England - Peak District - Elysium And Hades

Walk Summary

A high level walk that includes woodland, reservoir and moorland walking with not too much up and down. Lots of birds at Winscar and in the surrounding woodlands. Look down into the impressive Ramsden Clough. A warning that the route does go by Elysium and Hades.

Date: 03/01/2022

Length: 7.53 miles

Height Gain: 261 m

Terrain: Light traffic roads, farm tracks, rocky paths, muddy paths, woodland paths, forestry tracks, boggy trackless moor

Navagation: Map and compass required to navigate over Snailsden in bad weather

Start: Car Park at Winscar (North)

Route: Winscar Reservoir Car Park, Harden, Hades, Holme Styes Reservoir, Elysium, Ramsden Edge, Snailsden Pike End

Map: OL1 Dark Peak Area

Weather: Cloudy, windy and occasional drizzle

Walkers: Nun

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Snailsden Post

Captain's Log

Elysium And Hades

My alarm went off at 07:00 this morning, and I decided to snooze while I listened to the news on the radio. I woke up two hours later, and so it was a bit of a late start to the walk.

It was bright sun when I set off in the car, but was spitting with rain when I got to Winscar Reservoir. The area is high up and does seem to have its own weather system. An advantage of being high up is that you can do a high level walk without having to do much ascent. A disadvantage is that you can get caught out in bad weather. About a year ago I was walking in this area and there was an unscheduled dump of snow and I had to abandon my car. That particular walk turned into quite an epic.

I walked along the road up to Harden Reservoir and headed over to the forestry area at Ellentree Brow. This woodland area contains two farms, one called Hades and the other Elysium. I'm not sure how they got their names, but it's obviously not a place to linger.

On the way down to the Holme Styes reservoir I met a dog walker. 'A nice day isn't it', he offered. I'd just had to put my waterproof jacket on, and so I was interested in how he'd come to that conclusion. It is all relative; maybe he'd had a rough night. I compromised my reply with, 'Not bad. A bit drizzly though'.

Fox Clough

After circumnavigating the Holme Styes reservoir I took the woodland path up Fox Clough. Up near the top of the clough there's a row of abandoned cottages. There looks to have been at least five separate homes all together. There's a large boiler like cylinder rusting away outside. Inside is the detritus of another era. A wringer with its rollers stands abandoned. It must have been quite an establishment at one time.

All very spooky. I left the mystery of these cottages and ten minutes later I approached the farm called Elysium. There's always a Labour placard outside the farm with a photo of the local candidate. It is obviously a working farm but I've never seen anybody wandering about. I didn't linger and plodded up the farm tracks over to the moorland that is labelled as Hades Peat Pits on the OS map. It sounds like something from hell but is just some flattish moorland.

It is so flat, that when you reach Ramsden Edge, it comes as quite a surprise to look down into the depths of Ramsden Clough and realise how high up you really are. It is a very impressive valley, It heads northwards towards the reservoirs above Holme and Holmefirth. Across the valley I could see the excellent navigation tool of Holme Moss mast near Black Hill.

Fox Clough Abandoned Cottages

Ramsden Edge Looking Towards Riding Wood Reservoir

Ramsden Edge Cairn With Ramsden Clough Beyond

Ramsden Edge To Snailsden

I walked along Ramsden Edge towards the head of the clough. There is a large well-made cairn just before you head away from the clough towards Snailsden. It is quite prominent and can be seen from miles away. It is so well-made it really deserves a plaque on it to commemorate something.

The path between Ramsden Clough and Snailsden is a bit of a bog fest. There are some artillery positions for the Tweed Trouser Brigade along this front, and there are a few boards down to make sure their long woolen socks don't get muddy.

Over to the left I could see Cook Study Hill and the Snailsden Reservoir. On the occasion when I had to abandon my car due to the heavy snowfall, I actually went past some wild water swimmers who were frolicking about in this reservoir. They are a hardy lot, wild water swimmers.

Cook Study Hill And Snailsden Reservoir

My First Ethel...Snailsden Pike End

It isn't much of a climb on to Snailsden. Or to give it its full name, Snailsden Pike End. This was my first Ethel on my Ethel Venture. At 477 metres, this came in at number 37 in terms of height. I was actually a bit surprised I didn't bag an Ethel two days ago on my walk, New Year Old Favourite. I thought Outer Edge would have been an Ethel, but I'm guessing there isn't a big enough drop between that and nearby Marjory Hill for it to qualify. As with all these things, bagging lists are a bit arbitrary.

I love the walk down from Snailsden. It is gradual and there's a great view over to the Winscar Reservoir. An occasional weathered post marks the track. I reached the quarries just before the metalled road. I was surprised at the depth of some of the excavations. You'd want a torch around here if it was dark. I crossed the Harden Reservoir Dam and made my way back to Winscar car park. It looked like the multitude of ducks, geese and seagulls hadn't moved positions from this morning.

At 7.5 miles and 3 hours, this walk really pack a lot in. Ideal for a half day walk...especially if you oversleep by two hours.

Snailsden Looking Towards Winscar Reservoir

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