Route 4: Howden Moors, Derwent Reservoir, Peak District

Description:

Decent route with good advance views. Took me 5.5 hours for the full walk, which allowed something like an hour for sunning on rocks and puttering. Out of this I got 4 hours nude time and met no one.

As with Route 1, park up at the Fairholmes car park there are toilets here as well as a place to get some food. From here hike northeast under the Upper Derwent dam, then follow the reservoirs east side until you get to a turnoff just before the Howden dam. Here turn right onto the dirt track which ascends steeply. When you get to the first summit of Nether Hey, youll now be able to see the Howden Edge ridge rising in front of you usually it takes around 45 mins to get to Nether Hey.

From this point on, you should be able to go boots-only. If you scan the ridge and cant see anyone coming down, probably there isnt anyone. People are fairly easy to spot if they are on the unmarked footpath just to the west side of Howden edge that descends and meets the path halfway up the hill at Row Top (most take this path). There is also the path marked on the map that goes to Row Top and then up the hill but from where you are now, you wont see if anyone is on that one. So just keep this in mind as you climb up to Row Top. From Row Top, take the main path towards Howden Edge but turn off on a faint track to the right about halfway to the top (not marked on the map) this leads towards some rock outcrops called Wet Stones. There are some grouse butts up here which are great for sunning yourself in if there is an easterly wind. The rock outcrops here are great for sunning yourself on and give you a great view of the valley and path in front of you.

From here follow the drainage lines past the rock outcrops in south/southeast direction youll find this leads to a path that leads east/southeast. After a short while (I think around Robin Hood Moss) when you see drainage patterns to your right, leave the path youre on and follow the drainage lines down the hill. When the drainage line peter out, keep to the right so that you have a good view of the valley on the right here youll pick up a path. Follow it down to another grouse butt (another great suntrap). At this point youll be able to see the clear track to the right on the other side that goes back to the reservoir (youll be walking back on that one). To get to it, you keep on the same path this takes you down the east side of Foul Clough to Abbey Brook. As you approach the stream, here is where you might meet people as there are 2 paths that meet here. After you cross the stream, turn right until you meet the main track.

From here turn right all the way back to the reservoir you should be able to do it nude until the gate just before the reservoir. Even though this is a fairly obvious track, there are decent advance views and no paths crossing, so fairly good.

(Note: alternative routes from here not yet tried would be when at Abbey Brook to turn left on the main track (i.e. south) towards Back Tor, or you can try to take the steeper path on the south side of Abbey Brook in east direction that takes you to join the Dukes Road path east).

Privacy score out of 10:

-Advance view (0 = wide expansive, 10 = forested and corners): 2
-Number of crossings (0-10): 2
-Number of people met during walk (0-10): 0
-Average score: 1.3 (very good)

What day of week, what time of year:

Mid-week, early June

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