Big Moor

Yesterday was an amazing day. I knew it was going to be hot, and wanted to get out on the hills before anyone else interrupted my view; being the Peak District that was a bit of a tall order!

I got there, and realised I had forgotten my map. D'oh (Homer style). Didn't matter than much; the weather was so clear, I'd read the map so many times and passed Big Moor on my way to Baslow countless times. No matter. Besides which it was quite fun going without a map and reading the ground properly, piecing together features, anticipating different ground by the plant life.

The object for the day for me was to see the Barbrook stones, a group of stone circles and a huge barrow, with outlying features. It lay just off an old packhorse route, used to ferry salt and other stuffs from the Peak District to Sheffield; the wildcamp I had a couple of weeks ago was just a mile or two away.

I found the first of the circles really easily, none were tall, or that impressive on the face of it. But I am often moved but the impact of considering something that old, that human beings have constructed.

So, now away from the packhorse trail, I branched off, following likely looking paths and came across another stone construction, some sort of barrow I think.

I found the main barrow nearby. Not having the map, I just came across it by wandering what looked like sheep tracks.

It was such a nice day I just sat down inside it, brewed up and took out my watercolours to paint. I must have spent about 40 minutes there, and was suprised by a man shuffling by. I think he was just as surpised as I was! 

Is this the world's smallest watercolour set up?!

After doing a watercolour sketch (the product of which is at the top of this post), I reluctantly got up and headed out on to Big Moor itself. Passing a small reservoir I headed roughly north, through bog and heather. The new bilberry shoots were bright green against the patches of burnt heather, and cotton grass showed where the boggy areas where. I didn't mind so much getting wet feet - I bought some Inov8 Terroc 330s and find I can go pretty much anywhere; if I get wet feet they soon dry. I ended up doing a lot of heather bashing though, I felt as if I was grouse beating, but I was wary of where I trod because of nesting birds - the moorwas alive with Skylarks in particular, so I tried to follow sheep tracks as much as I could, towards White Edge. Mixed success but after having another brew and a bite to eat, with a great view north towards Carl Wark and Higger Tor, I joined the proper footpath (relief - easy walking), passing littered trig points and rabbit warrens (I saw a kitten in one).

After too short a time I returned to heather bashing, navigating by spying a couple of standing stones and practising walking on a bearing, just for the hell of it! Crossing a stream I emerged just north of the stone circles and made my way back to the car.

It wasn't a huge walk but I felt as if I'd been immersed in the spirit of the place, and that was exactly what I wanted. But I do need to get more miles in next time!