Friday November 29th

Win Hill, Hope Cross and Crook Hill

The period of good weather was due to come to an end, so we made the most of it while we could- the sky from the back of the house said "Shepherd's Warning":

Get out while you can!

The best weather was forecast to be in the east, and Jacinta had said that we'd not gone up Win Hill for quite some time, so this was a great suggestion. The forecast had also said that it would be cold with a prospect of significant wind. Win Hill and Ladybower gave plenty of scope for different walks, depending on how cold we were, and how energetic we felt. After parking at Heatherdene, we crossed the dam- the "plugholes" were fairly exposed.

"Plugholes" exposed, no water outflow

After Parkin Clough (which seemed much easier than when we'd first done it), we had good views all around; it was brisk, but not too cold and there was less wind than we'd expected.

Bamford Edge (left) and Eastern Edges in the far distance

The Great Ridge from the top of Win Hill

At the top of Win Hill

The walk was going well and we still felt energetic, so we decided to continue down Hope Brink and have lunch at Hope Cross. We really enjoyed the (late!) autumn light on The Great Ridge.


Jaggers Clough and Grindslow Knoll (far left)

After our lunch, we decided to defer the decision between returning beside Ladybower or over Crook Hill until we reached the reservoir. On the way down through the woods, we passed an abandoned wheelbarrow!

We decided that we had plenty of energy left, so crossed the road, passed Hagg Farm and walked along the ridge opposite Hope Brink and Win Hill, leading to Crook Hill.

On the way to Crook Hill; Win Hill to the right


On the way down from Crook Hill to Crookhill Farm, we passed a small herd of highland cattle. We were a little nervous when one of them took an interest and started making her way towards us, but fortunately she wasn't that interested and stopped a reasonable way away from us.


All in all, we'd had a great late-season walk of just under 9½ miles with 560m ascent.


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