Lost Lad - 10 Miles, 5.5hrs
A rather sunny end of October day, and an ideal chance for a Peak District walk.
We had been at a concert at Sheffield Arena (rock band Black Stone Cherry), the night before and stayed over in Sheffield.
We had done "Lost Lad" a few years ago and enjoyed the walk so thought it would make a good jaunt amongst the Autumn leaves along the reservoir mixed with some height and longer views.
We parked by the side of the road just up from the main Fairholmes car park, so parked for free. It was then just a short 5 mins or so to Fairholmes and only another few minutes then to the start point at the Derwent dam.
The Autumnal trees were impressive with the light catching them on such a pleasant day.
Heading up a track, through the trees you can see above, took us to the main wide track running alongside the Derwent reservoir. It was then an enjoyable and flat stroll for about two miles along this.
We headed right off the track at Abbey Bank, quite steeply zig-zagging back, and then across to give the view down to the reservoir.
We then headed away from the reservoir and across more open moorland.
Eventually meeting more rockier, rugged, grit-stone terrain, and the rather unique rock formations and "Lost Lad." The hill of Lost Lad gets its name and its impressive cairn from a story of a shepherd boy who got lost and lost his life on the moors in a severe blizzard. It wasn't until the spring that another shepherd passing by found the lost shepherd's body and by it written on a rock were the words "Lost Lad".
The high summit of Back Tor has some very impressive grit stone formations.
The views from Back Tor are quite unusual, there aren't many places in the Peak you can see so many of its highest features. The Great Ridge, Derwent Valley Reservoirs, Stanage Edge, Bleaklow and Kinder Plateau can all be seen from this viewpoint.
Passing various rock formations with names such as "Cakes of Bread", "Salt Cellar" all adds interest to this walk, before a relatively easy descent down after about three miles walking along the ridge.
Ladybower reservoir seen on descent
Nice path.
Then an easy walk back along the edge of the reservoir to the car park about another three miles.
A fairly long walk altogether, though not too taxing from an ascent/desent point of view, with great views and interesting rock formations.
A cup of soup at the car park facilities, and then home at 15:30 as it's starting to get dusky pretty soon now at this time of year.
roll on spring 2015!
Our Walk Score: 7.5/10
