll take a guess and say they're actually peat huts.
What remains above water of the old village of Derwent, not very exciting, back to the car.
Ladybower reflections.
This excellent graded path was to be our guide back to Ashopton.
Ashopton Viaduct backed by Win Hill.
A final look over the waters of Ladybower Reservoir.