Alport Castles

Sunday, 14th April 2013

Distance: 10.6 miles
Total Ascent: 3,000 feet
Time: 5.75 hours
Weather: Sunny spells in the morning followed by very strong winds and a little rain in the afternoon

 

Leaving Bridge End car park a pleasant track took us beside Ladybower Reservoir to the dam at Upper Derwent Reservoir. It was here that practice took place for the Dam Busters Raid, marked by a memorial stone. Continuing now on the road we eventually reached the dam wall of Howden Reservoir where the overflow was impressive. A nearby wall provided shelter from the wind as we partook of our elevenses. Reaching the end of Howden Reservoir the hard work began as we climbed onto Birchinlee Pasture. As the full strength of the wind made itself known we found it difficult to walk in a straight line. Reaching Alport Castles we turned to follow the line of the escarpment, taking in the splendid scenery of the largest natural landslip in the UK. Battling the wind was not quite as difficult here as we were no longer climbing and we eventually reached Hag Side Plantation. After skirting the plantation then heading through the trees we made our way back to the car, having enjoyed an invigorating walk.

 

Scroll down to see photos of the walk

A pleasant path beside Ladybower Reservoir . . .

 

and looking back to the aqueduct

 

The dam wall has a tower . . .

 

at each end . . .

 

and Marie poses in front of the 'moat'

 

From a higher vantage point it almost looks like castle ramparts

 

The memorial to the Dam Busters . . .

 

is behind locked gates - opens later when we will be long gone

 

Above the dam wall . . .

 

where information can be found . . .

 

about the Dam Busters . . .

 

and the Water Supply

 

The sun brightens the picture as we look back across the Upper Derwent Reservoir . . .

 

and on to the dam wall of Howden Reservoir . . .

 

where water gushes over the wall

 

and the wind blows the spray back

 

It is difficult to get a good view at this point . . .

 

but zooming in shows the effect of the wind

 

As we enjoy our elevenses . . .

 

we have a good view of the spray being blown up

 

Howden Reservoir continues ahead . . .

 

but we follow an inlet to the left . . .

 

where we find an old bridge that crosses the river

 

Pausing on our climb we can look back to the reservoir

 

The landslip of Alport Castles . . .

 

where a large section of ground . . .

 

parted company with the main fell

 

Zooming in on The Tower

 

The landslip provides some shelter as we stop for lunch

 

Looking back at the landslip

 

Just in case we forget where we've been

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