Longshaw Estate

Longshaw Estate - 20th March 2013

We had planned a walk starting at Longshaw Estate, along Froggatt Edge and back via White Edge the weather was fine if a little breezy when we left home but the closer we got to Longshaw the colder and snowier it became, in fact as we pulled up in the car park I was tempted to drive straight back home. However Longshaw Estate had been on our list of National Trust Places to visit for the last eighteen months so we donned our boots, jackets, gloves and snoods and decided that a walk around the estate was probably a better prospect than the planned walk.

We were still trying to decide which of the numerous paths to explore first when a very friendly NT employee stopped to ask if we had visited before, when we replied no he suggested a short circular walk taking in some of the landmarks so off we went.

Still not sure what these are but there were plenty around.

We set off in the direction of the wooden pole (A stone at the base of this way marker is believed to mark the riding of Totley parish boundary in 1778. The original has been taken down and a replicate erected by the Longshaw wardens now sits there. Good view point over white edge moor), unfortunately the views were not great today.

From the wooden pole we headed to 'White Edge Lodge' this was originally a game keepers house but now  a self catering holiday cottage owned by the National Trust.

We headed next to Oaks Wood across a very marshy field luckily there were stone slabs laid across a good stretch so we only had to pick our way across a small section of marsh land.  As we approached the wood the path disappeared and we found ourselves gingerly descending down a stream bed, guess this must be the edge of Tumbling Hill!

We followed the path through Oaks Wood and continued on through Yarncliff Wood all the way to the disused Quarry.  Although we found the paths muddy and slippy in places the walk through the woods was a pleasant one with great views down to Grindleford. 

We crossed the B6251 and made a brief visit to Padley Gorge but unable to find a crossing point over the river we continued our trek along the road.

Since the weather was still very cold with a few snow flurries we made only a brief stop at Burbage Brook.

We called in at the Owler Barn and enjoyed reading about the pack horse trail before heading back to the car.

We walked 5.68 miles around the estate and whilst the conditions under foot were not always great we had enjoyed the walk and will make an effort to return in the future to do the walk we had originally planned for today and to explore the estate further.