Bleaklow Stones via Alport Castles
Map Explore
Chart (Mouse wheel zooms in)
Story
One of the quickest ways on to the tops is the path to Alport Castles from the Westend Valley , and it also has the great advantage of being excellent underfoot , and giving the option of multiple routes over Westend Moor , or up the Alport . All I had firmly in mind was a trip to Bleaklow Stones , and a probable return via Grinah/Barrow Stones , so it was the obvious choice .Despite getting up at what felt like the night before , the unavoidable drawback to this time of the year , there was no sunrise to speak of . Cloud and fuzzy haziness were the bane of the day , but the early start gave me the best of the morning sun . After watching distant curlews at the Castles I decided to go across the moor to the trig point , and onto Bleaklow by Westend Head . On to the Stones , and a pleasant stop . I thought I was in luck when two young mountain hares raced in , and decided to pause unaware of my presence . Being hares though , they soon changed their mind , putting paid to any dreams of close-up photos two trips in a row . I diverted slightly from the path to Grinah , and visited the Labrador Tea plant in Swain's Greave . Unfortunately I've missed the flowering this year ; but it's still quite impressive . A return route by the 'source of the Derwent' spot , and after some wandering around by the Barrow Stones , a straightforward return by the shooters path to the Westend . A very easy return , as the tops are pretty dry and springy at the moment . All in all , a good day .
Parking at the Westend Gate is very limited . Some bits of this route may convince you to get gaiters if you don't have them already , unless it's a day like today . Usually it isn't .
Parking at the Westend Gate is very limited . Some bits of this route may convince you to get gaiters if you don't have them already , unless it's a day like today . Usually it isn't .