Snake Pass – Alsop Bridge

Introduction

Inspired by some pictures posted by Lucy Goldsmith, one of my Twitter followers and a former colleague at Weaver Vale Housing Trust, I headed out through Glossop on the A57 Snake Pass from Manchester to Sheffield. My walk was designed to follow parts of the Rivers Ashop and Alport which meet at Alsop Bridge, 2 or 3 miles before the Ashop flows into Ladybower Reservoir.

Travel time – 50 minutes each way. Walk time – 3hrs, plus a quarter of an hour for lunch.

The weather was cloudy but pleasant, with increasingly long periods where the clouds broke for sunny spells. In the valleys there was a pleasant breeze; on the moors there was a gale blowing that made just staying on the path quite difficult at times!

This walk is 7.2 miles, and it rises 1264 feet, 385m.

The walk requires dogs to be kept on a lead due to sheep grazing and rare moorland birds nesting at this time of year.

OS Explorer Map OL1.

Parking is limited, and probably not available at weekends. I had to drive about a quarter of a mile past Alsop Bridge, where there is space for about 4 cars at the entry road to Gillott Hey Farm. Further on, just beyond the point where the walk recrosses the A57 at Hagg Farm, there is layby parking on the right hand side where the walk could easily be commenced.

Alport Bridge

Alport Bridge is a tiny hamlet at the confluence of the Rivers Alport and Ashop. There is a ford and also a footbridge across the Ashop , enabling me to walk eastwards on the south bank of the river.

There are already some great views of the open valley.

Blackley Hey

There is a water treatment plant at Alsop Bridge, and the path runs alongside a leat which flows towards the Ladybower Reservoir.

The path continues through the pretty deciduous woodland of Blackley Hey Wood. It emerges into a stand of coniferous trees and heading down to the river.

Haggwater Bridge

The Ashop is a typical broad, clear, fast running river of the Peak District. I hoped to see dippers and grey wagtails, but was disappointed today!

The Moors – Rowlee Pasture

From here, the only way seemed to be up. So, I crossed the bridge and then the A57, continuing up past Hagg Farm Outdoor Education Centre, rising through pleasant woodland. As I was leaving the woods, the strength of the wind increased, so I chose to stop for a quick early lunch before heading onto the exposed tops.

The path I followed is over Access Land and is well defined, though not a public right of way. This made finding the start of it slightly awkward as there are several routes signposted, but not the one I was looking for. Here’s a view back down to the southeast from the point where I’d found the path I wanted! And what a fantastic view it is!

It took the best part of an hour to battle against the fierce crosswind on this exposed landscape – breathtaking and exhilarating! Even the skylarks were having to give up any attempts to soar into the heavens.

The Tower

At Little Moor, the well trodden path turns back downhill, and just a few feet of descent resulted in escaping from the gale, and revealed a spectacular view to the rock formation known as The Tower.

The Descent

The views back up to the ridge and down into the valley of the River Alport are wonderful.

I crossed the footbridge and idled away a few minutes by the water’s edge near Alport Farm

The farm track then meanders easily down the valley back to the starting point, with wonderful views and the constant whirring of curlews echoing all around.

A splendid walk!

And Finally….

This lovely track titled Testimonial popped up on the random playlist today and the lyrics are particularly poignant. We hope to be going to see Wendy James live in September – a great talent.