{"id":1010580,"date":"2026-04-02T20:35:01","date_gmt":"2026-04-02T19:35:01","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.half-daywalker.com\/?p=1010580"},"modified":"2026-04-02T20:35:03","modified_gmt":"2026-04-02T19:35:03","slug":"alport-castles-from-the-derwent-valley","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.half-daywalker.com\/?p=1010580","title":{"rendered":"Alport Castles From The Derwent Valley"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Introduction<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

A stunning early spring day, today was my opportunity to complete the walk that I aborted on the 29th January 2026.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

It\u2019s a 65 minute drive from Cheadle Hulme, but it can take longer. I took the beautiful A57 Snake Pass today, a road from which 7.5 tonne vehicles are banned. It’s a great drive!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The walk was a touch over 8 miles, and took 3hours 15 minutes plus 30 minutes for lunch. It\u2019s a long haul up to the moors, but the climbing’s all done in the first 45 minutes! There’s a total 1100 feet of ascent.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

This walk is great for dogs on leads, but there’s not too much opportunity for free running.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

I walked in a clockwise direction.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The walk is on OS Explorer Map OL1.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

I parked at the Fairholmes car park, there are toilets and refreshments. The nearest postcode is S33 0AQ, but on Google Maps just use Fairholmes Car Park for directions; What 3 Words \/\/\/forest.baths.moons. Beware though, it did cost me \u00a37.<\/p>\n\n\n

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Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Ascent To The Moors<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

After leaving the car park and access road, it’s straight up through the lovely woods.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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There’s plenty of conifers here too. And the tracks are pretty muddy from recent rainfall.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Then, before long, I found myself above the tree line, with the slopes less steep and the moors beckoning. The views are soon just spectacular.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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The Moors<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

The moors here are called Rowlee Pasture and Birchinlee Pasture. The highlight is the edge and rock formations known as Alport Castles.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The moorland birds are all returning from their wintering grounds. My first spot was this meadow pipit on a post.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Then another posed prominently on the skyline.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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There were plenty of skylarks moving around too.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

As I approached Alport Castles, the views down the valley were spectacular.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Then, ina gap between the near ridge, “The Tower” is a magnificent landmark.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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As I approached the next cliff edge, a brown female blackbird -like bird flew past me, and I realised this was a classic place to see the blackbird’s cousin, the ring ouzel. If there’s a female, I thought there would also be a male, and suddenly there he was, about 20 yards away in front of me, on the cliff edge (near the bottom right corner of the first picture below). <\/p>\n\n\n\n

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What a bird!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Thrilled, I sat for half an hour, and enjoyed my lunch in the warm sunshine.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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The Descent<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

It’s a long straight path downhill from Alport Castles to Howden Reservoir. These are grouse moors, and this is a (sort of) camouflaged shooting shelter.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Halfway down, Howden Reservoir peeps into view.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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As with the ascent, there are lovely woods leading to the bottom of the hill.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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And at the bottom, some big boys toys have been artistically arranged by the brook leading to the reservoir!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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It’s a 3.5 mile stroll alongside the reservoirs from here. The cover of the reeds at the head of this inlet was home to a pair of teal.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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From here the sunny views were similar to those I enjoyed in the mist back in January! <\/p>\n\n\n\n

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This was a great day out, and worth every penny of the \u00a37 parking charge! Highly recommended but choose a good weather day if you venture up here.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

And Finally….<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

I heard someone on TV talking about great album cover this week, and his favourite artwork was the great Gerry Rafferty’s Night Owl.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The title track is none too shabby either.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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